An interesting question from an anonymous voicemail I received:
"Why does your website have to have all this news about IKEA coming to town so big? Is it all just a free ad for them?"
That's an issue I've often wondered about myself, and one that readers bring up every once in a while.
To be more specific, I've long thought the media play a role in blurring the lines between actual news about technology and product announcements.
Most obvious case in point: Apple's press conferences to announce their new gadgets are almost universally reported as news. That's partly to be expected for a company that has been so successful.
Another example is the coverage of Google Fiber's high-speed foray into Kansas City. Like Apple, Google is one of the world's most visible and valuable companies, and such a big and novel project does have serious news value, especially in Kansas City.
But at what point does media coverage tip over into the realm of the promotional? I think that's a largely subjective line, and I can also tell you from my conversations with the newsroom that it's something journalists tend to think about themselves quite a bit.
I'd invite readers to send examples of where they think The Star has been too boosterish for any company, local or not.
Pro sports teams
Not that I am complaining, but, as newsman Charles McCabe used to point out on a regular basis, all supposed news stories on professional sports teams are advertisements. McCabe said they should be paid for, a sentiment that has not caught on, clearly. I guess you could argue the current Chiefs stories are not all that great for the bottom line, unless you subscribe to the "any publicity is good publicity" theory.
It's a valid point -- and
It's a valid point -- and you identify both sides of it.
Star 'boosterism'
Derek, the Star is nothing but a booster for all Democrats and all things liberal.
What's the latest editorial? "Akin's Insulting Mouth."
local interest
Thing is .. all of the examples cited are of definite local interest and they'd be remiss in _not_ reporting it.
It's some of the relatively little local reporting that we do get, a good chunk of the print version is just regurgitated wire service pieces.
And no offense, but an editorial titled that belongs in the editorial section .. unlike some outlets where the editorial page bleeds over to the news page.
Editorials are written by
Editorials are written by the members of the editorial board to express opinions, and those pieces run in the Opinion section. The editorial board has nothing to do with the news side of the operation, though. They don't attend meetings, plan stories or anything else operational. The news side's goal is to remain neutral. My job is to point out when readers don't think they accomplish that.
Hope you brought your lunch
Well you've got your work cut out for you, Derek. You could stay busy around the clock pointing out the Star's unfairness.