Payback Can Definitely Be a *****!

[bluegrassarms]

Nor do I, but in this case I will make an exception.

Me too, at least for the editor and senior people, for the simple reason that they showed no concern for the safety or privacy of others. They had no empathy, no respect for others, I see no reason to give them any in return.

They thought their exalted purpose of gun control was worth risking the lives and property of others. I think sending the message that such things should not be done is worth their jobs.

 

[ladder13]

I detect a trend here.

 

[DeathGrip]

I detect a trend here.

I'm gonna go with a sammich

 

[BigBill]

I was in the machine tool business when it died. Let's face were seeing the
death of the newspaper industry too. They need to go high tech and get on the net. They snooze they lose. I feel bad it's the end of an era.

I was lucky after losing my job in
83 I worked three months in '84, three months in '85 and three months in '86. I went from sinking ship to sinking ship. I was hired just so they got there work out the door before they closed. I went in the firewood business. I was the happiest and the healthiest in the woods. I wish I stayed in the woods to this day.

I even took a lay off in 85 because the guy who they were going to let go would of never made it. I still had the firewood business.

 

[0reo]

The difference with print media is that going electronic isn't a solution for what ails them. They're all online already. What used to be purchased in print is had for free online. In print NYT, WaPo, WJ, etc. were the biggest sharks in their pond but online they're just another fish fighting for scraps at the ad revenue table. Verizon, Comcast, AT&T etc. are the ones getting the subscription money. Even Comcast is having an existential crisis, or will soon, as wired service is made obsolete by wireless service. Print media isn't just one step behind, they've been lapped by the competition and the world has moved on.

 

[vigil617]

A lone voice in the wilderness....

I for one am glad that, when I have done something stupid at work, I and all of my co-workers weren't fired for it, or that "karma" caught us all up in the same net and tossed us overboard.

These people have families, bills, and the same day-to-day concerns that we have, folks. They don't have forked tails, and though they happen to work in print media, that doesn't mean they deserve to be vilified or have their misfortune gloated over.

If you take issue with what the editors decided to do about posting the names of gun owners, fine. I do too. But let's have a little compassion for the regular Joes there who find themselves out of a job because of the simple economics of small local papers in today's world. It's a shame, and we're all the poorer whenever another one goes under.

A free press is vital to a free society. I believe that.

Disclaimer: I was a print journalist once, and am proud of it.

 

[0reo]

I'd like to disagree on one point there. The failure of big print media actually benefits free press. Print media requires big money to operate. Electronic media affords the average joe a more equal opportunity to publish and reach an audience. That's a tremendous advantage for the truth to be made known in this time of big media being so heavily influenced by the political establishment.

 

[vigil617]

I'd like to disagree on one point there. The failure of big print media actually benefits free press. Print media requires big money to operate. Electronic media affords the average joe a more equal opportunity to publish and reach an audience. That's a tremendous advantage for the truth to be made known in this time of big media being so heavily influenced by the political establishment.

Partly agree, but partly disagree, 0reo. Yes, electronic (Web-based) offers more opportunity to publish and reach an audience -- a large, worldwide audience. That's not necessarily a tremendous advantage for "the truth" to be made known, though. Opinion, yes. The truth, not necessarily so much, as we know by virtue of so much misinformation and outright lies perpetuated on the Web. Nowadays, a guy squawking his political or social agenda in the guise of "truth" can reach as many people as responsible news organizations on whom we rely as an informed public. Even if it might seem not to be so, those "big media" have to be more careful with what they report than the guy on the electronic street corner -- for libel reasons, among others.

 

[jaykellogg]

A lone voice in the wilderness....

The "official" reason for the layoffs is cost cutting. It is unclear whether or not the printing of names of licensed gun owners played any part in selecting who was let go and who was kept. Regarding that decision, my feeling is that the upper management may have felt a new editor may help the paper.

Regarding printing of the names and addresses of permit holders, at best it was a stupid thing to do. I say this because it benefited no one (except a few criminals) and put innocent law abiding people in harm's way. Prisoners were telling their guards "I know where you live". Many judges and LEO's have unlisted numbers (for good reason).

At worst it appears to have been driven by a hatred of guns and gun owners.

IMHO, the names and addresses should never have been classified as "public records."

As I said I do not rejoice in the trouble of others, I have been where these folks are now. Almost all will surely have to relocate to get another job in print journalism. Otherwise they may have to change careers. I was let go once for political reasons and about 4 times for economic reasons. I have had to relocate (twice) solely because of my job loss.

 

[Jst1mr]

" I deplore the putrid state into which our newspapers have passed and the malignity, the vulgarity, and mendacious spirit of those who write for them..." Thomas Jefferson

The more things change, the more they stay the same...

 

[Alnamvet68]

" I deplore the putrid state into which our newspapers have passed and the malignity, the vulgarity, and mendacious spirit of those who write for them..." Thomas Jefferson

The more things change, the more they stay the same...

A gentleman way ahead of his times.

 

[A10]

A lone voice in the wilderness....

I for one am glad that, when I have done something stupid at work, I and all of my co-workers weren't fired for it, or that "karma" caught us all up in the same net and tossed us overboard.

These people have families, bills, and the same day-to-day concerns that we have, folks. They don't have forked tails, and though they happen to work in print media, that doesn't mean they deserve to be vilified or have their misfortune gloated over.

If you take issue with what the editors decided to do about posting the names of gun owners, fine. I do too. But let's have a little compassion for the regular Joes there who find themselves out of a job because of the simple economics of small local papers in today's world. It's a shame, and we're all the poorer whenever another one goes under.

A free press is vital to a free society. I believe that.

Disclaimer: I was a print journalist once, and am proud of it.

People must understand that their actions have consequences. I don't like people being out of work, but I gotta tell ya, if you do something that endangers peoples lives the LEAST consequence should be getting canned. As far as the death of newspapers go, it is evolution. This is a buggywhip moment. If the need for print papers comes back at some point, so will they. Right now there is no demand.

 

[ladder13]

The Journal News is about as left wing and anti-gun as newspapers go. They published the names and house numbers of pistol permit holders despite many pleas not to do so,and they were quite callous about it. It was "the publics right to know who was living next door" they claimed. Wasn't so "right" when someone got ahold of the publisher, editors, and so-called journalists home addresses and telephone numbers though. Miraculously, they saw the danger and even went so far as to hire private security at their corporate offices.
When you dance with the devil you get burned.

 

[Muddyboot]

Partly agree, but partly disagree, 0reo. Yes, electronic (Web-based) offers more opportunity to publish and reach an audience -- a large, worldwide audience. That's not necessarily a tremendous advantage for "the truth" to be made known, though. Opinion, yes. The truth, not necessarily so much, as we know by virtue of so much misinformation and outright lies perpetuated on the Web. Nowadays, a guy squawking his political or social agenda in the guise of "truth" can reach as many people as responsible news organizations on whom we rely as an informed public. Even if it might seem not to be so, those "big media" have to be more careful with what they report than the guy on the electronic street corner -- for libel reasons, among others.

You speak of the misinformation and outright lies perpetuated on the Web.
I would say to you the same misinformation and outright lies can and do come from those in the "big media" if it fits the agenda. As for responsible news organizations, when you find one, let me know..