Early Edition
They were only half right
By Ed Bishop
The Founding Fathers got it wrong. Of course, there's no way they could've known that their premise would be so far off base in 2002.
Their premise went like this: In a democracy, citizens must make decisions about how they will be governed. In order to make good decisions, they must have good information. Much of that information comes from the press, which therefore must be unfettered by any form of government censorship. Hence, the First Amendment.
In short, the Founding Fathers thought that without a healthy press they couldn't have a healthy democracy.
But the Founding Fathers didn't know about capitalism and the economies of scale. Their original premise still holds true-the courts have consistently protected the press from government interference-but the protection provided by John Madison and Thomas Jefferson isn't sufficient for today's society. Here's why.
Buried in the Founding Fathers' premise was the assumption that the press would be self-regulating. They understood that the press could be vicious, slanted and irresponsible, and that an individual publisher could shape the news to fit his own personal agenda. But they believed that competition between the hundreds of newspapers that existed would counterbalance these things. One publisher's political agenda would counteract another's political agenda. And, until recently, historically speaking, newspapers were the only mass media to worry about.
At the beginning of the 20th century, there were about 2,040 daily newspapers in the United States and about 2,020 newspaper owners. Some large newspaper chains existed but mainly it was one newspaper, one owner. The idea that one owner's agenda would counterbalance another's was sound.
Today, there are about 1,400 dailies in the United States. More than half of them are owned by eight companies. There are virtually no daily newspapers owned privately by one individual. And, for the most part, these huge newspaper chains-Gannett, Inc. own 110 dailies-have no political agenda, other than a pro-corporate agenda that presses government to allow them to acquire more properties.
As far as newspapers are concerned, the marketplace of ideas in this country is extremely limited.
What's worse is that NBC, CBS and ABC-where most people get most of their news-are all owned by conglomerates which make more money in jet engines, theme parks and movies than they do delivering the news. In fact, the corporate bosses of the network news departments often see their employees more as pitchmen than journalists. These parent companies also own hundreds of television stations and thousands of radio stations. Viacom, Inc., which owns CBS also owns more than 1,200 radio stations.
Perhaps the cable news channels, NPR and PBS, and the Internet will help pick up the slack. Nobody knows how all of this will shake out. But the trends are not promising. They're pointing toward a virtual monopoly of information. In fact, an agenda monopoly already exists-the corporate agenda.
This concentration of ownership of the news media has been going on since the mid-1980s. But it went to another level with the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1995. Congress was under tremendous pressure to pass it.
You probably haven't heard much about the Telecommunications Act. It deregulated the media business, allowing such things as companies owning both newspapers and television stations in the same market. The news media have shied away from talking about it. To my knowledge, the implications of the act have never been reported on any of the national news broadcasts, and it certainly hasn't been covered by local news. Still, the act means that the face of American democracy has been changed by a handful of giant corporations.
There are always people who like to think of themselves as practical and hardheaded, who will say, "Well, journalism is a business." And they're right. Journalism is a business. But it's the only business directly related to our ability to govern ourselves. It's the only business protected by the Bill of Rights.
At least, that's the way the Founding Fathers saw it.
Letters
Wrong palace
SJR: In regard to Don Corrigan's otherwise quite informative story on Dave Francis (SJR, November), a rather audacious mistake was made in the cutline under his photo of the Catherine Palace on page 17. The picture is taken in the garden of the Catherine Palace, in the town of Tsarskae Selo. The palace where Nicholas II lived, and was imprisoned after he abdicated, is called the Alexander Palace and it is about half a mile away. There are several palaces built by the Romanof family in the town of Tsarskae Selo, and each is as different as the families who lived in them.
Otherwise, I always enjoy reading your newspaper!
Aloysia C. Hamalainen
Liberal bias
SJR: This letter is about the article on page 28 of SJR, Dec./Jan. The headline is "Bin Ladenism in our midst." Among other things the writer says, "The Talibans among the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, of course, are only a fraction of its membership."
Talibans in Afghanistan execute any Muslim who joins another religion, cut hands off thieves and force women to wear those burkas. Women were not allowed to go to school after eight years of age and were not allowed to work or teach or to practice medicine or be treated by male doctors. Not only that but the young boys were taught hatred for all members of all other faiths and promised to be immediately taken into paradise by Allah if they were killed when killing infidels. And when the boys became men the Taliban support their terrorist activities.
I never heard any kind of stuff like that when I belonged to my wife's Missouri Synod Lutheran Church congregation. I'm certain anyone who talked like that would have been given the bum's rush. Or turned over to the government for legal prosecution.
Mr. Klotzer's logic uses one idea he doesn't agree with to accuse the Lutherans, or at least some of them, of all kinds of horrible practices which they hate just as I assume Mr. Klotzer also, I presume, hates. This is like using a character in one of Shakespeare's plays to accuse all people of his race or religion of that character's practices. And there are a lot of people in St. Louis who support overseas or even local terrorists like the Taliban did. Are these also to be called Talibans?
I also remember that Tom Eagleton in one of his Post-Dispatch columns wrote that half of members of the Republican Party were Fascists.
And I wonder about all the liberal women's organizations' years of silence on how the Taliban treat women. Do they really agree with it?
How is it that liberals and other left-wingers can get away with stuff like this?
John J. Bailey, Jr.
SBJ: Bad job
SJR: I want to thank the St. Louis Business Journal for instituting its latest reader service: the front-page editorial (Historic Battle, Jan. 18).
The Business Journal's attempted hatchet job on the Landmarks Association indeed unveiled this stunning revelation: that the Landmarks Association is dedicated to protecting our architectural heritage, even when that places it at odds with a city-supported plan by developers to replace a 100-year-old building with a parking garage.
In short, that Landmarks is doing its job. If that job sometimes inconveniences developers, that is hardly what I call standing in the way of progress. In St. Louis, it is a badly needed system of checks and balances.
The Business Journal quoted Vince Bommarito as saying we need a more business-friendly watchdog. Perhaps what we need is a more watchdog-friendly business community. Those buildings that Landmarks is protecting represent our city's competitive advantage; I should know-I live in one that was rehabbed with Landmarks' help.
Margaret Newman
SBJ: Bad job II
SJR: To the ranks of newspapers that take an advocacy approach rather than reporting the news in an unbiased manner we can now add the St. Louis Business Journal. The BJ's recent all-out assault on the opponents of the Century Building demolition has included running an editorial which relied on name-calling rather than facts, then running a news story which didn't attempt to cover more than one viewpoint, and finally attacking Landmarks Association, one of several nonprofit organizations which have joined together to advocate for a better development plan.
As a member of the staff of Landmarks, I've had the opportunity to see how this journalistic sausage was made. The article which ran in the Jan. 18-24 issue questioning Landmarks' funding misconstrued (or just missed) several important facts. The editorial which accompanied the story opined that the city should no longer channel any funds to Landmarks. A well-researched opinion would have included the fact that city taxpayers do not, as is implied, fund Landmarks (the aldermen allocate federal money as part of our annual budget). It should also have pointed out that this funding is primarily for survey and nomination activities, not advocacy or education or publication or any of the other things we do. Since the 1970s, nearly every new historic district in St. Louis has happened because the aldermen allocated federal funds to Landmarks to do the groundwork. The informed reader will understand how this has translated into federal and local tax credits poured into St. Louis to revive our neighborhoods.
Other statements in the article are unsubstantiated or untrue. The assertion that "Frustration with Landmarks extends beyond downtown" is not supported in any manner. It is followed by an assertion that Landmarks blocked demolition of the Arena for five years, which is also unsupported (it would've been hard to support, given that it's not true).
I fear that more than ignorance went into the formation of the article and editorial. Reporter Margaret Jackson called both our director and our president to ask for comment on reports that "some people" think Landmarks shouldn't receive any more funding. No one has ever suggested this to us other than Margaret Jackson. She would not reveal who these "some people" are, other than telling President Cannon that they are developers.
Which developers, one wonders? A quick look at the article reveals which developers she interviewed on topics which relate to the Century Building: those who want to tear it down. Is it too speculative to suggest that these are the same developers who suggested that their interest in Landmarks' funding sources was front-page material?
It is too bad that this publication sees fit to risk its credibility with fabricated "news" stories and editorials that obscure the facts. An open dialogue on the development plan would serve the city better.
Lynn Josse
Landmarks Association of St. Louis
Merrill pessimistic about press
By Don Corrigan
John C. Merrill, professor emeritus at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, easily the most prolific author on the topic of press freedom and its many adversaries, has written a rather gloomy treatise. Joined by professors Peter J. Gade and Frederick R. Blevens, Merrill argues that the sun is setting on the kind of libertarian press freedom that has produced America's best-as well as some of its worst-journalism.
Merrill's book, "Twilight of Press Freedom: The Rise of People's Journalism," contends that public (or civic) journalists are gaining ground on journalism traditionalists. Their ideas are triumphing: Objectivity is yielding to the subjectivity of solution-oriented journalism; journalistic detachment is giving way to community engagement; and the individualistic expression of maverick reporters is giving way to the consensus pabulum of the team.
All of this alarm might sound a bit odd to the observer of journalism in St. Louis. After all, the once high priest of public journalism at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Cole Campbell, has been sent packing; Campbell's successor, editor Ellen Soeteber, has been about the task of dismantling many of Campbell's odd journalistic assemblies; and the centerpiece of public journalism at the Post, "Imagine St. Louis," has been dispatched to the trash heap of local journalism history.
At the national level, the idea of public journalism also appears to be foundering. Friends of public journalism guru Jay Rosen report that he has now transferred his attention from public journalism to something he calls "public scholarship." The Pew Center has withdrawn its support from the Pew Center for Civic Journalism after 10 years and millions of dollars of much-heralded assistance for public (civic) journalism projects.
In a sort of swan song column in the Pew Center's quarterly publication, "Civic Catalyst," Executive Director Jan Schaffer announced the center's imminent demise and praised "those who have been in the vanguard of this grand effort." She also called upon public journalism converts to document the legacy: "We invite, reporters, editors, news directors and professors to tell us how civic (public) journalism has changed their jobs and professional vision."
Schaffer's blowing taps and her call for the troops to fade back-and to begin the task of chronicling their "grand effort"-hardly seems like a note of triumph. What's more, her call to record the legacy is completely redundant. The public journalists have always spent more time telling us about their "grand efforts," than actually performing and completing any noble experiments in journalism.
All this considered, it seems a bit odd for Merrill to be declaring victory for the public journalists and their allies, the communitarian philosophers in our nation's journalism schools. Everette Dennis, who writes an otherwise laudatory foreword for "Twilight of Press Freedom," chides Merrill for giving too much ground to the public journalists and for being all too pessimistic about the future of journalism.
Perhaps Merrill can be forgiven on this score, because he is surrounded by so many academics at his University of Missouri School of Journalism, who have embraced public journalism. But outside of some j-school classrooms and a handful of mid-sized newspapers around the country, public journalism is an idea that has lost currency. It is flagging, in part, because of the willingness of Merrill and others in journalism to be brutally honest about the tiresome hype, the "scholarly" seminars and the mercenary grantsmanship that have characterized the decade-old public journalism movement.
Philosophical roots
If one can overlook Merrill and his colleagues' premature declaration of the demise of real journalism in favor of "people's journalism," there is plenty to recommend in this book. Much of the first half of the book is about ideas, about the philosophers behind the libertarian press view, and those opposing philosophers who advocate a press of the people, the community and the state.
The first half of the book harkens back to Merrill's 1994 examination, "Legacy of Wisdom: Great Thinkers And Journalism." Merrill, of course, is most favorably disposed to the spirits of The Enlightenment-John Milton, John Locke, Francois-Marie Arouet Voltaire and John Stuart Mill. These philosophers, among others, professed that the ultimate goal of the state is to make men free to develop their skills of reasoning and intellectual abilities.
Milton, Locke, Voltaire and Mill valued liberty both as an end and as a means. If this liberty in practice was chaotic and sometimes a detriment to the social order, then so be it. They believed that freedom to think and speak as individuals are a means indispensible to the discovery and spread of political truth.
