We’d be happy to have our newsroom meet with Senator Johnson. But, sorry, our limited news gathering team is too busy covering issues that matter to Watertown and the Glacial Lakes Region to make time to meet with the ‘P.R.’ machine. That meeting belongs in the advertising department — not the newsroom.
We’ve been in the newspaper business a long time ... over 121 years to be exact. Each day we have to work awfully hard to convince advertisers to buy our products to reach our 30,000 plus daily readers. We know this paper is never guaranteed advertising ... we also know ... neither is coverage of promotional items by a campaign or organization masquerading as news [Mark Roby, "Beware of the 'P.R.' Machine," Watertown Public Opinion, 2008.07.12].
We all love free press, but Roby is right to balk at handouts for a well-funded campaign from any party.
(Now don't let me down, Watertown readers: do let me know if any WPO reporters find time to visit with the Dykstra P.R. machine....)
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Update 19:45: Of course, I might prefer the papers give all candidates for public office equal amounts of free press rather than take the cheap editorial shots (described by Dr. Newquist) that make them sound like tools of the opposition's propaganda machine.
Watch your mail. Sen. Tim Johnson will no doubt put out another frank mail advertising piece prior to Labor Day at the taxpayer's expense. All printing, postage and propoganda coming right to your mailbox and you paid for every piece. Consider your contribution paid in advance of the campaign. Frank Mail should be prohibited within 12 months of an election. It is such an unfair advantage for incumbents.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Johnson should just show up at Dakotafest and the fair and do some debating. Let people meet him face to face and discuss the issues.
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