Paycheck Protection Program Supports Local News Outlets

Nov 3, 2020 The Astorian

“The moment the dust settles after the election, Congress and the White House must renew the Paycheck Protection Program to continue supporting jobs at local news outlets, as well as at the host of business advertisers on which communities and newspapers depend.”

I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local newspaper subscription if there was more in the way of newspeople asking questions.

Elimination of reader comments (this is the trend in the Puget Sound area) also works against the idea of paying for an online subscription.

Newspeople have stopped asking questions.

Both Whidbey papers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.

Newspapers are suppressing or eliminating online comment sections. A forum for individual thought is not part of the plan. Newspapers are getting away from asking questions related to public policy while telling us they need more support from subscription and advertising sales.

Got it.

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

The Press Is Weak

People go to alternative media because the family friendly, hometown pride-oriented local small town papers and TV news folks have moved away from asking questions.

Image above: 10/29/2020

Source: Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map

Click image to enlarge.

Living on an Island near Puget Sound, there seems to be great concern for salmon, orca, eagles, recreational shellfish and clean water.

Underreported news stories are curious.

Has anyone ever seen the Puget Sound area press ask questions about Whidbey water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls?

Has anyone ever seen any government agency, elected official or volunteer organization seeking answers related to one or more sewage treatment plants sending unsafe product into the waters near Whidbey Island?

Several Whidbey beaches remain closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.

Sewage treatment outfall. Not stormwater.

Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.

Coupeville – just west of Captain Thomas Coupe Park

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

More here:

Not Climate Change

Whidbey Waters – Mixed Signals of Concern

“…talking to officials at the Town of Coupeville…”

Distance learning idea:

Podcast 4 Another Month With An R – Whidbey Sewage Treatment Plant Outfalls

Zero Questions/Zero Curiosity from Newspeople

Local press:

“For the past couple of years, the Whidbey News-Times paid the insurance for the Veterans Day Parade, about $200, because it was a small way of saying thank you to the men and women who sacrificed so that we may have our liberties, including our Freedom of Speech.”

Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?

Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?

Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?

Military Town – Hometown Pride

The press release style of news reporting means that statements are prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest bust/federal grant money award, news conference, etc. Newspeople post these statements without asking any questions.

Cartels Respond to General Milley’s Big DOD Crackdown

Port Angeles CBP Staffing and Infrastructure

Cartel Moves Product Past General Milley, CBP & Into The Puget Sound Area – Newspeople Remain Silent

Spokane – Opioid Lawsuit Update

JFK speaks about the role of the press in a free society: