Newspapers

[Beregond2]

I stopped taking the local paper a while back, because it had shrunk to the size of a pamphlet, while raising the rates. But our neighbor gives it to us, so I took a look today. It was a bit of a shock. It used to be a really good small-town paper, with many awards to it's credit. Now, it has become a right-wing propaganda rag. The editorial page is full of ridiculous columnists like John Schlossel. I counted two opinion pieces denouncing the reality of global warming. A quarter of the front page was given over to an anti-gay-rights rally that attracted all of seventy people, all from one loony church.

It's really weird. This has always been a solidly Democratic, pro-union town. I can only think that the only people still subscribing to papers are wingnuts, so they cater to them. John McClellan, the old owner, must be rolling in his grave.

I wonder if this is the trend all over? Are newspapapers going the way of radio stations, becoming the last refuge of knuckle-draggers? It's sad. But that is what happens with new technology. The Law of Unintended Consequences leads to changes no one anticipated.

[NYC_SKP]

1. Longview Daily News? Bought out by Lee Enterprises, owns a bunch of papers.

http://www.mediaowners.com/company/lee.html

Or do you mean a different paper?

[Beregond2]

3. Yep,

that's the paper.

[elocs]

9. Lee Enterprises owns my paper, the La Crosse Tribune. n/t

[bbinacan]

2. Who is John Schlossel? n/t

[Beregond2]

6. I meant John Stossel

(Where did I come up with Schlossel?)

[bbinacan]

8. Thanks. n/t

[SharonAnn]

4. I've got only one week left on my subscription here. I'm not resubscribing. It feels

really strange since I've had a daily newspaper to read all my life (I'm over 60).

But there's simply no point in subscribing to it any longer. It's all right-wing opinion or news from outside the area that's several days old.

Even the Letters to the Editor are full of right-wing drivel. Prayer in schools, creationism, anti-choice, anti gay marriage, women's place is in the home, guns 'n ammo, right to bear arms, down with the Federal government, sanctity of marriage, America is a Christian nation, USA - USA - USA.

Rinse, repeat.

Even though there's no longer any value in this newspaper, it seems like I'm choosing to be uninformed in the future. I guess I've stuck with it this long because, somehow, I thought it would help me be informed and knowledgeable.

[Beregond2]

5. I understand.

I grew up reading two papers a day.

[Raine]

7. My local paper here in Los Angeles County

is a RW rag too, I quit subscribing a couple of years ago after getting it for decades. :-( It's always been a RW rag but I accepted it before there was other sources for news, now I don't need that kind of BS since I can gt news off thr internet.