A private citizen response to TV newspeople who function like paid actors reading a script.
TV newspeople:
Would any newsperson ever ask:
Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?
US jet aircraft have been able to strike targets in what wars won by the US?
Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?
Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?
Private citizens:
17:06 below:
Newspeople Not Asking Questions
The press stopped asking questions a while back. People go to social media to share ideas. People are OK with basic rules such as:
No hate speech, insults, threats, foul language, attacking other commenters, etc. These are rules that make sense.
Today, social media posts are suppressed, filtered, censored and shadow banned. Will social media die out? What will become of the press?
Private citizens are stepping in and going out with a camera to see and document what is going on.
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.
Also not waiting on the overthrow of Saddam Hussein or the take down of the next bad guy in distant lands, as DOD defends the constitution, etc.
Videos recorded at or outside of sites that are funded by the public seem to be best for documenting these issues.
Any TV newsperson could go out and educate the public on their rights/public official’s obligation to provide info, etc. That does not happen.
Mainstream Press
In recent years, the press tends to support government agencies, departments and policies rather than question them.
Small Town Papers – Two Examples
In the news- example number one:
August 11, 2023 Whidbey News-Times
Whidbey sewer plants win state awards
“The Oak Harbor Clean Water Facility was recognized as outstanding by the Department of Ecology.”
“The Coupeville treatment plant received the outstanding performance award for the 13th consecutive year, and the Holmes Harbor plant was awarded for the 17th year in a row. The Penn Cove wastewater treatment plant was also a recipient this year.”
Beach adjacent to Award Winning Sewage Treatment Plant:
Coupeville
“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
Would any newsperson ever ask:
When is the last time all of Penn Cove was safe for recreational shellfish harvest?
Zero questions from small or large newspapers. Zero questions from TV newspeople.
In the news- example number two:
$6.3 million in federal cash for a used Ocean Shores hotel.
Any questions from newspeople?
December 8, 2022 The Daily World
Dept. of Ag invests $6.3M to purchase Ocean Shores hotel
$6.3 million “to fund the acquisition of an existing hotel. Marathon Enterprises Inc. is located in Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County, Washington. The project is expected to result in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job.”
Zero questions from small or large newspapers. Zero questions from TV newspeople.
The small papers will say they need more support from subscribers and advertising dollars or cash from the federal government to stay alive. All this because COVID or the internet or lack of newspaper sales, or a free and independent press that needs taxpayer support.
People who take no public funds, private donations or advertising dollars are free to ask questions at any time. Why not the press? Call for unpaid volunteers and you’d get better news coverage than what we have now.
I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local paper subscription if there was more in the way of newspeople asking questions.
No sense in subscribing to newspapers that do not ask public policy-related questions.
JFK speaks about the role of the press in a free society:
WA Gun Control
In the news:
June 4, 2024 The Daily World
One wounded, one arrested following Saturday morning shooting
“…the gun was licensed to him.”
Would any newsperson ever ask:
Does owning a handgun in WA require a license? How and when is a handgun licensed in WA?
In Washington State:
NRA-ILA says no permit required to purchase a handgun.
No licensing of firearms owners.
Possibly of interest:
Sound Publishing And Black Press Media
A Truly Weak Culture In Terms of Newspeople Asking Questions
WA Gun Laws – License Required To Own A Handgun?
Would any newsperson ever ask:
NATO – Newspeople refuse to ask:
Newspeople refuse to ask:
What happens when American families no longer send the young ones to enlist and will not support a draft?
Photo: One I took a few years back.
A symbol of operating a camera in a public place.
Salmon Season – Whidbey Island – Driftwood Park