Those who drafted and adopted the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights in 1787 were well aware of the teachings and ideologies of philosophers like Milton, Locke, Voltaire and Mill. Merrill describes the 18th Century American voices of Franklin, Adams, Jefferson and Madison as intellectuals who gave a governmental form and structure to the philosophical ideas enunciated by Milton, Locke, Voltaire and Mill. It is, therefore, no fluke at all that the First Amendment guarantee comes first in the Bill of Rights.
In contrast to Milton, Locke, Voltaire and Mill, author Merrill outlines the ideas of late 18th and 19th Century philosophers such as Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Immanuel Kant, Arthur Schopenhauer and Karl Marx. And he makes the case that these are the natural forerunners of many of today's communitarian thinkers who are attracted to people's journalism, public journalism or civic journalism.
According to Merrill,the bright sun of expressive freedom that prevailed to a considerable degree because of the 18th Century philosophers is now setting. The days of personal freedom are at an end. The communitarian philosophers and the journalists for community are putting an end to that frenzy. Merrill contends that many reasons exist for the communitarians' denunciation of the libertarian stance, primarily because they feel the libertarian press approach:
• Depreciates the rights, needs and wishes of others.
• Harms a sense of belonging, of association, of community.
• Develops into an egotistical, narcissistic, arrogant journalism.
• Militates against order, comfort and social stability.
• Causes alienation, anxiety, ennui and a sense of purposeless.
Impact of public journalism
In order to address these many ill effects of traditional, libertarian press practice, the public journalists initiated a movement of ideas and experiments in the early 1990s. The second half of "Twilight of Press Freedom" focuses on the impact of this movement.
What Merrill and his colleagues uncover may explain the pessimism that seems to pervade the book. For even though public journalism as an organized and coherent movement may be waning, the concepts and experiments have opened the door to some harmful journalistic policies and newsroom practices.
Just a few examples:
• Public journalism has encouraged the idea that reporters have an obligation to be more than storytellers, they should be community organizers. Detachment and objectivity are out the window. Editors and reporters must convene the community and determine the citizens' agenda. The press must then articulate and act upon this agenda.
• Public journalism has put a stamp of approval on foundation money entering the newsroom to finance reporting projects. Public journalism's defenders argue that no one should object to project funding that seeks to revitalize an anemic democracy. Whether public journalism projects are all benign is questionable; whether foundation money should be altering editorial product is not debatable. It constitutes a terrible precedent.
Merrill notes a particular irony in his book that before Jan Schaffer took the reins of the Pew Center for Public Journalism, she herself took aim at the less benign aspects of influential foundations. As a journalist with the Philadelphia Inquirer, she oversaw a series on the abuses of multi-million-dollar non-profits. The series, entitled the "Shadow Economy," was a Pulitzer finalist and was turned into the book, "Warehouses of Wealth."
• Public journalism advocates and their communitarian allies deride the traditional press's "obsession" with First Amendment rights. They argue that too much emphasis has been placed on rights and not enough on responsibility. They argue that the public has lost patience with all "the noise" about the First Amendment, and can only be won back when the press fulfills its obligation to convening community and reviving democracy.
Poppycock. The framers of the Constitution never suggested that the press had to earn its First Amendment privilege. The First Amendment ideal is to protect both responsible and irresponsible expression.
One of the most vital periods of democratic dialogue in this country came in the decades following adoption of the Constitution. It was an era of a rowdy, arrogant, scandalous, and at times, a seditious press. It was a time devoid of public journalism scolds, who today collect their foundation money, assemble their scholarly seminars and wag their pedantic fingers.
Ahmed ousted from RFT
By Alex Posorske
Long-time Riverfront Times editor Safir Ahmed has been ousted from the paper, replaced in January by a newcomer to the St. Louis area, Jim Nesbitt.
The circumstances of Ahmed's departure are murky, though the official party line gives the impression that the decision was mutual.
"Former Riverfront Times editor Safir Ahmed is leaving the paper to pursue other professional interests," reads a New Times Inc. press release.
A New Times Inc. representative would not return SJR phone calls, even when this reporter offered, via voicemail, to pick up the tab for a collect call.
Ahmed, when reached for comment, would only say that the changeover was a joint decision.
But two former RFT staffers said that, according to their former colleagues, Ahmed's departure was not voluntary, but one-sided, with New Times Inc. making the decision.
C.D. Stelzer, who was fired from a RFT staff writing position last spring, and who SJR readers may remember lambasting the RFT and New Times in these very pages last summer, is one. He said that according to staffers still employed on the paper Ahmed had figured he was on the way out.
Stelzer said he heard that Ahmed called a staff meeting shortly before receiving the shaft to let RFT staffers know that his dismissal might be coming soon.
Additionally, Stelzer said that RFT insiders told him both New Times Executive Editor Michael Lacey in Phoenix and New Times Executive Associate Editor Andy Van De Voorde (who oversees the RFT) in Denver had not returned Ahmed's phone calls for "the better part of the last six months."
Both Stelzer and former RFT associate editor Cliff Froehlich, who left under sunnier, more voluntary circumstances, said they are not very surprised by Ahmed's firing, if that's actually what it was.
"It's sort of a conclusion to the transformation of the paper," Froehlich said. "I think it was inevitable in some ways. I think it was surprising that they waited three years."
Froehlich and Stelzer both agreed that Ahmed has never fit the stereotype of a New Times editor. That stereotype usually seems to be, in Froelich's words, a "hard-charging daily type," rather than the more laid-back introspective type that Ahmed has generally been portrayed to be.
"When Safir could give his attention to edit a story he did so with the utmost care and worked with the writer," Stelzer said. "(New Times is) more concerned with moving copy as fast as possible. They're more concerned about efficiency and meeting quotas than they are with the quality of the writing or reporting."
Stelzer also said that Ahmed has never been known to be the most on-time employee and said that could have had something to do with his departure.
It would have been nice to get some input from Ahmed. Unfortunately this reporter got the impression in a brief phone conversation that Ahmed does not have a big foam fan-hand with the SJR logo hidden in his closet.
"I want to be very clear. I don't want to talk to the Journalism Review," Ahmed said. "(My departure) was a mutual thing. Other than that I'm not going to answer any questions. If it was any other publication I would."
So aside from wondering if some lucky Suburban Journals reporter is about to call up Ahmed and get the scoop, we'll have to move on to other subjects. For example, what does the change mean for the RFT?
Froehlich doesn't think it means very much.
"New Times exerts such control over the way the individual papers do business that I think Safir was pretty much trying to deliver the product they wanted," he said.
Stelzer sees bringing in an out-of-towner as one more example of New Times' lack of dedication to what actually matters in St. Louis. He cited the cover story from Jan. 23 as one example. The story, titled "Solitary Man," wasn't even written by an RFT staff writer or contributor. Instead, the story came from a Pitch Weekly staff writer, Kendrick Blackwood. Pitch Weekly is New Times' alternative possession in Kansas City. The story first ran in Pitch on Jan. 10 and was presumably picked up from the New Times wire by the RFT.
To Stelzer, running a cover story from the wire, even if it is originating only 250 miles away, is sad.
"(New Times) can change editors, but one thing that's not going to change is that they have no commitment to the community they're a part of," Stelzer said.
But to the man in control now, Nesbitt, Stelzer's sentiments don't mean very much.
"It's a challenge and it's the type of challenge that I enjoy. As for (not) knowing St. Louis, I'm a damn quick study," Nesbitt said. "I've spent nearly a quarter century in journalism practicing high-quality journalism. It's not rocket science or brain surgery. It's just the old fashioned skills in journalism."
Nesbitt comes to the RFT from the Washington, D.C. bureau of the Newhouse News Service where he was a national correspondent since 1988. He said he covered a number of issues, among them grazing rights in western states, the social costs of legalized gambling and the Oklahoma City bombing. As for changes at the RFT, Nesbitt said he doesn't foresee any major ones at the moment.
"I've got a veteran staff and they're a talented staff," he said. "My mandate is not to come in here and sweep out the stables. My mandate is to work with the people who are here and that's what I plan to do."
For his part, Stelzer said he hasn't heard too much about Nesbitt other than one meeting the new chief had with the staff soon after his hiring. In that meeting, according to Stelzer, Nesbitt put out the impression of being an old school-type newsman, complete with a lot of cursing and talk of going after the "big boys."
Stelzer, not one to pull his punches when they are directed at New Times-related topics, said he is not impressed.
"I can cuss," he said derisively. "I'm a Teamster. I know how to cuss."
Media/Politics
Government reform ignored by media
By Terry Jones
Conversations about local governmental reform are standard fare in St. Louis's discourse. Those who have lived here for years are prone to talk about how St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis might some day get together while newcomers regularly ask old-timers why St. Louis has so many governments.
Periodically, these exchanges become more structured. Task forces or boards are established, studies commissioned and proposals made. In the 1920s, 1950s and 1960s, for example, proposals for one or another combined government for the city and county made it all the way to the ballot box, only to be defeated by the citizens of one or both units. More specific initiatives have often succeeded. Examples include the Metropolitan Sewer District (1954), the St. Louis Junior College District (1962), the original Zoo-Museum District (1971) and, most recently, the Metropolitan Park and Recreation District (2000).
So it was no surprise when, late in 2000, more than 40 governmental, business, academic and non-profit leaders formed a "Regional Governance Policy Group." Many were fresh from the Regional Chamber and Growth Association leadership trip to Toronto, Canada, a metropolitan area which has taken regional consolidation to perhaps its most centralized point on the North American continent. Let's get together, they decided, and see what might be done for the St. Louis region.
The group was distinctive and inclusive. It incorporated elected officials from throughout the region (e.g., City of St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, St. Louis County Executive Buzz Westfall, St. Clair County Board Chair John Baricevic and St. Charles County Council Chair Doug Funderburk), top business leaders (e.g., Edward Jones CEO John Bachmann and Laclede Gas CEO Douglas Yeager), labor heads (e.g., St. Louis AFL-CIO Labor Council's Bob Kelley), academic chancellors (e.g., SIUE's David Werner and UMSL's Blanche Touhill), media executives (e.g., KMOX's Karen Carroll, St. Louis American's Donald Suggs and St. Louis Business Journal's Ellen Sherberg) and non-profit luminaries (e.g., St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition's Reverend B.T. Rice, FOCUS St. Louis's Christine Chadwick and RCGA's Richard Fleming).
In short, it was about as close to a St. Louis civic who's who list as one could get.
In late October 2001, the group issued a report, making 15 recommendations, eight dealing directly with governance, two with transportation and five with health care. Some endorsed existing initiatives such as backing the City of St. Louis Home Rule constitutional amendment which will be on a statewide ballot this November. Others suggested new strategies, such as supporting convening a state constitutional convention so that many governmental structural policies could be revisited and revised. Somewhat ironically, a point not mentioned in the report, this approach is how the City of St. Louis managed to separate itself from St. Louis County in the 1870s.
Other recommendations include establishing a regional infrastructure district funded with a variation of the Twin Cities property tax sharing scheme, forming a regional aviation authority, enhancing coordination among public health services, expanding the Zoo-Museum District geographically and perhaps institutionally, and expanding the role of the recently formed Regional Health Commission.
Perhaps most far-reaching, the group is establishing a "Metropolitan Federation," a consortium of public, private and non-profit organizations, which "could serve as a 'champion' of regional initiatives, could engage through its members in programmatic activities ... .and could serve as a catalyst for action and as a convener of affected organizations." Among the recommended members for this federation are Civic Progress, the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council, FOCUS St. Louis, the Regional Business Council and the United Way.
Given the participants' depth and breadth and the topics' relevance and importance, one might assume that both the meetings and the report received ample media coverage. With so many heavy hitters convening to discuss changes in how decisions affecting the entire region should be made, one would think that both print and electronic media would have placed a spotlight on the process. With every citizen within the St. Louis metropolitan area having a stake in the topics, one would expect that all this would easily pass muster with journalistic criteria about what should be covered.
