So Why Are The Media Giving This Administration The Honeymoon Treatment?
ANOTHER EMGR CHAT DOWN!
Since the Sinnott administration has taken office, Erie continues to hemorrhage jobs and companies.
It is not the mayor’s fault that companies decide to leave, but he has to take the responsibility for not working harder and creatively to replace them as well as any others that might leave in the near future. (Yes…that is a real possibility)
The number one priority for the long term health of this community, meaningful private sector economic development, seems to have been put on the back burner by the politicians, civil authorities and even the local media. The perception, rightly or wrongly, is that the city administration has been given a media pass or an extended honeymoon.
Where are the really tough questions? This administration penetrated city hall 10 months ago. It is no longer a virgin.
In last Sunday’s Erie Times-News, Pat Howared appears to be saying that the news media has given this administration a longer honeymoon because of “Filippi Fatique”? Give me a break!
Where are the really tough questions? This administration penetrated city hall 10 months ago. It is no longer a virgin.
In last Sunday’s Erie Times-News, Pat Howared appears to be saying that the news media has given this administration a longer honeymoon because of “Filippi Fatique”? Give me a break!
“The contrast of Sinnott's earnest steadiness seemed welcome in a city afflicted by Filippi fatigue. But 10 months in, the new mayor hasn't laid out much of an agenda beyond surviving the current fiscal year, and his next-to-no-profile style hasn't prepared the community for the wrenching choices and challenges ahead. “
Most will agree with Howard that the city needs leaders who will speak the truth, but sighting “Filippi Fatigue” is like the neo-conservatives blaming past administrations for the current political malaise.
It's my opinion that the media has a larger responsibility than just reporting what goes on before their eyes and re-writing prepared news releases from City Hall. It shouldn’t take 10 months for this administration to begin addressing economic recovery and laying out its plan.
The local media does a great job in reporting the job losses and how taxpayers get taken over and over again by slick quasi developers who promise the moon. From the governor on down, they can’t shovel the public cash fast enough just with the slightest whisper of possible job creation.
But what is the media, both print and broadcast, doing to keep the politicians feet to the fire to produce? (Other than Jeff Johns for 2 hours a day)
We have heard no concrete economic plans from Erie City, Erie County or our economic revitalization partners and agencies.
Howard’s salvo in last Sunday’s column was much needed even if it was late from “Filippi Fatigue.” His ultimate conclusion is dead on:
We have heard no concrete economic plans from Erie City, Erie County or our economic revitalization partners and agencies.
Howard’s salvo in last Sunday’s column was much needed even if it was late from “Filippi Fatigue.” His ultimate conclusion is dead on:
"Erie and the entire region need much more from Sinnott than tinkering at the margins of the city's decline. The standards for judging his performance will get more exacting, because the need for leadership has never been more acute.”
The Erie Media-Go-Round CHAT DOWN for today is…
Does the media share a responsibility to hold our elected and civil officials accountable for what they don’t do as well as for what they do?
Does the media share a responsibility to hold our elected and civil officials accountable for what they don’t do as well as for what they do?
Congress passed a law on February 1, 2006, setting a final deadline for the DTV transition of February 17, 2009. Most television stations will continue broadcasting both analog and digital programming until February 17, 2009, when all analog broadcasting will stop.." FCC http://www.dtv.gov/
FOX World Series Gets Kicked By A Foxtrot, A Waltz And A Mambo!
24 comments:
We live in the "United States of Amnesia"... The media is our crutch to remember our elected official's spoken words. That involves investigation and staying on top of actions. Can the media do their job?
Or perhaps is that too manipulative?
If anyone in this town expects the Erie Times-News to actually do something good, then please rethink your goal. The Times-News does not care about Erie. It cares about its sinking profits and its pathetic attempts at getting new subcribers (i.e. the new TV ads).
The Times-News shows no care for the problems at city hall. Knowing this town, Sinnott is probably a Mead somehow.
As for the TV channels, they get their news from the newspaper, so don't expect them to ask tough questions unless the print side takes care of it.
It's like four blind donkeys being tied to each other - they just keep going in circles.
