January 3, 2009

New London daily distressed at possible Press closure

The Day weighs in with an editorial lamenting the possible closure of The Bristol Press and New Britain Herald.
Here's an excerpot: "The two daily newspapers are a part of the fabric of everyday life in central Connecticut, as are newspapers across the country. They are the conduit that provides local municipal news and information on births, deaths, arrests, high school sports and more. Readers depend on their newspapers to stay informed. Television and the Internet might keep people abreast of what's happening in the Gaza Strip, but they won't tell them what the local zoning commission is up to or if the New Britain Golden Hurricanes won a big game."
The editorial also hails the state Department of Economic Development for doing "nothing extraordinary to save the Journal Register newspapers," which is exactly what lawmakers asked from it.
In any case, I'm glad to see The Day's support. Every little bit helps. Maybe.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure a reporter ever really knows what the zoning (or any other) commission is up to. That is why it is so important to just report the facts. Readers can take it from there if they are so inclined. It would benefit all of us if concerned citizens actually attended these meetings and formed their own opinions.

Anonymous said...

Jesus. I am sick of everyone alleging bias in journalists. Every journalist has some bias, the journalists task to reportedly fairly and accurately.

This bias stuff is just conservative talk radio talking up ratings about how the NY Times sets the news agenda for national politics.

Can't wait for Rush Limbaugh to give you accurate information on Bristol.

The fact no one knows what's going on in the P&Z meeting, but people know that Sarah Palin is a grandmother is distressing.

News has no bias. The bias comes in not only in who writes it, but who reads it.

I say conservative talk show listeners have bias.

It has nothing to do at the local level.

Anonymous said...

Whether the bias belongs to the reporter or the reader, it is better (but not always possible) to see and hear for ones' self.

The bigger the audience, the more honest the officials and more factual the reporting, I've always found.

Steve Collins said...

I'd love to see more people at government meetings, too. It makes my job as a reporter easier, because there are more people to ask for their thoughts.
But I do recognize that it's hard for most of us to get out to some meeting unless there's a compelling reason. People are overstretched already, including me.

Anonymous said...

We need more people like Bill Stortz who used to attend almost all the City meetings.