One would be wrong. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch ignored the story, giving it absolutely zero coverage. Since the electronic media take most of their leads, other than those coming over the police scanner, from the newspaper of record, one suspects that the Regional Governance Policy Group also did not make it onto either radio or television newscasts.
This was not because the meetings were secret or the report confidential.
Hundreds knew about them, no one was trying to keep them hidden, and the entire report has been on the FOCUS St. Louis website (www.focus-stl.org) for more than two months.
Increasingly, the process used to make these regional governance recommendations-a collaboration among public, private and non-profit leaders-has become the norm for approaching metropolitan issues, both in St. Louis and in similar regions in the United States. That demands altering coverage patterns, a point which to date largely escapes the St. Louis media.
Sports/Media
It's all about money
By Joe Pollack
Whether we like it or not, the Olympics are coming, pounding like an unstoppable juggernaut through the hills and valleys and wallets and privacy of Salt Lake City and its people. The winter games of 2002, to paraphrase Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg, were conceived in bribery and dedicated to the proposition that rich men are not created equal. But being rich men and thus not equal in the eyes of 21st century American law, the bribery charges were thrown out and the games will precede apace.
And if that scandal were not enough to tarnish the image of the famed and fiercely copyrighted Olympic rings, we may learn the makeup of the teams from courtroom decisions and not from a field of competition. There will be courtroom action over accusations that men speed skaters, who probably learned about it from watching "Survivor," conspired during a qualifying race to compete in a manner so as to add certain skaters to the team while keeping others off. There may be courtroom action over accusations that a woman bobsled racer acted unfairly and unethically in bouncing her teammate-and closest friend until that moment-and bringing in a new one just in time to effectively keep the bounced teammate out of the games. There may also be a snit brewing in women's figure skating where one skater was apparently accused of skating too close to another during practice, an antic that might have made the poor high-strung victim terminally nervous.
Olympic leaders spout reams of repetitious verbiage about the games as a symbol of peace, but the U.S. Olympic committee has promised that Americans will win 20 medals. That's like the second in the boxing ring pointing out that "we" can win this bout. And in typical American style, our leaders take aim at these 20 medals-seven more than we ever have won-not by urging athletes to win one for the Gipper, or for Flag and Country, or for Mom and Apple Pie, or even for revenge on the World Trade Center bombers, but by coming up with cash bonuses for medals, to wit: $25,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver, $10,000 for bronze.
But don't worry.
It isn't about money.
Of course not. Just listen to Lloyd Ward, the chief executive officer of the U.S.O.C. ever since last October, who said, "The athletes don't really get into the 20 (medals). They're into their own space, their own competition. They just want to win a medal, just one. I don't sense it is pressure. I sense that it is motivation and inspiration for the athletes."
Ward, who makes $300,000 in his new job, is the fourth head of the USOC in two years. Previously, he lasted only 15 months as chief executive at Maytag before being fired in the fall of 2000, just about a year before he became head of perhaps the nation's largest and most diversified and contentious sports company. He spent a number of years at Procter & Gamble, moved to Maytag in 1996 and rose to become CEO three years later. Obviously, his experience gained in household products and washing machines was the key to the USOC job.
Gaining the necessary experience by jumping to sports from washing machines seems to cause no problems when you're job-hunting at that level-don't forget the breakfast cereal executive who became a newspaper publisher.
Speaking of newspapers, covering the Olympics will be a mess, and not many sports writers will get to see the athletes in action. Apparently, press seating at some sites is in extremely short supply. Those who wish to actually cover the figure skating at Salt Lake City by being at the site had to pay their dues by covering lesser events, and I'm sure that USOC officials measured the length and checked the play of each story. It reminds me of the days in World War II when one had to buy four packs of Wings or some equally shabby brand of cigarettes to get one pack of Camels or Lucky Strikes. Supply and demand, you know.
Most sports writers will watch most of the events on television, and if one hopes to catch up with an athlete in person after his or her event, the writer must leave his or her seat in plenty of time to get to the bowels of the stadium and find a monitor. Then, when the event is over, athletes will leave the arena. They will be kept away from writers and fans by a fence, the only difference from covering an execution being that there probably won't be barbed wire on top of it. A media person must yell, or do something equally demeaning, to attract the athlete's attention. If the athlete wants to stop and talk, fine. If not, the athlete can just keep walking back to his quarters or into the athletes' area, where media folk are not allowed, probably on penalty of death. If the writer is distracted, or too short to see over someone's head, or just misses the home town hero, well, that's between the writer and the managing editor.
Time was when there was relative freedom for writers to wander in the athletes' camp. No more. Under the pretense (or the actuality) of defense against terrorism, security will be very high, or so we are told. As a pessimist who remembers Munich and 1972, I don't think it can be high enough if a person or persons is willing to give up his own life to take the lives of others, and assurances from people like John Ashcroft and Tom Ridge do nothing to reassure me.
Media/Law
Pulitzer wins dispute with dealers
By Ken Jones
Branch dealers of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch suffered a major defeat last month in their ongoing litigation against Pulitzer Publishing Co.
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals threw out the dealers' claim that the publisher was engaging in anti-competitive practices by selling newspapers at more favorable rates to another group of dealers.
The dispute arose in 1996, when the dealers as a whole became frustrated over certain aspects of their relationship with Pulitzer.
Before discussing the merits of the case, the 8th Circuit explained the relationship between the parties. Branch dealers "purchase copies of the Post-Dispatch from Pulitzer at a discount and resell the newspapers to retail outlets ... and to the public through vending machines," the court said.
The dealers have "exclusive geographic areas," and their contract to sell papers in their areas is not terminable at the will of Pulitzer-they have a "property right" in their branches that they can sell to third parties.
In an attempt to resolve the spat with the dealers, Pulitzer offered to lower the wholesale prices it charged and to increase payment of subsidies-which were made for doing such things as stuffing inserts or replacing rack cards in vending machines-in return for the dealers' agreement to release their claims against the publisher.
Some of the dealers accepted the offer (the court referred to them as "favored branch dealers"), but the plaintiffs in this case rejected it.
The plaintiffs then sued Pulitzer in the federal court in St. Louis, claiming that the pact with the favored branch dealers was anticompetitive and violated the RobinsonPatman Act. The act protects smaller companies against predatory pricing by larger firms.
In order to state a case under the act, the plaintiffs had to show that the price discrimination affected competition between the plaintiffs and the favored branch dealers-and that's where the plaintiffs lost their case.
In effect, the court ruled that the branch dealers did not compete with each other: the plaintiffs failed to show that "they were in a competitive relationship with the favored dealers" and thus there was no "reasonable possibility that the alleged price discrimination may affect competition."
Now the lack of competition did not hinge simply on the fact that the dealers operated in exclusive territories, the court said. "Even where parties operate in airtight territories, they compete if the end-buyers of the product can freely travel between the geographic areas to purchase the commodities in question."
The determining factor was that the price of a newspaper stays the same no matter where it is bought, so a reader's decision regarding where to buy it is not price-motivated. "[F]or a newspaper customer the choice of which retail outlet or vending machine to frequent is one of convenience, not of competitive advantage."
The plaintiffs countered by arguing that price was not the only factor considered by a reader in deciding where to buy-service also played a role. According to the plaintiffs, "a certain number of retail customers purchase newspapers early enough in the morning that they may find that the Post-Dispatch has not yet been delivered to the [retail outlet] or vending machine of their choice and purchase the newspaper elsewhere."
And since the favored branch dealers could save money on their paper costs they could invest the savings in service-more delivery trucks and employees-and therefore beat the plaintiffs on the service end.
The court said the plaintiffs' argument had "some theoretical bite," but was not supported by any evidence.
"We do not take issue with [the plaintiffs'] contention that the delivery time of the papers is at least partially a function of investment in staff and delivery vehicles and that the favored branch dealers can put the savings from favorable rates toward such capital investments.
"If this were the only question, the record arguably (although far from definitely) may support a finding that delivery time is affected by the favorable rates. But as we have explained, ... before we reach the question of whether the price discrimination may affect competition as to availability, we first must establish that there indeed is competition as to availability."
And there was only one piece of evidence offered by the plaintiffs to show genuine competition among branch dealers as to availability-a "customer who purchases a newspaper at Hardee's at 3:50 a.m. every morning buys in a different branch dealer's area if the paper is not available at the Hardee's at that hour."
Otherwise, the plaintiffs' expert witness did not provide "any tangible evidence, numerical or anecdotal, to show that the branch dealers in fact compete as to early availability," the court said.
"In this context, conclusory statements by a handful of branchmen, attesting that such competition exists, hardly suffice to show competition." In order to prevail, the court said, the plaintiffs must have more than "mere speculation, conjecture or fantasy."
Lacking any hard evidence, the 8th Circuit affirmed the district court's ruling for Pulitzer. Now the battle shifts to state court-the plaintiffs have filed a case in St. Louis City claiming that Pulitzer's agreement with the favored branch dealers violates the Missouri antitrust law.
AM/FM
Klose wins life-time AIR
By Lynn Venhaus
After a 30-year career in his hometown, veteran rock jock Mark Klose will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the seventh annual Achievement in Radio (AIR) Awards March 7.
The awards program will take place at 6:30 p.m. at The Pageant, with a happy hour-drinks and appetizers-at 5:30 p.m. The March of Dimes sponsors the event, with proceeds benefiting its mission to save babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality.
Nominations in 29 other categories recognizing news, talent, public affairs and stations have yet to be announced. Jen Leahy, communications manager for the March of Dimes, said judges in Atlanta were still listening to entries at SJR's deadline. She expected a finalists' list to be distributed between Feb. 5 and 8.
Klose, in typical self-deprecating fashion, joked that it was a matter of "last man standing," but did admit it was "pretty cool" to be on the receiving end. Guy Phillips, John Ulett, Ron Elz and J.C. Corcoran are among previous recipients.
After 30 years, Klose said he's grateful for being able to stay in St. Louis and still work in radio.
"I've been lucky. I never had to leave the market, which is almost unheard of. And I've had no desire to leave," he said. "In these days of cutbacks, consolidation and automation, a day without a pink slip is a good day."
A 1971 graduate of Vianney High School in Kirkwood, he started sweeping floors and making coffee at KSHE (94.7 FM); then in 1972, he began carving a niche as one of the rock station's mainstays in its free-wheeling glory days. He left in 1983, making a short-lived leap to-gasp-talk radio and KMOX. Since then, he's been at KSD-FM twice and the 101.1 frequency twice-as WMRY and the Fox/the River.
He also worked at KADI, KMJZ and KGRV (108 FM). "It was called K-Groove and our slogan was 'music for women only.' You can see why it didn't last." Klose even owned a piece of WEW (77 AM), spending about seven years there and then returning a couple years ago briefly for morning drive.
For the past few years, he's been working at K-Hits (KIHT 96.3 FM), first as morning drive and then on the afternoon/evening rush hour shift when "The Steve and D.C. Show" moved over from KIX (106.5 FM) in October 2000 after the Emmis-Bonneville-Sinclair deal. He also hosts a music program on Saturday evenings. Formerly called "Klose Encounters," it's now the "Block Party," where artists' songs are played three in a row. "We mix it up. We go deeper with some cuts."
He had only praise for Emmis, which didn't buy KSHE until after he left. "It's worked out really good. They've been great."
What drives him today? "It's the same thing as when I started. I've always loved music. And I get paid for it. What a great gig. I'm 48 years old and I'm still playing rock 'n' roll," he said. "I get listeners calling who've been listening to me for over 20 years, then I get 19-, 20-year-olds calling in requests, who heard a song on their dads' records."
And listeners appreciate his expertise. With an encyclopedic knowledge of music, he is to rock 'n' roll what Bob Costas is to baseball. And if he's stymied, he knows a listener will come to his rescue. "No matter what you bring up, someone will have the answer."
His loyal listeners also love those trips down memory lane. "Anytime you go back in radio and music, all the memories are good. People love talking about it. Now they have work, a mortgage and kids, but they can pinpoint dates and years of music events, and it's all good, back when they were making $1.25 at McDonald's."
