Silence is not golden

 

          Good evening, 919 Gang.

 

KEN STONE writes:

Matthew T. Hall, longtime U-T Opinion section chief, explains at his new gig — The State newspaper in South Carolina — why his editorial board won't endorse in the presidential race:

https://amp.thestate.com/opinion/article294740279.html

          The State is part of the McClatchy chain, which leaves POTUS endorsement decisions up to its member papers.

 

JOHN GIBBINS writes:

If this will open for you it is a great column about the WAPO and journalism from 404 Media, an independent news outlet that does a lot of ‘tech in the new world’ journalism.

https://www.404media.co/the-billionaire-is-the-threat-not-the-solution/?ref=daily-stories-newsletter

 

          REBER: The two links above will lead you to a lot of words. Of course, reading a dictionary would lead to a lot of words, too. And the dictionary would be educational.

          Matt Hall says readers count on editorial board reports about down-ballot races, but they aren’t affected by endorsements in the presidential race, the most important political event in the past four years.

          Matt says the editorial board won’t make an endorsement, but he reports that he, head of that board, wrote a column that was severely critical of one candidate. What’s the difference?

          Newspapers across the country are keeping silent because they don’t want to tick off maybe half their subscribers. And millionaire owners are spouting blah-blah to justify the silence. Too bad they don’t remain silent.

 

Community education

          Good evening, 919 Gang.

 

BOB HAWKINS writes:

Jerry Rife and I met a bunch of old guys for lunch on Tuesday at a popular bistro called Cafe 1910 in Colonia San Antonio, San Miguel de Allende.

The cafe is named after one of the more successful revolutions in Mexico.

Besides having great food, the cafe is a hotbed of community education. Volunteers teach math, language skills, guitar, voice, writing and, as you can see, art.

Jerry is in these images because he took the original photographs on which these paintings are based. I think he was a little blown away by what these students are accomplishing. I know that I was.     

The bare-chested fellow is Miguel. He does custodial work at the main church in San Miguel. He also has been a longtime participant in the annual living Passion of Christ pageant.

Jerry says Miguel sometimes plays Christ and sometimes one of the two thieves who were also crucified.

Despite the look on his face (“Acting!”) Miguel is a gentle sweet man. I work with him every Wednesday at a hot lunch program put on in the church courtyard since 1989.

By the way, in this same studio, Jerry had an exhibition of his black-and-white street photography earlier this year. The opening was quite successful and his works were selling well.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------

 

          MARK MONDAY writes:

The WaPo has done yeoman's work in covering Trump -- there is no question.

          Will that continue, particularly if he assumes the presidency again? 

Or will Bezos decide there are many other things "his" newspaper should cover in the world? After the last few days, jest askin'! The past is not necessarily a guide to the future. Good journalism can die when it is deprived of light, locked in a wallet in someone's back pocket.

 

WALT BARANGER writes:

A quick survey of larger Southern California daily newspapers/web sites indicates that while they all run endorsements for down-ballot races, including propositions, virtually none are making presidential endorsements.

          This covers roughly SLO and Kern counties to the Mexican Border. The southernmost McClatchy papers I spot checked seemed to not have presidential endorsements; they are owned by a hedge fund/asset management company.

I can’t see all of the Gannett properties because of firewalls, but Palm Springs seems to have also skipped the prexy endorsement. Anyone know for sure?

          The SoCal news duopoly of Alden Global Capital and Patrick Soon-Shiong seems to have efficiently quashed reader options.

          Wikipedia is tallying the endorsements and non-endorsements, but their list is about as comprehensive as you would expect from Wikipedia.

          BTW, I endorse Ulysses S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax, if that helps any of you make your decision.

 

---------------------------------------------------------

 

          REBER: We’re going to have a super party. Happy Birthday Oct. 31 to Priscilla Lister, Toby McDaniel, Charlie Starr and Kelly Thornton. Makes me want to order one of the sheet cakes I recall from my U-T days.

Stand aside, Nick

 

          Good evening, 919 Gang. Monday morning Mary was the breakfast table, reading the U-T. I said something to her, and she replied “Shhh!! I’m reading Canepa.”

          I have counted Nick as a friend for decades, and it is shocking to find him coming between my wife and me.

 

-----------------------------------------------------

 

          LESLIE WOLF BRANSCOMB writes:

I'm sure I won't be the first or only 919 Gang member to bring this to your attention, but apparently the U-T will also not endorse a presidential candidate this year. This was an edict issued by Alden Capital to their group of newspapers even before they acquired the Union Tribune. (So please don't blame our colleagues who are still there and striving to do the right thing.) I, and most of San Diego, would not have known about this save for a story by Ken Stone in the Times of San Diego. As usual, he doesn't just report the news, but goes deep into the background, and provides needed context.

 

KEN STONE writes:

          After wondering why I hadn't seen a presidential endorsement editorial in the U-T, I asked folks why. Here's what I learned:

https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2024/10/29/for-1st-time-in-modern-memory-the-u-t-wont-make-presidential-endorsement/

 

          REBER: I always read the letters to the editor. I don’t recall ever seeing letter about the presidential election. I am sure the U-T gets them, but they never are printed.

 

ROSEMARY ENG to CHERYL CLARK:

I agree with your decision. Bezos doesn't care if you cancel your subscription. He's looking for space contracts. It hurts the journalists currently working there. If Bezos cuts loose, what happens to WaPo? I've read that people are suggesting cancelling Amazon Prime instead.

The American Journalism Project sounds interesting.

https://www.theajp.org/why-local-news/

"We make grants to nonprofit news organizations, partner with communities to launch new organizations, and coach leaders as they grow and sustain their newsrooms."

I contribute to some small, independent online publications in Canada which practice good journalism.

University J-Schools seem to still produce idealistic young people

 

STEVE CASEY writes:

          Hell, yes! A fourth-generation, family-owned newspaper with a stated readership of 566,900 daily and 717,000 on Sunday can write rock-em, sock-em presidential endorsements. The Seattle Times just did. Again, after backing her almost two months ago. They were both solid, but this one was way more fun:

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/hell-yes-the-seattle-times-edit-board-endorses-harris-for-president/?utm_source=marketingcloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TSA_102924234048+We're+not+afraid+to+endorse+Kamala+Harris+Editorial_10_29_2024&utm_term=Active subscriber

 

---------------------------------------------------

 

RON HUTCERSON gets pickie pickie:

          As journalists we know that one:

--Indorses a check, deed or legal document, or

--Endorses, as in recommends or approves of, a cause. candidate or whatever.

 

          REBER: Pickie pickie is a virtue in this business.