Superman! We need you! And bring a blogger!

It seems our little village is beginning to fall apart. The Co-op is struggling with finances, its reputation and some logistical challenges that, imo, can be directly traced to leadership issues. The local recycling program is slated to be dropped by the current operator and there's no indication of how or whether the County will take over the operation.

And the local newspaper Poobah has, believe it or not, made a not-so-subtle harsh on bloggers. Not me, specifically - as far as I know - but still... We bloggers are a feisty bunch, not particularly inclined to take criticism graciously from people who can barely "do a Google" and think their position in an industry gives them carte blanche to point fingers and tell us "how it is".

As a newspaper editor, I admit I have a strong vested interest in the subject, but the value of newspapers is something many people take for granted in this era of the Internet, blogs and BlackBerrys. And they shouldn't.

Obtaining news by reading short blurbs on the Internet or the mindless, more-often-than-not inaccurate assertions by bloggers is the lazy way to obtain information on prudent matters that profoundly affect all of us. Unfortunately, that approach can be an impediment to beneficial and meaningful progress.

Huh... On one hand, I'm not really burning up with righteous indignation over this slight, regardless of its intended target(s). This column, and a similar, previous column** I'll have to hunt down, bring a sense of irony that we bloggers are so terribly fond of - i.e., I'm reading Rick's columns on the paper's web site. Via my computer. Because, evidently, even Rick Fromm realizes that the times are changing - perhaps more slowly in Decorah than some parts of the World - and a good number of people prefer to find their news online.

I don't buy the deadtree version of the paper, personally. Who needs the stack of papers cluttering up the place? Not to mention the 75 cents per issue. Sure, there's a point to be made that I'm missing out on some things. But do you know why? Because the paper doesn't bother to post them on their web site. A few thoughts on the whole scenario:

• I'm sure the paper brings in more ad dollars via the deadtree version than they do on the web site. That makes sense, I suppose, due to space and layout formatting for ads. And I'd hazard to guess the deadtree version gets more eyeballs than the web site, right now.
• The web site is, frankly, pretty dismal. Between the numerous typos, redundant and mis-categorized classified ads, and overall paucity of content... well, it's not exactly blowing my mind, y'know? Does anybody actually look at the site on a regular basis? Seriously, they'd do their online readers a great service by hiring someone (ahem!) to edit and manage the site. Hell, hire an exlusive online reporter and give people a reason to read the site. (ahem! again)
  

I was going to make another point there, but I think it deserves a deeper analysis, so here goes. I realize this is a small town and, honestly, we're fortunate to have a successful, long running newspaper here, but... Well, it's just not very good, in my opinion. Where's the journalism? Every article of length that I read is basically a long quote from whomever they happen to interview on the subject. Where's the analysis? Where's the investigation? Where's the "here's what this means to you, citizen"? And back to the web site comparison, does the deadtree version contain the same editing mistakes and lack of attention to detail?

Rick lobs an easy-for-him crank on bloggers but, to be honest, most of the bloggers that I read do a far better job of posting facts, sources and analysis, and make the issue more interesting than anything I've seen from the local paper. Rick had a column***, some months back that I'll have to hunt down, making the case (not very subtly, I might add) that you should stick with the professionals and avoid having work done by hobbyists. So, I have to ask: What exactly are the qualifications of the folks at the local paper? Are they Journalism majors? (I honestly don't know, I'm not being snarky here.) You don't have to live in Decorah too long to see the "Family Business" model (koff nepotism koff) at work in some of our media outlets. So...??? Is this an example of professionalism? Maybe I'm missing something, I don't know.

To be perfectly honest, does the newspaper provide any information that the grapevine wouldn't give us, if we had a little more patience? Here's a perfect example - the Police report or Police Blotter or whatever they call it. Seriously, Rick? In 2009? What is that, but a chance for people to nod knowingly at each other and cluck their tongues over traffic accidents and those "ne'er do wells from out of town"? It's hardly what I'd call a "public service", to say nothing of its newsworthiness. How bout some actual investigation and analysis on current events that actually affect us and our neighbors? Agri-Processors ring a bell? You said the story wasn't newsworthy because (to paraphrase) it "didn't occur in Winneshiek County." Sweet balls, brother! Talk about tone deaf.

Maybe someday we can sit down for a beer and I'll tell you how some fellow bloggers and I nearly shut down a talk radio station owned by a national media corporation, because the hosts were calling for the execution of people for their political beliefs. Or how three of us raised over $6,000 in less than two months to pay for utilities, holiday meals and provide Xmas gifts for some folks across the country who were down on their luck. Or how mindless bloggers discovered a "reporter" in the White House press pool was a gay* male prostitute with no real journalism experience, working for an online GOP "news outlet", whose White House visitation records were "classified". (Doesn't that just burn your britches, Rick? The nerve!) I could go on.

"...mindless, more-often-than-not inaccurate assertions by bloggers..." Sure, that kind of thing happens. You're not exactly rockin' the free world, either, pally.

* I don't care if anyone's gay or not. But a gay male escort working for GOPUSA.com and pushing Republican talking points? It is to fucking laugh.

** As luck would have it, I can't find that particular column Rick penned, by searching the paper's online archives. You might be less than surprised to learn that most bloggers' sites have far better search capabilities than the local paper's web site.

*** See above. QED, Rick... QED.