Sports Writers and Alternative Media – Still Free To Ask Questions

Love to see more in the way of newspeople asking questions.

What we get now is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.

Newspeople post this statement as is. A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

Newspeople show a lack of initiative and curiosity in asking questions.

Today, it seems as if the press promotes whatever message is handed down by elected officials and government agencies.

Voices of dissent, and their social media accounts, are suppressed.

This whole structure brings government messages into question.

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

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

Various newspapers in the Puget Sound area have gone with this trend.

Suppressing comments, getting away from asking questions related to public policy and telling us they need more support from subscription and advertising sales.

Got it.

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

Elimination of reader comments works against the idea of paying for an online subscription.

Manage it, don’t ban it. Online comment sections

Grew up in the 70s.

Seems like the press was better at asking questions back then.

Today:

We are the very best at militarized pageantry for pro sports events.

Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs staff as authorities prepare for the Super Bowl.

Sorry, no time for newspeople to ask:

Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

US fighter jet aircraft have been able to strike targets in what wars won by the US?

Alternative Media

We are big fans of Independent/alternative media here at Oak Bay Starfish.

The family friendly, hometown pride-oriented local small town papers and TV news folks are more welcome to do interviews related to public policy. Unfortunately, they seem to have moved away from asking questions.

I’m not going to argue with you.

Instead of waiting for school teachers to teach about individual rights and limited government authority, waiting on the press to ask questions or courts to handle cases, these guys go out and update us with a quick reality check:

Operating A Camera In A Public Place

Sports Writers

Love to see general public policy, foreign policy, etc. reported on by sports writers.

Sept. 18, 2021 Seattle Times

After two frustrating losses, the dam finally breaks in Washington’s 52-3 win over Arkansas State

“Without a doubt, there is work to be done.

But after eight quarters of catastrophes, this felt like progress.

There needs to be more as Washington enters Pac-12 play.”

Regular newspeople don’t seem to have permission to ask hard questions.

Sports writers are OK with being critical of coaches, teams, players, the rule book, the league, referees, team owners, when the season starts and ends, etc.

Are people who work for newspapers and TV news folks given permission to go out and to do interviews related to public policy? If elected officials and people who run government agencies are not available to be interviewed, that should become the story.

Recommendation for newspeople:

Interview people from various sides of any given issue.

If you are a newspaper struggling for subscription and advertising dollars, figure out how to use the web to post videos of these interviews to bring more attention to your media outlet.

Press Needs More Funding?

Podcast 8 Senator Cantwell and the local press

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

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

JFK – Voices of dissent and misinformation

Sports Culture Tends to be Open and Honest

TV Newspeople Or Paid Actors?

The Press Is Weak – Newspaper Revenue Down Compared To 20 Years Ago

Press might need less bailout cash if it was more in the habit of asking questions

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

Podcast 9 Defending The Constitution?

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?