On Saturday, the Morning Call featured a story about Enid Santiago's challenge to the primary election, mentioned that she is now a write-in candidate, and linked to the voter's guide they published the day before. The paper's pre-election coverage now included every candidacy, except mine.
Ironically, the article documented that there was no basis for Santiago's charges alleging ballot irregularities. The newspaper cheerfully cooperated with her to gain maximum publicity for a write-in campaign, after losing a primary election.
I have paid a steep price for scrutinizing local government, and calling out the newspaper for not doing the same. However, my activism, and subsequently this blog, wasn't motivated because all was well in the Lehigh Valley. Between ineptitude and corruption, watchmen are always needed. The Morning Call went from good old boy local ownership, to outside corporate indifference, with neither entity motivated to upset the local status quo.
Years ago a critic such as myself was limited to an occasional letter to the editor, or a soapbox on the corner. Things have changed with the internet. Myself and other bloggers can present information previously kept from the public. Somebody researching former Mayor Pawlowski will find questions about his integrity here on this blog, more than a decade before the Morning Call broached the topic. On many other topics, such as the Parking Authority and the NIZ, which I have scrutinized, the paper has yet to take its head out of the sand.
In regard to the NIZ, this blog documented that the city, through straw buyers, was using strong arm tactics to dislodge the former merchants of the arena block. The Morning Call was not only compliant, but complicit in that scheme. They were the only private entity included in the NIZ map, on the north side of Linden Street.
Although my criticism of the paper has cost me any coverage in regard to my campaign for Harrisburg, it's a price I'd rather pay, than joining their endorsement of status quo mediocrity in our community.
Remember what they to Marty Nothstein just before the last election so they could get Wild in office knowing that an incumbent has a better chance of reelection hoping to keep the seat liberal democrat for a long time. Keep up the pressure on the liberal rag morning call.
ReplyDeleteIt is obvious that the left is losing the argument. That is why they have embarked on a policy of suppression of opinion in the newspaper, university, and social media. They understand that their policies do not hold up well in sunlight. The regular media is in reality a propaganda outlet for the left. It is time for a competitive media, including an alternative social media platform. I would expect we will be seeing some of that in the near future.
ReplyDeleteExcuse me Fox news is the number 1 news program in the US. Are you saying that the message from Fox news is not resonating with the majority of the american people? Just watched the Trump rally in fayetteville NC and listened to Trumps words himself. Its quite obvious to me who or what is responsible for Trumps Fox news poll numbers. End of story
ReplyDeleteRay&Guy, we're certainly in a polarized time, and election. However, I'm an independent, running as such. While I'll agree that objective journalism seems to be a thing of the past, none of this pertains to me, this blog or my campaign. I will be posting about the changed media after the election, and look forward to your divergent views on media there.
ReplyDeleteMike I applaud you for putting your name out there as a candidate and its wrong for the morning call not to acknowledge you or any
ReplyDeleteone else who has done so . The Newspaper needs to explain why. Heard this today on TV that as americans we fight hard for what we believe in politics but at the end of day when the votes are counted as in sports we are opponents not enemies. That is the core of our greatness.