If not the media, at least somebody in town has to call out Sinnott (Edited)I work late nights at my office job rather often. I guess I just assumed being the mayor would require putting in the hours as well. Especially when there is a city to be saved.
I don't think the paper deserves the disparaging comments about focusing on the agenda. It's one of the few places talking about Erie's future. Hopefully no one will be willing to give any administration a free ride, esp. with so much at stake.
What continues to amaze me is that you rarely see the Mayor on camera saying anything substantive. This goes back to my post of Oct. 3rd, encouraging the news outlets to take some time and develop feature stories about the present economic situation in Erie. The networks do it, for instance, "The Long Road Back" and "Fleezing of America" on Nightly News. How about an ongoing series that track Erie's progress.
Let's get the Mayor and County Exec. on camera for more than ribbon cuttings and appearances, lets talk about the agenda for Erie.
JoJo:
I believe you meant, "Fleecing" of America, a title given to a feature segment done two or three years ago on Nightly News with Tom Brokaw.
I agree with you to a point, The substantive reporting which you refer to will not take place in Erie TV newsrooms until the management at those entities stops treating the Erie Times News like "source copy".
TV newsrooms need to be self sufficient in developing content and not reactionary when anything hits the newspaper.
We have at lest a smattering of professionals left who know the differnece between slander and libel. I would think that these "senior reporters" could come up with an exclusive other than a two-car fatal in Summit Township!
Where is Hyle Richmond when you need him? (retired and playing tennis in Arizona)
Anyone over the age of 40 remember the weekly new conferences that Mayor Tullio had open to the media. They were able to ask him questions and we knew what was going on every week. Why not suggest that to the Sinnott administration?
eriedjguy...
To be fair to the mayor, I believe he did start doing that but not sure if it is as regular as Tullio. Perhaps some of the reporters here can answer that more definete.
I agree with the comment that we need to see the Mayor and County Executive do more than just ribbon cutting. We need to let the media know that we expect more from them, just as we expect more from our elected officials than "tinkering at the margins". The media needs to ask the tough questions, not accept press releases as news. Perhaps we need to feed them the questions, point them in the direction that seems so obvious to us. I have a whole lot of questions that I'd be happy to share if someone would just ask them and follow through on the answers.
Here's a question: Dan Wells, puppy reporter on TV24 just did a story on the city fire dispatchers getting 6 jobs back. He interviewed Sinnott on the issue, and Sinnott's answer to the dispatchers coming back was that it "was going to cost the taxpayers more". Not only is this a weak answer, but it begs the question, which Wells did not ask, "does the fact that the fire union worked so hard for your election have any influence on your decision not to appeal this ruling?" Or, "will you to make other cuts in the fire department to offset this rather than turn to the taxpayer?" These seem like natural follow-up questions to Sinnott's response and its incredibly disappointing that they weren't asked. The idea that Sinnott would not even look for other cost cutting opportunities other than raising taxes is disappointing and the fact that Wells would not ask the obvious questions is also disappointing. I bet these young reporters are being taught to ask the tough questions.
I like that! Dan Wells "Puppy Reporter!" BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
You do have to admit, he is pretty green around the ears.
I agree, Sinnott isn't much for details. "It's going to cost the taxpayers more" is his robotic answer to everything.
Taxpayer: How's the weather today, Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Sinnott: It's going to cost the taxpayers more!
One thing is for sure, Sinnott is no Lou Tullio. Tullio loved the tough question. The tougher the question the better.
Lou was no pussy like our current mayor.
Back in the day Carol Pella used to make life miserable for Lou Tullio. Carol did not care if Lou was pissed or not. She had a job to do and by God she was gonna do it.
Present day: if a reporter made life miserable for Mayor JoJo that reporter would probably be banned from City Hall.
Current government need to grow a set and get some thick skin. The City is going down the tubes rapidly and there aren't any ballsy reporters out there that would do a serious investigative piece.
What I wouldn't do for Carol to come out of retirement for 1 month and really stir things up!
Interesting letter to the editor this morning on media bias and failure to understand what news is. It's fascinating that so many see this as a problem but the media continue to take the easiest way out. Correction to my last comment, I meant to say that I DO NOT believe these young reporters are taught to ask tough questions. Maybe Carol could come out of retirement just to train these kids.
Carol did a fine job of keeping Tullio and his administration in check during her days at city hall.
I worked at a competing station on the same beat. To Tullio's credit, he was a master at pitting one media outlet against the other.
Keep in mind that this was in the day when you covered city hall from basement to fifth floor looking for a story.
Tullio would call you into his office and say "I don't have anything for you today, but see me tomorrow."
Sure enough, he would have something for you the next day, and only for you and not the other
reporters. He routinely rewarded those reporters who stopped by everyday even just to say hello.
Can you imagine that kind of reporting today?
Jack - Going back to JoJo's comment about a program concerning Erie's future. There is a relatively new program out of Youngstown on WYTV's "MyYTV" called "For The People." It's a two hour call in talk program that airs from 3-5pm and is simulcast on WYTV's website at www.wytv.com and also on WSOM AM 600. WYTV has even ran stories on how to make their city better by going to other areas and seeing what works there. It's something that should be tried in Erie.
Last Annonymous...
I totally agree with you but then the stations would have to spend money? Don't to get the point? It is money before community. I know it used to be the other way around but that is the new reality of duopolies.
And Youngstown is not any better off than Erie is. It is a same.
Reporters these days don't have any guts. They don't want to upset City Hall and Mayor JoJo.
Do you think some of the puppy reporters might be intimidated by local government? That would mean they actually had a brain to be intimidated with.
Bunch of worthless pussies!
I think the criticism should be reserved more for TV than the newspaper. While the paper could be doing a better job, it is the only outlet in town that actually presses public officials on anything.
Remember where the investigation of the Filippi land deals came from? Remember where the Garvey investigation came from? Remember where the OCY investigation came from? Remember where all of the questions about the finances of Presque Isle Downs came from? Remember where the investigation into property flipping in the city came from?
That's right. The newspaper.
And these aren't old stories, people.
Try to find many other cities of this size that have the recent investigative track record of the Erie Times-News.
There are very few.
but youngstown has tv stations broadcasting relatively full-power dtv & hdtv. doesn't that make it better off than erie ?
Yes that makes it luckier than Erie that they have stations who know they have to invest even in hard economic times.
Maybe when WICU goes full VJ Scott Cook can ride his tricycle (mobile news scooter - see: Nessman, Les) down to City Hall and do a hard hitting report on how Mayor JoJo is trying to save taxpayers money. Cook: "How are you, Mayor?" JoJo: "This is going to cost the taxpayers a lot of money!" Cook: " "This is going to cost the taxpayers a lot of money!" LET'S HEAR IT FOR "FILIPPI FATIGUE" Maybe Jim Thompson can pass out pink carnations at City Council meetings? Wait! Joey Stevens has that covered!
I'm surprised local TV is giving Mayor Sinnott a pass on the fire alarm operator decision.
This is going to cost the City hundreds of thousands of dollars it doesn't have.
The Mayor (who got elected with the help of the fire union) said the City probably can't appeal.
Carol Pella would rip him to shreds in 30 seconds.
Where Have You Gone, Carol Pella???
Youngstown has an economy that is far worse than Erie's. The only difference is that Youngstown TV is in (Full-Power) Digital & HDTV.
I guess Youngstown has station owners that actually care about the viewing public.
Erie has station owners that only care about how their spreadsheets look.
Youngstown = Quality Station Owners
Erie = [Edit] station Owners
What TV would you rather view?
DIGITAL!!!
HDTV!!!
YOUNGSTOWN!!!
(edit) ERIE TV OWNERSHIP!
DOWN WITH SJL!
SCREW LILLY!
NEXSTAR? HMMM, give 'em a pass!
Annonymous (X 2)
Sorry I had to do that small edit. I know you tried to do a self edit but a "*" doesn't cover the meaning of the "u" you took out. However, what you wanted to say I think still stays intact.
No Problem. A little self editing can be a good thing!
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