Over the years, his style has been cultivated not only by his vast range of music knowledge but also his willingness to share his life. His personal stories about his wife, Denise, known on radio as "Fern," and his 10-year-old daughter Kaitlin, aka "Beaner," are often brought up to him when he's out and about.
In reflecting on his longevity, Klose said, "It's been great. I still see a bunch of the guys I've worked with. I have good relationships with a lot of the clients who've been with me a long time, and I've got the relationship with the listeners. They come up and say hello. That's the reason I'm here. They're listening to the music and paying attention. That says a lot for the listeners."
•••
More nationwide cutbacks at Bonneville Communications have resulted in changes at the St. Louis Radio Group's Smooth Jazz, WSSM (106.5 FM) and the River, WVRV (101.1FM).
In December, firing of upper management people led to market manager and WSSM General Manager Dave Ervin getting the ax after more than 20 years with the company. WVRV General Manager John Kijowski was appointed the additional duty of managing WSSM.
In January, further restructuring meant that longtime radio workhorse Mike Watermann was out as program director and on-air talent at the smooth jazz station, replaced by David Myers, whose p.m. drive shift at the River is still up for grabs.
In addition to PD duties, Myers, a seven-year veteran at the hot adult contemporary station, is handling the 3-to-6 p.m. duties at the smooth jazz outlet.
In the meantime, Van Lorenz is filling in during the River's p.m. drive time and Ken Williams is handling the 7 p.m.-to-midnight block. "No final decisions yet on staffing. Lots of interviews going on but nothing final yet," said Mark Edwards, now operations manager at both WSSM and WVRV.
As for Watermann, he is actively seeking work in the St. Louis market, hopefully as a PD, MD or on-air talent. He'd been at WSSM for 14 months, but had spent 20 years here, mainly at KSD-FM and K-Hits. "I am most interested in returning to a classic rock, classic hits, or oldies format. I've also worked in adult contemporary, country and Top 40 radio. I've been in contact with several St. Louis radio management people, but almost every company has been forced into some type of cutback that results in very few employment opportunities.
"I'd like to stay in St. Louis-unless something in local radio opens up soon, I may have to look outside the market to continue what has been my profession for the last 25 years," he said.
"Kijowski emphasized that my dismissal had nothing to do with performance, but was a result of organizational restructuring, which would result in a new direction for the station," he said.
WSSM had been the biggest success story to come out of the Emmis-Bonneville-Sinclair deal two years ago. December Arbitrons indicated the station had risen to eighth place among listeners age 25 to 55 and Watermann's 3-to-6 p.m. shift was also in the top 10.
•••
The search for a new voice in the KMOX (1120 AM) booth at Cardinals' games continues at press time. The third member of the radio team would be Mike Shannon's partner on road games and possibly sub for Jack Buck at home, if the need arises. Heir apparent Joe Buck has decided to give full-time attention to Fox Sports.
"No news to report on the Cardinals announcer search just yet," said Tom Langmyer, operations manager at KMOX. "We've had lots of interest, however. I wish we could have some news before your deadline but we'll continue working on it and talking to people this week (end of January)."
Langmyer didn't drop any names, but some people reportedly under consideration are local guys Steve Stewart (Baltimore Orioles) and Mike Carver (River City Rascals) as well as homegrown Joel Myers, who does San Antonio Spurs basketball for TV and NFL Sunday night games for radio and was once the Cardinals stadium announcer.
•••
AFTRA contract negotiations are still continuing with KMOX, and the next meetings are set for March 5 and 6. While there has been agreement on a few minor proposals, so far, there's been no movement on either side regarding reporters' raises up to the level of staff artists (talk-show hosts), according to union spokesperson Jackie Dietrich. AFTRA wants full-time street reporters, whose scale is $38,000 annually, to match the current $64,000 salary for staff artists. AFTRA also wants a minimum 5 percent raise for the staff artists.
As far as KMOX management seeking a provision to allow the news department to outsource work, Operations Manager Tom Langmyer explained that would only be supplemental coverage, to give reporters more time to do investigative and enterprise work. He emphasized that news is the foundation of the radio station. "We truly value our news reporters. You don't see a lot of turnover here," he said.
KMOX employs three full-time reporters and several part-time people in the newsroom.
The contract expired Sept. 30, but remains in effect because of a day-to-day provision.
•••
Fine local talent Robynn Ragland, Shine, SuperCrush and E.M. Grueve comprise the line-up of the River Home Grown Show on Feb. 22 at The Pageant. It's the first show of the year sponsored by the excellent Sunday night program on the station. "The River Home Grown," which premiered Sept. 30 to showcase St. Louis musicians, airs from 9-10 p.m. and is hosted by Ken Williams.
"We have been getting an incredible response from our listeners about this Sunday night feature, and it has been very rewarding for me personally," Williams said.
•••
For the first time, KMOX has been nominated as News/Talk Radio Station of the Year and Tom Langmyer is a nominee for News/Talk Programmer of the Year by Radio and Records. The awards will be announced at the Radio and Records Talk Radio Seminar on Feb. 23 in Washington, D.C. Both Langmyer and station GM Karen Carroll will serve as panelists at this national radio event.
Other nominees are KGO-San Francisco, KFBK-Sacramento, KOGO-San Diego, WTMJ-Milwaukee and WTOP-Washington.
Radio History
Remembering Spider Burks
By Frank Absher
Jesse "Spider" Burks was given his unique nickname by Nat "King" Cole because of his agility on the college basketball court. But when it came to his performance on the radio, his focus was straight ahead toward jazz, and that focus led to some serious confrontations with station owners and managers.
From 1947 to 1956, Spider held court on KXLW, but it wasn't easy getting his foot in the door there. His widow, Leah Sue Burks, remembers the story of a Mr. Benton who owned a record shop on Easton Avenue. He had purchased time on KXLW and he wanted Spider to be the announcer during his half-hour show. Station owner Guy Runnion was always looking for ways to create advertising income, so he agreed. Mr. Benton's shop saw an increase in business, and Runnion hired Burks as a disc jockey and expanded his time on the air. Burks would sell advertising to supplement his relatively meager wages.
A KXLW promotional article in a local newspaper in 1949 noted, "Spider Burks, the first Negro discer (sic) in the St. Louis area, is a Be-bop enthusiast, even to wearing a Be-bop cap." And a funny thing was happening to "race Radio" in St. Louis. White teenagers were tuning in.
Talk to some of these listeners today, and they'll tell you of their fond memories of hearing Spider on the radio. His afternoon shows on KXLW were called "After School Swing Session," "The House of Joy" and "Down in the Alley Behind My House." You could tune to KXLW in 1955 and hear him kick off his broadcast with "Good afternoon, someone. This is your boy Spider Burks climbing into your loud speakers for another afternoon to dust the grooves and change the needle on another "House of Joy show."
Tony Cabanellas of St. Louis was "just a kid" back then, but he was a regular listener. He even has a clipping about Spider Burks from the St. Louis Globe-Democrat July 1, 1951, headlined "Disc Jockey is Proof A Negro Can Go Places in Radio Here." It boasts the fact that Burks was pulling down $20,000 a year at KXLW, which would have come as no surprise to record companies. They knew that any record played on his programs would jump off the shelves of local record stores.
But Leah Sue Burks says it wasn't easy. There was pressure from the station's new owners to play some of the new music, called rhythm & blues. Things came to a head, and in 1956, Spider Burks took his jazz and bop show to KSTL. During his career, which also included on-air work at KATZ and KADI-FM, Spider did hundreds of live remotes from jazz clubs in the region.
A former business partner, Jorge Martinez, said Burks knew how to work a crowd, "He had a great radio voice and always handled himself well on the air."
When Spider was doing a remote, you never knew what kind of audience would show up. There are literally hundreds of people around today who would sneak into the jazz clubs as underage fans to hear the likes of Getz, Bird, Chet Baker and others. And if they couldn't get past the bouncer, they'd stay outside to listen.
Virgil Matheus, who grew up in St. Louis, said Burks "educated you. He was big on modern jazz and he explained it to the listeners. I was 14. I'd come home from school and turn on the radio and it just blew me away. It was Bop."
From his wife's perspective, Spider Burks' career was a team effort. Although she wasn't always directly involved in his work, Leah Sue Burks says, "If I said I wanted to come to the station, he'd let me. I put shows together for him, typing up the song sheets. For the remote broadcasts I'd do the pre-interviews."
Spider Burks owned interest in several clubs over his career and he was known to drive around in his big, pink Cadillac. He owned a horse farm and was dedicated to playing and promoting jazz. When that was no longer profitable to radio stations, Burks left the business and began working with inmates to ease their transition from jail into the community. Spider Burks died in September of 1974. The East St. Louis Monitor, in Burks' obituary, called him one of the area's sharpest dressers.
Editor's note: The editor of SJR was one of Spider's devotees. When I was a teen-ager in the '60s, all my friends were excited about the Beatles and the Stones. But I preferred Sonny Stitt and Sonny Rollins, Bird, Trane and the MJQ. At the time, Spider had a midnight show on KATZ and his theme song was Stan Getz's "Moonlight in Vermont." Even now, whenever I hear that song, it automatically becomes two o'clock in the morning, and I think of Spider.
Hummel gets booted upstairs
By Joe Pollack
Using the same sort of convoluted logic that I witnessed through 23 years at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the newspaper recently introduced its new baseball writer by displaying his name for the first time-over a football story. He wrote a pair of advances for the New England-Pittsburgh AFC championship game on Jan. 27, and his game coverage appeared the next day.
Joe Strauss is his name, and he came to the Post in mid-January after five years covering the Orioles for the Baltimore Sun, and several following the Braves for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He replaces Rick Hummel, the newspaper's long-time top baseball writer and long considered one of the best in the nation. Rumor has it that Strauss probably will be the Post's highest paid sports writer behind columnist Bernie Miklasz and the sports editor, Larry Starks.
But there is more to this than a standard assignment change. There apparently has been considerable intrigue among top managers of the Post, some of whom apparently feel that Hummel has been too easy on Manager Tony La Russa, and all of whom think that hardly anyone on the present staff is deserving of the assignment.
Hummel, the Post's baseball writer for 23 years, has been named "Baseball Columnist/Reporter," according to a memo from Starks. The boot upstairs, an assignment neither suggested nor requested by Hummel, means that he "will be able to use his new role to provide us with insightful analysis on the Cardinals and other national baseball issues. Rick will write at least two columns a week, will continue to cover some Cardinals games and contribute other news and feature stories on the Cardinals and the national baseball scene," the memo continues, adding, "This new position will enable us to expand our coverage of the Cardinals and national baseball issues. I am convinced this will pay big dividends for our readers."
Maybe it will-it certainly should-bring extra dividends to Hummel's pay check, but the Post will have to add some space for all baseball games to give fans a little context for Hummel's columns, plus space for Hummel's own writing. It also will require a larger budget and considerable travel money for the promised expansion in coverage. Sports department space restrictions in recent years have limited stories of non-Cardinal games to only a paragraph or two after the first week of the season.
Other newspapers around the country have a baseball writer who works in this area, writing about national trends and issues, with some column-type material, analysis pieces and occasional coverage. Hummel will apparently be the second man on some major Cardinals games, either home or away, and undoubtedly will file stories from other baseball training camps in Florida and Arizona, as Mike Eisenbath has done for several years. It will be interesting to see how other baseball assignments work out; Eisenbath, Stu Durando and Dan O'Neill all have been used in recent years.
This Hummel move apparently has been in the works for about a year; Rams writer Jim Thomas was offered the assignment but turned it down.
No one else in the department was offered it, and if anyone else applied, he or she did not get it.
Before becoming the lead baseball writer, succeeding Neal Russo, Hummel had a variety of writing assignments, including the late, lamented Spirits of the American Basketball Association, a professional women's softball team and a number of other more or less-successful entities.
