Monday, May 13, 2013

A Question of Priority

Based upon the comments on the Freeman website, it seems people were not happy with the front page story on this past Sunday's edition.  The Mother's Day edition had a front page story about Jeremy Blaber and his life.

The comments suggest a feeling that this story was not appropriate.  I think the story was fine.  Since Blaber has generated tremendous controversy with the release of his surreptitious recording, many readers might be asking, "Who is this guy anyway?"

Though the story is fair and has a purpose, I question placing it on the front page.  Buried in the second section was one of the biggest potential stories of the year.  The IRS admitted to the world that they targeted conservative groups and anti-Obama groups for auditing during the last presidential campaign.  This type of stuff has been rumored for years from prior Democrat and Republican administrations, but to get an admission from the IRS is astounding and staggering.  THAT IS A HUGE STORY!!

I think that should have been front page news, not the Blaber article, even though I am sure there were more hits on the Blaber story via the Internet.  Am I off base?  I admit I am not a journalist.  I am an attorney, a blogger, and soon to be a published author (a story soon to be posted).  Am I missing something?  I agree the story on Blaber made some sense as a background piece to explain the prior headlines.  Some speculate that the intent was to make Blaber a more compelling victim to strengthen the prior Gallo stories, but I will give the Freeman the benefit of the doubt on that one.

I welcome comments.  Am I wrong?  Do the number of "hits" justify the decision?  Or was perhaps the placement of the story responsible for the number of hits?  (Every single comment was anti-Freeman.)  Should the IRS story have been on the front page?

What say all of you?

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do not feel this was front page coverage nor coverage for any other page.

Anonymous said...

Not front page

Anonymous said...

Slow day in Kingston. How many people even read it?

Anonymous said...

Story was pandering to elicit more sales or controversy. So done with this story..so done with "poor me" Blaber. Unfortunately he cannot move on as he has no where to go.
Now, the IRS story was big news..enough so that the press asked questions at Obama's noontime news conference with the Prime Minister from England. A stammering Obama answered the question. No teleprompter in sight...Didn't get the sense of any outrage from him.

Anonymous said...

I liked the story. I thought the kid was a spoiled brat, I had no idea he had that background. I think you're wrong to think he's stupid. Even if he is, I believe he really has a great attitude on life. He has problems but he has overcome a lot. He's not same person that I would hear on public access tv. People make mistakes, let he without sin cast the first stone. Our Mayor made a mistake in how he acted. To be honest both he and Blaber made mistakes. How sad is it that a 24 year old sounds more insightful and mature than the Mayor.

Richard T. Cahill Jr. said...

9:10,

I made no accusation about his intelligence. What are you talking about?

My point is that this story should not be on the front page. It is a nice story and it has a place, just not on page one. My beef is not with Blaber. It is with the Freeman and whomever placed the story on page one.

Anonymous said...

Richard, I believe it was a judgement call, on the part of the Freeman, and most likely based on the internet response to the original article. At least that is my interpretation of the recent Adamis postings. Here is the Freeman quandry. We can get information on the Benghazi scandal, and the Irs scandals from numerous sources, but the Blaber story is local and they are the communities source of such news. By the way, this is essentially borrowing a page from the Warren Buffett treatise on newspapers, as he continues to buy them for 10 cents on the dollar. His papers are profitable because they are community centric. Perhaps the less than enlightened leadership of the Freeman's current owner, is positioning their papers to be rescued by Buffett? So, in summary, and on face value, the Blaber story was probably appropriate for page 3, but in today,s environment, winds up on page one. I agree with you.

Richard T. Cahill Jr. said...

8:39,

An interesting analysis

Anonymous said...

It speaks volume as the caliber of people running the freemand this city.
At a time where Broadway is a crime infested ghetto, no quality jobs available, people leaving by the busloads and the only people moving here are tennants for Mike Hein, it amazes me that Blaber is the big story.
But I guess as long as the people are focused on this BS they arent complaining about what a joke the local politicans are and how none of them have done one thing to boost Kingston or its citizens.
Gallo, Hein, Cahill (Kevin not you) the entire council and the corp counsel are a joke and no master plan to rid the area of the crime and welfare cases that they feed on.
When a 23yr old dope head can outsmart the mayor and the exec is a slum lord and the entire population is screaming for change or voting them out, it speaks volumes...
The daily rag fits right in with this bunch on clowns
Focus in some imbeciles and dont worry abouat the city crahsing down around us...

Anonymous said...

What has happend to the Athletic Director at Kingston?