Some time ago this space offered a a simple piece suggesting that newspapers should engage in something I like to call "responsible" journalism. Sometimes the editors seem have an unseen agenda. Sometimes they are just ignorant of the facts. Sometimes they don't seem to respect either.
The pretense tirade of that particular day was about the Times Daily editorializing (making fun of) on the city of Russellville questioning fluoride expense in the drinking water. The question on the table was "Is this the highest and best use of the city tax dollars in today's world". (And yes, your utility bill is a tax). But the story was never about water. It was about misuse of a powerful force. The misuse of editorial space. The Times Daily bullied the local council into making an expensive, if not outright mistaken, decision.
This column was offended most recently when the local paper wasted forty-four column inches suggesting that the city should make sure they get the highest dollar amount for some old country club land in a penny wise and pound foolish manner. Further suggesting that the city was being irresponsible by offering the land at lower than the appraisal price to, of all things, to the University of North Alabama.
But in the considered opinion of this author, Florence should give the land outright to UNA. After all without Florence Teachers College, the City would have been Leighton-West a hundred and thirty nine years ago. With the same economic impact today that Leighton has today. {No offense intended to my loyal reader and epicurean friend in Leighton}
But to bring my gentle reader back to the point of this short essay. "With great power comes great responsibility". At least that is what Peter Parker espouses. Sometimes I think maybe the powers of the pulp don't realize the impact of putting a few words on paper. Whack out a few lines on the old Underwood and go back to pleasant slumbers. In the Russellville case the Times Daily actually caused well meaning city fathers, who were reporting facts and giving solid budgetary advice, to be laughed out of the room. In the country club case the paper took a position against the source blood for all Lauderdale County, much to the detriment of the people just for what? To sell papers? Yellow journalism at it's best?
The City of Florence should follow the lead of Muscle Shoals who has no problem with spending money to make money.
As they did on the Zaxby's deal.
But that is another story.
The pretense tirade of that particular day was about the Times Daily editorializing (making fun of) on the city of Russellville questioning fluoride expense in the drinking water. The question on the table was "Is this the highest and best use of the city tax dollars in today's world". (And yes, your utility bill is a tax). But the story was never about water. It was about misuse of a powerful force. The misuse of editorial space. The Times Daily bullied the local council into making an expensive, if not outright mistaken, decision.
This column was offended most recently when the local paper wasted forty-four column inches suggesting that the city should make sure they get the highest dollar amount for some old country club land in a penny wise and pound foolish manner. Further suggesting that the city was being irresponsible by offering the land at lower than the appraisal price to, of all things, to the University of North Alabama.
But in the considered opinion of this author, Florence should give the land outright to UNA. After all without Florence Teachers College, the City would have been Leighton-West a hundred and thirty nine years ago. With the same economic impact today that Leighton has today. {No offense intended to my loyal reader and epicurean friend in Leighton}
But to bring my gentle reader back to the point of this short essay. "With great power comes great responsibility". At least that is what Peter Parker espouses. Sometimes I think maybe the powers of the pulp don't realize the impact of putting a few words on paper. Whack out a few lines on the old Underwood and go back to pleasant slumbers. In the Russellville case the Times Daily actually caused well meaning city fathers, who were reporting facts and giving solid budgetary advice, to be laughed out of the room. In the country club case the paper took a position against the source blood for all Lauderdale County, much to the detriment of the people just for what? To sell papers? Yellow journalism at it's best?
The City of Florence should follow the lead of Muscle Shoals who has no problem with spending money to make money.
As they did on the Zaxby's deal.
But that is another story.
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