The memo posted by the newspaper for Hummel's replacement, which went up the day after the announcement of his new assignment, sought "a highly experienced, highly motivated writer, whose initial assignment will include, but not be limited to, covering the St. Louis baseball Cardinals.
Applicants should have at least five years' experience working a major beat and be able to demonstrate ability to write compelling game reports, features and news stories. The ideal candidate also will be able to create in-depth, well-crafted stories that explore issues and personalities associated with the Cardinals and around major league baseball. Applicants must be well-organized and independent, yet have the ability to work in a team environment."
(In the interest of full disclosure, let me point out that I have known Rick Hummel since 1961 or 1962, when he was a student at the University of Missouri and part of the sports information director's football statistics crew that came to St. Louis to work for me doing the same chore for the Football Cardinals. The group, which also included John Walsh, now of the ESPN Magazine, was in place when I joined the Big Red staff. The relationship ended when Bill Callahan, the Mizzou sports information director, decided that keeping statistics at two football games a weekend, in two cities 125 miles apart, was a little too much.)
But Hummel is a superb baseball writer and analyst of games and players, and is regarded nationally as one of the very best. Several baseball writers in a number of major league cities were offered the job, or told about it, but all declined the opportunity of succeeding Hummel.
Both Starks and Editor Ellen Soeteber praised Hummel, insisted the move was made to improve sports coverage and benefit the readers who will have additional opportunities to benefit from Hummel's writing and national expertise.
The Hummel situation is just one of many brushfires existing in and around the Post sports department. The Post also thought no one on the staff was good enough to succeed Dave Luecking as the lead hockey writer and brought Derrick Goold from Denver, where he had covered basketball. Goold and Tom Timmermann, who also covers soccer, share the beat.
Tom Wheatley, whose Post assignments have included the Blues, Mizzou and other prominent teams, now is writing features on high school athletes for the suburban zone sections.
Sources indicate his problems with top management were exacerbated when he declined the role of covering the University of Illinois football and basketball teams.
Wheatley apparently earned a reprieve when he was named to be part of the massive Super Bowl coverage which sent 22 reporters from the Post and the Boston Globe to write about football and festivities in New Orleans.
Thomas and Keith Schildroth are involved in grievance cases brought by the Newspaper Guild because of free-lance writing problems. Thomas, who has covered the Rams since they moved here and whose coverage has grown into all-star status, matching the team's won-and-lost record, was forbidden to write about the Rams for an NFL website. Schildroth, a long-time clerk who does not have formal reporter status-or pay scale-but who writes about soccer, bowling and other minor sports, got the same ruling when he wanted to write about hockey for another website.
Meanwhile, columnist Miklasz and several other Post writers are regular radio and television presences.
The Nashville, Tenn., law firm of King and Ballow, virulent anti-labor advocates who have represented Pulitzer in the last decade of labor negotiations and who certainly will continue when the Guild contract expires next January, are arguing for the newspaper. Their claim is that Thomas and Schildroth are in a conflict of interest situation, but the attorneys had no response when asked whether a towel with a Cardinals emblem, given by the Post to fans to wave at baseball games, was a conflict of interest in any way. The arbitration is pending.
Who owns the local media?
You'll have to dial long distance to reach
the boss of your local news.
By Ed Bishop
In one way, St. Louisans are lucky. The area's newspaper of record, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, is locally owned. Although Pulitzer Inc. is publicly traded, the major shareholders are closely tied to St. Louis. Other cities in the United States can't make that claim.
More and more, big-city dailies are being bought up by huge newspaper chains with corporate headquarters hundreds of miles away from their newsrooms. In fact, the vast majority of American newspapers is owned by a handful of corporations-corporations that also own the majority of the nation's television and radio stations. The corporate bosses are rarely knowledgeable about local issues. They view the news from the bottom line. Contrary to conventional wisdom, media outlets are not liberal but rather corporate in their outlook.
For example, no news outlet in St. Louis has a reporter dedicated solely to covering labor unions-not the Post, not KSDK (Channel 5), not KMOX radio, not the Riverfront Times. Even though a huge number of people in the metropolitan area belong to unions, not a single local reporter is intimately familiar with the details, issues and undercurrents of labor unions. How left-wing is that?
And it gets worse. A considerable number of news is owned by conglomerates whose main business is something other than news, and who see reporters as nothing more than pitchmen for their other business interests.
Take KMOX radio.
(We don't mean to pick on KMOX. The St. Louis Journalism Review has often said that KMOX has the finest radio newsroom in the city and one of the best in the country. But it's a perfect example.)
KMOX is owned by Infinity Radio which, in turn, is owned by Viacom, Inc. Viacom's other properties include Paramount Pictures, MTV, VH1, Blockbuster, Simon & Schuster, Scribner's, Pocket Books, Nickelodeon, CBS Television, the UPN network, the Movie Channel, the Sundance Channel, TNN, theme parks, Star Trek Properties, Showtime, Black Entertainment Television, the World Wrestling Federation, Internet companies, more than 100,000 copyrights on musical works, advertising rights on thousands of buses, subways, trains and billboards, 184 radio stations, 39 television stations and the list goes on.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see how Viacom can maximize profits through what business people call "synergy"-what the rest of us would call "shilling."
Unfortunately, most people don't realize that their favorite TV news anchor works for a large corporation which has virtually no stake in St. Louisans being well-informed.
So SJR has compiled a list for our readers of the major news outlets in the metro area and their owners. With newspapers and television stations, the list is pretty straightforward-name, owner, location and other holdings. With radio, however, the chart is more complicated. We hope you enjoy it.
Newspapers
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Owner: Pulitzer, Inc.
Headquarters: St. Louis, Mo.
Other properties: Suburban Newspapers of Greater St. Louis; the Ladue News; the Pantagraph of Bloomington, Ill.; the Arizona Daily Sun; and 20 other smaller dailies and weeklies; 4 percent of the St. Louis Cardinals; Pulitzer Technologies; and STLtoday.com.
The Belleville News-Democrat
Owner: Knight Ridder Newspapers
Headquarters: San Jose, Calif.
Other properties: 33 major dailies, including the Charlotte Observer, the Detroit Free Press, the Kansas City Star, the Miami Herald, the Philadelphia Daily News, the Philadelphia Inquirer, St. Paul Pioneer Press, the San Jose Mercury News and the Wichita Eagle; 18 smaller suburban dailies and weeklies.
The Edwardsville Intelligencer
Owner: The Hearst Corporation
Headquarters: New York, N.Y.
Other properties: 20 dailies, including the Houston Chronicle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer; 30 monthly magazines, including Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Popular Mechanics, Redbook and Town & Country; the Hearst News Service; Hearst-Argyle Television, which owns 15 stations, including two in Kansas City, one in Boston, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cincinnati and Milwaukee; two radio stations; King Features Syndicate; a number of cable channels, including A&E, the History Channel and ESPN; and several large real-estate holdings, mostly in California.
The Telegraph (Alton)
Owner: Freedom Communications, Inc.
Headquarters: Irvine, Calif.
Other properties: 24 small dailies, including the Sedalia Democrat; 10 weeklies; eight television stations in smaller markets like Albany, N.Y. and Lansing, Mich.; and an Internet interactive division.
Suburban Journals
Owner: Pulitzer, Inc.
Headquarters: St. Louis, Mo.
Other properties: The Pantagraph of Bloomington, Ill.; the Arizona Daily Sun, and 20 other smaller dailies and weeklies including the Ladue News; 4 percent of the St. Louis Cardinals; Pulitzer Technologies; and STLtoday.com.
The St. Louis Business Journal
Owner: American City Business Journals
Headquarters: Charlotte, N.C.
Other property: 58 business journals.
The Riverfront Times
Owner: New Times, Inc.
Headquarters: Phoenix, Ariz.
Other properties: 12 alternative weeklies.
The St. Louis American
Owner: Donald M. Suggs
Headquarters: St. Louis, Mo.
Other properties: None.
Television stations
KSDK (Channel 5)
Owner: Gannett, Inc.
Headquarters: McLean, Va.
Other properties: 15 television stations, including stations in Buffalo, Cleveland, Denver and Phoenix; 110 daily newspapers, including USA Today, the Des Moines Register, the Detroit News, the Louisville Courier-Journal, the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader and the Cincinnati Enquirer; 16 dailies in Great Britain; thousands of billboards; 20 percent of the Cincinnati Reds; and nine large printing plants.
KTVI (Channel 2)
Owner: News Corporation (Rupert Murdoch)
Headquarters: New York, N.Y.
Other properties: the Fox Cable Network (Fox Sports, Fox News Channel, FX, etc.); 32 television stations in the nation's largest markets, including two in New York City and two in Los Angeles, one each in Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Denver, etc.; cable TV systems in Great Britain, Germany, Australia, Canada, India, Italy, Indonesia, Japan and Latin America; the Weekly Standard and other conservative magazines; Twentieth Century Fox studios; the New York Post in the U.S. and major newspapers throughout the world, including the Times (London); the publishing houses of William Morrow, Harper Collins, Quill and Avon; the Los Angeles Dodgers, 20 percent of the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers, 10 percent of the Los Angeles Lakers and 40 percent of the Staples Center; plus numerous other technology, Internet and production companies.
KMOV (Channel 4)
Owner: A. H. Belo Corporation
Headquarters: Dallas, Texas
Other properties: 22 television stations, including three in Tucson, two in Seattle and one each in Dallas, Houston, New Orleans and Louisville; six TV production companies; 11 daily newspapers, including the Dallas Morning News; and 12 percent of the Dallas Mavericks.
KDNL (Channel 30)
Owner: Sinclair Broadcasting Group
Headquarters: Cockeysville, Md.
Other properties: 25 television stations, including the markets of Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and Milwaukee.
KETC (Channel 9)
Owner: St. Louis Regional Education and Public Television Commission (non-profit)
Headquarters: St. Louis, Mo.
Other properties: local video production company.
KPLR (Channel 11)
Owner: Acme Television
Headquarters: St. Louis, Mo.
Other properties: 10 television stations in medium markets, including Salt Lake City and Green Bay.
Charter Communications (cable)
Owner: Vulcan Northwest, Inc. (Paul Allen)
Headquarters: Bellevue, Wash.
Other properties: 5 percent of Microsoft; a large system of cable companies throughout the nation; the Seattle Seahawks and the Portland Trailblazers; the Sporting News; and Paul Allen Media which owns numerous Internet and telecommunication companies.
Radio stations
Four out-of-town companies own a combination of radio stations in St. Louis that have the largest number of listeners. Those companies are:
Clear Channel Communications
Headquarters: San Antonio, Texas
Other properties: more than 1,200 radio stations (six in St. Louis); hundreds of billboards; and several entertainment companies, including Riverport Amphitheater and the former Contemporary Productions here in St. Louis.
Bonneville International
Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah
Other properties: 15 radio stations (four in St. Louis); two television stations; Bonneville Satellite Co.; Video West Productions; and Bonneville Advertising.
Emmis Communications
Headquarters: Indianapolis, Ind.
Other properties: 19 radio stations (five in St. Louis); 15 television stations: five city magazines, including Atlanta and Los Angeles magazines; and Big Hit Marketing.
Infinity Radio
Headquarters: New York, N.Y.
Other properties: 166 radio stations (three in St. Louis, including KMOX); Infinity is owned by Viacom, see introduction for list of its properties.
Among the market's top five stations in overall listenership, according to the most recent Arbitron figures, four belong to conglomerates. (See table below.)
Top Five St. Louis Stations
-Arbitron fall 2001, 12+
Station Owner
KMOX Infinity
KEZK Infinity
WIL Bonneville
KMJM Clear Channel
KTRS Dorsey Communications (local)
Things look slightly different in the 25-54 target audience in St. Louis, which many feel is a more important indicator of a successful radio operation. (See table below.)
Top Five St. Louis Stations
-Arbitron fall 2001, 25-54
Station Owner
KEZK Infinity
KMOX Infinity
KSHE Emmis
KMJM Clear Channel
WIL Bonneville
But there's another side to this radio numbers story. The idea behind all this consolidation of radio properties was to develop economies of scale. Why have six separate buildings for studios when you could put six studios in one building. Why staff six different switchboards, etc? The consolidation also gave companies the ability to sell ads on more than one station.
Infinity, the owner of three stations here, has a strong presence among female listeners with KYKY and KEZK. Clear Channel can deliver the bulk of the African-American audience with KATZ, KATZ-FM and KMJM. Using the station groups as a barometer, here's how the overall listenership breaks down. (See table below.)
Corporate market audience share
-Arbitron fall 2001, 12+
Company Total market share
Clear Channel 22.7 percent
-six stations
Infinity 20.9 percent
-three stations
Bonneville 15 percent
-four stations
Emmis 10.4 percent
-five stations
And with the 25-54 age group of listeners, the group rankings and shares change. (See table below.)
Corporate market audience share
-Arbitron fall 2001, 25-54
Company Total market share
Clear Channel 22.5 percent
-six stations
Emmis 19.8 percent
-five stations
Infinity 18.8 percent
-three stations
Bonneville 14.8 percent
-four stations
The economies of scale idea is also being milked in another way by these radio groups. Technology has now advanced to the point where an average listener can't tell whether the disc jockey on the air is live or recorded. The process is called voice-tracking, and computers allow a jock in a distant city to be heard on several radio stations at the same time, sounding very much like he (or she) is actually in every location.
John Anthony, heard locally on KLOU, is nowhere near St. Louis, but he is given pertinent market information, which he will casually mention during his broadcasts. He also has the play list, and, since all the music is on a computer hard drive, his drop-ins are programmed in and around the songs. A good jock can "talk up" the records, continuing the conversation over the instrumental intro of the song and stopping just before the vocalist starts. Again, it's all in the computer.
So it's not beyond the realm of reality for a jock in one city to be on five different radio stations, possibly at the same time, thanks to satellites or ISDN lines. Why should the big broadcast companies hire five jocks for five of their stations when you can pay one person the salary of two and get five shows? Or why hire a strong talent for your morning drive when you can get a syndicated show off satellite, try to make it sound local and end up paying less money?
The audience numbers shown above are just the tip of the monetary iceberg in St. Louis media. These companies don't limit their income to radio here. Both Infinity and Clear Channel own outdoor billboard companies, and Clear Channel also owns the Riverport Amphitheater and the former Contemporary Productions, now known as Clear Channel Entertainment. This means your company can sponsor a Riverport concert, run ads on their radio stations listing you as their sponsor, and run ads on their billboards promoting your company and the concert, sending all of the money to one big company.
Some information contributed by Frank Absher and Jeff Starck.
Alternatives to corporate news
By Dan Hellinger
In its latest issue, The Nation magazine documented the domination of global media by 10 mega-corporations. Several of these "Big Ten" transnational communications companies have moved aggressively to tame the Internet and subjugate it to the homogenizing force of commercialization. Still, there remains a number of English-language, alternative websites. Here are a few corners of the Internet where you can elude the lords of global media.
My favorite alternative English language website is IndyMedia (www.indymedia.org/), which is maintained by a collective of independent media organizations and journalists. IndyMedia bills itself as "a democratic media outlet for the creation of radical, accurate, and passionate tellings of truth." It offers both original reports and a critique of mainstream corporate media.
Some stories, such as one about Canadian students occupying their university to protest tuition hikes, have not received any wire service attention. Others provide a different slant on stories getting plenty of coverage. While the mainstream media have been lauding the decision of the World Economic Forum to meet in New York despite the events of Sept. 11, IndyMedia has highlighted the ultra-elite nature of the meeting, organized by a Swiss-based organization that promotes economic globalization by bringing government officials and transnational CEOs together for behind-closed-door meetings.
But what's really cool and different about IndyMedia is that anyone can submit his or her own news story to the site for posting. The editors feature those they judge newsworthy on the homepage or on several linked pages, sorted geographically. Rejected stories are available for review on the "hidden articles page." Instructions for uploading and tutorials for writing better stories are available. Perhaps no other website better exploits the much-touted democratic potential of the Internet.
Globalvision's Mediachannel (www.mediachannel.org) fills a double function as a web-based site for media criticism and as a portal for hundreds of affiliated news sites around the world. The homepage features daily coverage of media issues, such as deregulation in the U.S., Vladimir Putin's attempts to shut down Russia's last independent TV network, and China's intention to maintain state control over its media. Linked to the homepage is the "global news network."
Less adapted to the Internet but useful is Alternative Press Review's website (www.altpr.org/index.html), a companion to its print edition. Posted articles are limited to the most recent back issue, and no post-Sept. 11 coverage has appeared yet. In These Times and The Nation take a similar approach, offering selected articles from the current editions, but with more extensive access to back issues. (See www.inthesetimes.com and www.thenation.com.)
NewsPlace (www3.niu.edu/newsplace/) carries extensive media criticism and news, but unlike the sites already mentioned, the news links are to stories in the mainstream media that, according to the site's editors, deserve wider attention.
Although the ideological baggage is heavy at times, the World Socialist Website (www.wsws.org/index.shtml), web-child of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), the European branch of Trotskyism, is worth a visit. Some will be put off by the rhetoric, but the site draws heavily on mainstream European news organizations and highlights information that Western governments would prefer to send down Orwell's memory hole.
Americas (www.americas.org) is all about hemispheric news and culture. Many regionally focused sites serve as portals for other web sources, but Americas pulls together a variety of articles in English on topics such as the Columbian drug war, Vicente Fox's falling popularity and highly educated Cubans coping with hard economic times. Like many of the other websites listed here, the content stresses perspectives critical of corporate globalization.
Local Angles
For St. Louisans looking for fresh alternatives, there are some homegrown alternative sites.
Commonspace (www.mstl.org/projects/century-building/) is devoted to "grassroots civics and culture." The January 2002 issues explores internal Democratic politics in the 15th ward and tells you why preservationists want to save the Century Building from the wrecking ball. It's a place where Tom Crone escapes the deadly suburban quagmire of "Stltoday" and does what he does best: alternative culture reviews.
The Ampersand (www.mprsnd.net/), now in its 11th edition, is the brainchild of local college students, many of whom are anti-globalization activists. The masthead describes its purpose: "We publish writing. To elaborate, we publish poetry, fiction, novels, drama, essays, reviews and criticism-as well as anything else worth publishing. All we ask of contributions is that they be your uninhibited, best work." The result is eclectic, uneven and provocative.
Channels
Memo to the press
By Tripp Frohlichstein
Memo to former KDNL (Channel 30) news types: Do you feel better that you weren't the only news operation owned by Sinclair to get dumped?
Probably not.
Sinclair also ended news at its Winston-Salem, N.C., operation. Forty-five more newsies got the ax Jan. 11.
Like Channel 30, the news was a fairly recent addition to the station there, starting up in 1995. In the latest ratings, the Winston-Salem station received a 2.2 rating for its Monday through Friday 6 p.m. newscast-which translates to about 16,000 viewers each night from the area's more than 642,000 television households. The Winston-Salem Journal reported that David Smith, the CEO and president of Sinclair, released a written statement (similar to Channel 30's, if memory serves), which said that increased competition from cable-only news stations is hurting broadcasters.
"Given the competitive and economic landscape and our signal disadvantage, we felt it was in the best interest of the marketplace to close the operation, rather than sacrifice the quality of the news we deliver," Smith said in the release. The signal disadvantage he referred to is that in Winston-Salem, like St. Louis, the Sinclair station is a UHF station.
But I see a trend here. Sinclair blames everybody but itself for its problems. Maybe this is a company whose executives don't know how to both promote and execute newscasts effectively. Certainly the folks here were adrift. At one point, crime was a fixture. At another point, it was long stories. Promotion was often, well, virtually non-existent. Go ahead and blame the economy, blame the competition.
But Sinclair better blame itself too for its inability to introduce news into a market and nurture it to success. Rumor has it that Sinclair may, however, get back into the news business in a unique sort of way. One news director says he heard it might produce a newscast in Baltimore that will be sent to other Sinclair stations where the news has been dropped.
"Interesting and ground-breaking if they can pull it off," he said.
•••
Another memo to former Channel 30 newsroomies: Congratulations to a few of you who have landed new jobs. Julie Heil ends up with the NBC affiliate in Springfield, Ill., as a general assignment reporter and fill-in anchor.
Dawn Kendrick goes to Cleveland in the same capacity of reporter and fill-in anchor. Keryn Shipman has popped up on KPLR (Channel 11) doing weekend weather.
•••
Memo to KSDK (Channel 5): Please learn to control yourselves. After seeing the promo of Mike Bush carrying the Olympic torch for the 4,700th time, I had begun to tire of it. Bush had to be embarrassed about all the attention he got. It was overkill to the nth degree. In fact, your Olympic promos are driving us all crazy. Way too many. We know you are carrying the Olympics, OK? Is the ad market that bad that you can't fill the time?
There are also some very worthy organizations who would love to have 30 seconds of prime time for a public service announcement. Instead, we see Mike Bush running the torch or standing somewhere in Salt Lake over and over and over again telling us he'll be covering the Olympics for Channel 5. Which brings us to the next question for Channel 5, why?
Even people inside the station are questioning whether Bush's visit to the Olympics is necessary. For a few days, sure. There are a few St. Louis stories, most notably the speedskating category which has a St. Louis racer and referee. There will also be members of the Blues there for the hockey competition. Otherwise, that's about it.
As of press time, local stations are not being allowed into the venues for coverage-only the network guys get to do that (Channel 5 is trying to change that). So we will likely see a lot of Bush outside or in hotel lobbies and the like.
Should Bush go to the Olympics? Yes, but only for a few days. Otherwise, we will likely be asking "Mike, did we need you in Salt Lake for that story? Couldn't NBC have done it just as well if not better?"
Finally, let me make clear that I am not criticizing Bush per se. He is this city's best sportscaster by far. I am, however, criticizing the managers who made these decisions for him.
•••
Another memo to Channel 5 about Mike Bush: Let Mike Bush do his job when the games are important. During the two Rams' playoff games before the Super Bowl, both airing late Sunday afternoon, Mike Bush wasn't even allowed to watch. How do I know? Because he was anchoring the early newscasts on Channel 5. I must ask why. The news ratings were low because most of us were watching the Rams. Bush did not have to anchor. The station should have allowed him to either watch or attend the games. Mike Bush is sports director first and news anchor second.
•••
Memo to Weather Channel meteorologist Mike Phelps: You were out of line on your late night Jan. 15 weathercast on KMOX radio. Without indicating it was a joke, as you gave the long-range forecast, you told listeners to expect tornadoes and other severe weather events. Sure, most people knew you were kidding but a lot of people listening to KMOX still might have taken you seriously. It's OK to joke. Just make sure the listeners know it's a joke.
•••
Memo to Channel 5 news decision-makers: Good call at 5 p.m. on Jan. 23.
Your lead story was the Gov. Bob Holden "state of the state" message with Mike Owens reporting live from Jeff City. This story affects far more people than the stories KMOV (Channel 4) and KTVI (Channel 2) led with, which was the arrest of a man who went on a one-man crime wave. That arrest had come out the night before.
Sure the story about the crime wave was relevant, especially since many people were affected. Was it as important as the budget crunch in the state and the impact it might have on all of us? No.
•••
Memo to Channel 2 news decision-makers: To make matters worse, you ran several more crime stories and an accident story before getting to the important stuff, the "state of the state." Shame on you. Remember your viewers and what we care about.
Then, when you ran the story, Betsey Bruce stayed too general in her approach and, unlike the competitors, didn't expand on elements of the speech like dropping the casino loss limits to raise more money for the state along with a reduction in the number of state jobs.
•••
Memo to Sam Donaldson of ABC: Sam, lighten up! On your "This Week" program on Jan. 13, you kept asking U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill over and over about contacts between Enron and government officials. He answered you, pointing out that although there were contacts in the normal course of business, no government official took any action to help Enron.
Yet you kept pursuing this non-story part of the Enron debacle. Apparently, O'Neill did the right thing by taking no action. Yet instead of talking about why O'Neill did the right thing, you kept pushing him on potential wrongdoing.
You found nothing. How about focusing on the fact that it appears that someone in government did the right thing. Why wouldn't you talk more about that?
We, the public, like to hear good things about government, too.
•••
Memo to Channel 4's Tim McKernan: You did a very nice story on Jan. 22, from Philadelphia. A lot of reporters, including sports reporters like you, fall flat when trying to do a humorous story. But your look at the Philadelphia fans and their views of the match-up with the Rams was well done.
The clever approach had Philadelphia fans talking about everything from winning the game to what caused the crack in the Liberty Bell. It concluded with a lovely woman who answered yes to every question until you asked her if she wanted to have a drink with you. Too bad she said "no" but a very amusing bit.
Compare that to Frank Cusumano's failed effort the same night to compare the cities of St. Louis and Philadelphia. In trying to show we are a better city, the normally talented Cusumano's attempts at humor fell flat. For example, pointing out that the ice cream cone was invented in St. Louis compared to the insane asylum being invented in Philly. That, he said, gives St. Louis the edge in that category (I'm not so sure). Anyway, nice idea that just didn't work. But to Cusumano's credit, at least he tried.
•••
Memo to Robin Smith at Channel 4: You just keep providing solid work, don't you? It was good to see the honchos at Channel 4 let you out of your noon cage to anchor at night. Watching you on Jan. 22, was a pleasure. Your friendly no-nonsense anchoring is a pleasure to watch. Too bad they hired another new female anchor. You would have worked well in the prime time role. Of course, word on the street is that Vickie Newton, who comes from Atlanta, is pretty darn good too. My initial impression is that she is a good find, though she is forcing attempts at humor in her early appearances as she attempts to fit in with Conners' and Hunter's style.
•••
Memo to KTRS (550 AM) and the Channel 5 weather department: You two need to make sure your act is together. When weather conditions change, Channel 5 people need to update their radio reports. For example, on Jan. 23 at 1 p.m., Mike Roberts told listeners to expect cloudy skies and a high of 62 degrees that day. At the time, it was sunny and 65 degrees and would eventually top out at 69 degrees with clouds rolling in later in the afternoon. Good thing Roberts doesn't subscribe to Kent Ehrhardt's four-degree guarantee. Don't feel alone, though. The same problem occurs with KMOX (1120 AM) and the Weather Channel's taped reports.
•••
Memo to Channel 11: This is purely personal, but thanks for the nice Jan. 16, story on speedskating at the Steinberg Rink in Forest Park. As a parent of a speedskater, I can say parents of this lesser-known sport appreciated the story. And now that the Olympic speedskating controversy involving St. Louisan Tom O'Hare is over, let's hope the stations start paying attention to J.P. Kepka. He is from University City and has made the Olympic team. A St. Louisan has made the Olympic Speedskating team every year since 1968.
•••
Finally, this memo to local newsrooms (quoting Jay Leno): "I don't mean to harp on this, but it's like the (news shows) are a how-to manual for terrorists. You see them on the news. This reporter is standing outside a water treatment plant, going, 'If they poured the poison here it could wipe out thousands because the guard is off duty from noon until 1 every day!'"
Alternative paper benefits homeless
By C.D. Stelzer
The scene is the Meshuggah coffeehouse, just off Delmar Boulevard, around the corner from Blueberry Hill, where a regular cast of college students and University City Loop characters get their daily fix of caffeine. Music blares, dishes clatter and the smell of fresh-brewed espresso permeates the air.
At a table near the front door, a reporter confers with Jay Swoboda about editorial decisions, ranging from layout and design issues to entertainment and news coverage .The discussion is interrupted when Swoboda's cell phone rings. He answers the call by saying, "What's up?"
In this case, his informal salutation is more than just a slang expression.
For the last several months, Swoboda, a 22-year-old Washington University undergraduate, has been laying the foundation for Whats Up, a monthly magazine devoted to providing transitional employment to the homeless and raising public awareness of related social problems.
Groundwork has entailed coordinating efforts with social service agencies in the area and organizing a volunteer staff comprised mainly of college students.
The 32-page debut issue was scheduled to hit the streets Feb. 1, and will have an initial circulation of 10,000 copies. So far, more than a dozen homeless vendors have been recruited and trained to sell the magazine through the cooperation of Peter and Paul Community Services in the Soulard neighborhood. The ultimate goal is to also have the homeless themselves contribute to the editorial content of the periodical.
To make itself street legal, Whats Up has been granted a charitable solicitation permit from the City of St. Louis. Meanwhile, the magazine is in the process of applying for non-profit status. Currently, the bulk of the homeless publication's operating budget is limited to a $2,500 student grant Swoboda received last year. Washington University has also nominated the young publisher for a humanitarian award, which carries a $1,500 prize. Other funding is being provided through advertising revenue, subscriptions and charitable contributions. Swoboda is also counting on future foundation grants to help sustain the publication.
If Whats Up is to succeed in the short term, however, it must rely on street sales, he says. Under the established formula, homeless vendors will receive 23 copies free. They will then hawk the magazines to the public for a $1 donation. After they sell their first allotment, vendors can purchase additional copies for 25 cents each. In addition, Swoboda foresees a limited number of copies being sold at coffeehouses and bookstores, as well as through local non-profit organizations.
"We've only got to sell 300 magazines a day to clear our inventory," Swoboda says. "I don't think 30 vendors would have too much trouble selling 10 magazines a day." Despite St. Louis' dearth of pedestrian traffic, Swoboda surmises that sporting events, morning and evening rush hours and the downtown lunch crowd will provide a sufficient customer base. "We'll probably have to boost circulation to keep up with sales."
Swoboda's optimism is tempered by a recognition that Whats Up is not expected to please everybody. On the contrary, the magazine's editorial stance is predicated on "comforting the disturbed and disturbing the comfortable." True to its motto, the cover story of the first issue juxtaposes the plight of America's homeless veterans with post-Sept. 11 jingoism. The headline, which is superimposed over an image of a gigantic American flag reads: "Homeland Security??"
The premier edition includes interviews with the Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou, a social justice activist, and hiphopper KRS-One. Other news focuses on the low-income housing crisis in Missouri. In a less serious vein, the February edition contains a calendar of events and a story on a local guitar repair shop. Swoboda anticipates that future issues will likely feature a regular concert tip list by Beatle Bob, St. Louis' indefatigable dance maniac.
"Our readers can expect content that combines social awareness and local arts and entertainment in a way that encourages the entire diverse population of Greater St. Louis to be socially conscious," says Swoboda. He borrowed the concept and the name of the magazine from a similar periodical in Boston, which he discovered while serving a year in AmeriCorps.
Over the past decade, there has been a proliferation of such publications in dozens of American cities, which are affiliated through the North American Street Newspaper Association. Among the most successful are Seattle's Real Change and San Francisco's Street Sheet.
In Chicago, the homeless sell approximately 60,000 copies of Streetwise every two weeks. In London, Big Issue, the slickest and most successful homeless periodical, sells more than 120,000 a week. The British magazine's Los Angeles edition has a circulation of 50,000.
Ideally, Whats Up vendors "should be held to no higher standard than those people who sell the Post-Dispatch on Sunday," Swoboda says. But in reality, Swoboda acknowledges that sales in St. Louis County will be limited because the magazine would have to apply for permits in each municipality, and there will be inevitable opposition to street sales in many affluent suburban communities.
Though the margin of success may seem slim to some, Swoboda is used to defying the odds. He comes from a family of 13 children, who were raised on a farm outside of Jonesburg, Mo. In addition to his role as a fledgling publisher and Washington University student, he works 30 hours a week at a restaurant. When asked about the efficacy of a homeless magazine in St. Louis, Swoboda responds with a quotation from Howard Thurman, an advisor to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.: "It isn't a question of whether we will win the battle, but do we have the courage to fight?"
C.D. Stelzer is a St. Louis free-lance writer.
Scooping the national press
By Steve Perron
There was a time in television news when the roles of network and local coverage were clearly defined and clearly different. The networks covered national and international news. Local news covered, well, local news-news within the station's metropolitan region. Things have changed somewhat.
In the 1980s, the networks were swallowed up by corporations which previously had no interest in journalism. The corporate "bean counters" slashed budgets, and among the first things to go were overseas network bureaus. At the same time satellite technology and lighter, sturdier cameras made it easier for local news operations to cover events across the nation and even across the globe.
Still, one incident during the war in Afghanistan had many observers doing double-takes.
On Nov. 9 Northern Alliance forces moved into the city of Mazar-E-Sharif, capturing the one-time Taliban stronghold which was the Alliance's (and the United States') first major strategic victory on the ground. But in St. Louis only one station had video of Northern Alliance tanks rumbling into town.
KMOV (Channel 4) aired it on the 10 p.m. news. Channel 4 got it from CBS. ABC didn't have it. NBC didn't have it. CNN didn't have it. Nobody had it but CBS. And CBS got it from WFOR television, the CBS station in Miami.
Remarkable. A local television crew scooping the world's biggest network news operations. How did it happen?
WFOR News Director Shannon High tells SJR that when war seemed imminent, she was approached by a reporter on her staff with a proposal to go to Afghan-
istan. Reporter Mike Kirsch had already covered the Gulf War and military action in Kosovo and Bosnia as a free-lancer for CBS and ABC. High admits she was hesitant, but Kirsch convinced her he had the experience and the know-how to cover the action well and safely.
WFOR is a CBS-owned-and-operated station. So High called CBS in New York to "get their blessing." Arrangements were also made for Kirsch to provide material for the network and other CBS affiliates. But High stresses Kirsch is there as a WFOR reporter. He is there with WFOR photographer Rudy Marshall and reports to WFOR. They are not "on loan" to CBS for the war.
"This was a local decision," she says.
Kirsch and Marshall left on Sept. 30 and got into Afghanistan just before United States airstrikes began. High calls that a "happy coincidence" but points out, "You make your own luck. Mike was very aggressive in getting there when he did."
Being inside Afghanistan before the airstrikes began gave Kirsch a huge advantage over other reporters who tried to enter after the bombing started.
High says Kirsch was the only American journalist given permission to accompany the general of the Alliance unit when the Alliance went into Mazar-E-Sharif. And so, he and Marshall were there to get the pictures and the story when no one else was.
High says there is no quid-pro-quo between Kirsch and the opposition forces.
"No payments to the army or anything like that," she says. "We've had to pay certain persons to cross a river. We're paying for security, a translator, things like that."
But she says there have been no questionable arrangements made nor agreements with the Alliance to slant coverage in any fashion.
Adding to some observers' surprise is that WFOR is in Miami, a city which has a reputation for sensationalism and the worst kind of "if it bleeds, it leads" sleaze in the nation.
"I'm aware of the perception that Miami is all blood and guts, crime and fires," says High. "But I've always said that Miami is the biggest breaking news market in the country. We've done a lot of things here I'm very proud of-investigations and the like. We do very good work here."
Add to that the work being done by reporter Mike Kirsch and photographer Rudy Marshall. A local crew "scooping" the networks on an international story like this is page one news any way you slice it.
Winter Olympics-ethical mess
By Joe Pollack
How many reporters, commentators and anchors can dance on an ethic? More than angels on the head of a pin?
The upcoming Winter Olympics, which began in bribery and the buying of favors and votes, later covered in whitewash, approaches in a miasma of security, terrorism, sagging television ratings and now, a squabble among media types receiving full airing on its own website, to wit: [email protected].
Yes, it's a service of the fabled hand-holders, facilitators and ethicists who hang out in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The new site for spleen-venting is obviously the creation of people with far too much time and too many computer links on their hands, but it is a great deal of fun, and it provides sufficient opportunities to chime in with your one- or two-cents worth.
Disputes over ethics among reporters and editors cover a lot of ground. They range from accepting free tickets to concerts, ball games and theaters to traveling on junkets which take entertainment writers all over the world in search of 20-minute interviews with mostly reluctant movie stars, or which carry writers on government and the military to far-off aircraft carriers or encampments to talk to troops from the home town and officers with a PR axe to grind.
The current flap erupted at the Salt Lake City Tribune when Dick Rosetta, who covers the exciting, highly competitive, ethically pure sport of figure skating (and isn't that an oxymoron?), accepted the U.S. Olympic Committee's offer of carrying the torch. Rosetta's editor, Jay Shelledy, told him he could not carry the torch and cover the event, that to do so would be unethical. It was legitimate, however, for the Tribune's sports columnist to demonstrate his conditioning and get his picture in the paper by carrying it.
The story was discussed in a column by Lee Benson in the competing Salt Lake City paper, the Deseret News. Benson pointed out that editors at his paper had given the go-ahead to six people at the Deseret News, including Benson.
Rosetta, who deserves kudos for showing the mind-boggling endurance and patience to have covered and written about figure skating for 18 years, decided he'd rather run than write. He'll do something else for the paper's sports section during the entertainment. Maybe he was tired of traveling, having covered "figs," as Benson respectfully called them, in Vancouver, Boston and Toronto in the past year. He ran, by the way, in Colorado Springs.
Here in River City, the media went berserk in its coverage. You couldn't turn a page in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch or turn on KSDK (Channel 5), the NBC affiliate, without being pounded by pictures and stories of the torch-bearers, primarily those who had mental or physical handicaps or who were sick unto death.
It was the most coverage of people walking on the streets of St. Louis since the Pope was in town.
At the same time, it was interesting to note a letter to the editor pointing out that the torch stayed as far as possible from north St. Louis, where a poor black kid might get some inspiration from such greats as Jackie Joyner-Kersee or Ozzie Smith, despite the fact that they both wore dazzling white jogging suits tattooed with Olympic symbols. That particular symbolism hurt, especially after listening to Dennis Lebby, as Hedley in the Black Rep production of August Wilson's "Seven Guitars," speak with poignancy as he said that his dream was to father a child who would not bow down to the white man.
With NBC desperate for ratings and dollars in its Olympic coverage, it's not surprising-only boring-to see almost-continuous commercials for the games and lots and lots of the same snippet of tape showing Mike Bush jogging down the street. Is this process unethical, or illegal, or immoral? Should a reporter be barred from jogging a little and then covering the Olympics?
I don't think so. Any reporter worth his or her salt is not going to be seduced into an awe-stricken approach to writing by the chance to carry the torch. Unfortunately, too many reporters already are awe-stricken by the opportunity. If I were an editor, I'd smile happily and be pleased that my reporters wanted to carry the torch. But, and it's probably a big but, I would not permit an employee to write, or to talk, about the experience. I would not have his or her picture in the paper or on the tube, nor would I include them in a list of torch-bearers. And one thing more. I'd gather up the various pieces of Olympic garb that were given to them, and I'd make sure it went to someone less fortunate.
Book-off target
Bias-A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News
By Bernard Goldberg
Regnery Publishing $27.95
Reviewed by Frank Absher
Just how naïve is Bernard Goldberg? He authored an op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal in which he took his employer, CBS, to task for what he said was a liberal bias in the presentation of news. Then he was disappointed when he was given the cold shoulder by virtually everyone at the network.
Oh, he joked about the possible outcome, saying the Journal should plan to run his obituary the day after the op-ed ran. But his book, which uses the op-ed piece as a springboard, cites a few cogent examples of news stories which were blatant in their bias. My response through the whole book was "Yeah, so?"
Goldberg's credibility suffers when he starts lauding the work done on the Fox News Network: "There certainly is a conservative 'attitude' at Fox, a conservative sensibility." He overtly links the terms "conservative" and "sensibility." Goldberg also runs, without argument, the comment from Fox News topper Roger Ailes: "There are more conservatives on Fox. But we are not a conservative network." Throughout the entire book, Goldberg uses comments like this from liberals defending their positions and then attacks them. One would hope that, as a "journalist," Goldberg would treat both sides equally.
It has always seemed to me that intelligent people are aware of media bias, both toward the left and right, and they digest the news accordingly. They also seek out more than one medium for information. These people are unhappy with the quality of coverage today, not the bias. When Goldberg fingers liberal bias as the major problem facing media today, he is off-target.
In SJR
10 Years Ago:
• Popular radio personality Frank O. Pinion was missing from the airwaves for a week after he underwent throat surgery.
• KMOX topped the market in the Arbitron ratings with 17.1 percent of the total audience.
• Russ Mitchell, former anchor for KMOV (Channel 4), began his new assignment anchoring the CBS overnight news.
5 Years Ago:
• KSDK (Channel 5) was the highest-rated television station in the country for its 6 a.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. news broadcasts.
• The FCC renewed the license of KFUO-AM and -FM for a full term, even though the agency said the stations had failed to meet Equal Employment Opportunity requirements in staffing.
• Emmis Broadcasting introduced a new format on the 104.1 frequency. The music mix, aimed at 20- to 40-year-old women, was named "Alice."
People
Media
KEZK & KYKY Radio/Infinity Broadcasting
Andrea Williams has been promoted to national sales manager.
KMOX
Karl McAfee has been hired as marketing director.
Ad/PR
Adamson, Inc.
Kim Boyer has been named a partner in the agency.
Creative Producers Group
Alan Copeland has been named an associate creative director of the company.
Geile-Rexford Creative Associates
Gwen Becker has been appointed business manager.
Regional Arts Commission
Jennifer Meyer has been named director of marketing. She will lead all marketing, public relations and cultural tourism initiatives. Prior to joining the Commission, Meyer was with Influence LLC. Meyer, along with the seven other original founders of the company, left Shandwick (now Weber Shandwick International) in June of 1998 to create one of St. Louis' first technology-focused marketing firms.
Society of the Sacred Heart
Pamela Schaeffer, former religion writer and editor for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and managing editor of National Catholic Reporter in Kansas City, has been appointed director of communications and public relations for the Society. Schaeffer joined the Post-Dispatch staff in 1977 and covered religion for the paper from 1980 to 1990. In 1990, she was appointed news editor for Religion News Service in New York (now in Washington D.C.). In 1994 she joined the staff of National Catholic Reporter.
The Vandiver Group
Kelly Hahn senior team member has been named the agency's 2001 "Employee of the Year." Hahn coordinates accounts for corporate, nonprofit and government clients and manages the firm's internship program.
Awards
Creative Producers Group
The agency has been recognized in this year's international Communicator Awards Video Competition as a Crystal Award of Excellence winner for a video produced for United Van Lines.
The agency has also been honored with an International Gold CINDY award from the International Cinema in Industry (CINDY) Competition for a video entitled "Tomorrow Today" produced for the Jewish Federation of St. Louis.
The Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis
Mike Bush, sports director at KSDK-TV/NewsChannel 5, and Bernie Miklasz, sports columnist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, will receive the Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis' 2002 Media Persons of the Year award.
Bush and Miklasz will be honored for their journalistic accomplishments at the Press Club's 15th annual scholarship dinner and roast on March 12 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception, followed by the 7 p.m. dinner and roast. Proceeds will fund Press Club journalism/communications scholarships, internships and professional development programs, as well as help preserve the media archives in the downtown St. Louis Public Library. KMOX's Charles Brennan, will serve as emcee.
To make reservations or for more information on sponsorship tables, call Meredith Saner with the Ladue News at (314) 863-3737, ext. 104.
The Vandiver Group
The agency received 2001 Communicator Awards for two radio spots. The "Go METRO!" radio campaign, produced for the Bi-State Development Agency, received an Award of Distinction for audio production/original music.
The agency also received an Honorable Mention for the "Develop Potential" public service announcement, which was produced for Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS).
Agencies
Falk Harrison Creative
The agency has relocated to 1300 Baur Boulevard in Olivette.
Deadlines
n Suzanne Brown, P.C. will talk on "Immigration to the American Midwest: Mexicans in the Heartland," at the Ethical Society of St. Louis, 9001 Clayton Road on Tues., Feb. 12, 10:45 a.m., admission is free. For lunch following the lecture ($7.00) call (314) 991-0955 by Sun., Feb. 10.
n The Great Decision Lectures Series are free and held at 12:30 p.m. at the Salad Bowl Cafeteria, 3949 Lindell Blvd. Dorothy C. Poor, Program Director suggests you arrive before noon to purchase lunch and take your tray to the designated banquet room. A question-and-comment period will follow each lecture.
Feb. 14: Why Do They Hate Us? The Roots of Terrorism, Ronald Glossop, Prof. Emer. Former Coord. Peace Studies, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville.
Feb. 21: Russia Reexamined: Mikhail Filippov, Asst. Prof. of Political Science, Washington University.
Feb. 28: Middle East Peace Process: Aziz Doumit, M.D.
March 7: AIDS in Africa: William G. Powderly, M.D., Prof. of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Division, Washington University.
Invitations
The calendar, Continuing Events, Book Group and Open Mike Night has been prepared by the International Writers Center at Washington University. All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.
Sunday, February 10
u The St. Louis African Chorus performs at the Missouri History Museum, MacDermott Grand Hall, Forest Park, 2:30 p.m. Free.
Thursday, February 14
u Valentine's Day with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Romeo and Juliet, Powell Symphony Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., 8 p.m. Prices vary. Call (800) 232-1880 for info.
u Showing of "Basic Training" at Moore Auditorium, Webster University, 470 E. Lockwood, 7 p.m. $6 ($5 seniors, students, $4 Webster U. community). Call (314) 968-7487 for info.
Friday, February 15
u Renate Dorrestein signs A Heart of Stone at Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave., 7 p.m. Free. Call (314) 367-6731 for info.
February 15-17
u Showing of the "Life and Debt" at Moore Auditorium, Webster University., 470 E. Lockwood, 7 p.m. $6 ($5 seniors, $4 for Webster U. community). Call (314) 968-7487 for info.
February 15-23
u Performances of "Twelfth Night" at Edison Theatre, Washington University. Prices & times vary. Call (314) 935-6543 for info.
February 15-23, March 1-3
u Performances of "Dreams Be Not Deferred: The Barbara Jordan Story" by Historyonics Theatre Company at the Missouri History Museum, Lee Auditorium, Forest Park. Prices, times vary. Call (314) 746-4445 for info.
Saturday, February 16
u Rosebud Ball at the Scott Joplin House State Historic Site, 2658A Delmar Blvd. Dance lesson, 7-8 p.m.; party, 8-10 p.m. All ages. Free. For info call (314) 340-5790.
February 16-17
u Jabulani: City Museum celebrates Black History Month with a festival of music, food and dance, 701 N. 15th St., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $7.50. Call (314) 231-CITY for details.
Sunday, February 17
u The St. Louis Poetry Center hosts a poetry workshop by Darlene Roy at the University City Public Library, 6701 Delmar Blvd., Auditorium, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Free.
Monday, February 18
u Mike Magnuson signs Lummox at Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave., 7 p.m. Free. Call (314) 367-6731 for info.
u River Styx magazine presents poets Timothy Liu and K. Curtis Lyle, who will read from their work at Duff's, 392 N. Euclid, 7:30 p.m. $5 ($4 members, students, & seniors). Call (314) 533-4541.
Tuesday, February 19
u Nuala O'Faolain sings My Dream of You at Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave., 7 p.m. Free. Call (314) 367-6731 for info.
Wednesday, February 20
Roger Steffens speaks on "The Life of Bob Marley" at the Missouri History Museum, Lee Auditorium, Forest Park, 7-10 p.m. Free. Call (314) 746-4599 for info.
u Talk by Dr. Pam Ashmore and Dr. Tim Baumann on "Using Archeology to Teach about our Diverse Heritage" at the Anheuser-Busch Auditorium, Living World, St. Louis Zoo, Forest Park, 7:30-9 p.m. Free. For info call (314) 768-5466.
Thursday, February 21
u Dr. Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer speaks on "Creating Reliable Partners: Accountable Leadership, Active Citizens" at Missouri History Museum, Lee Auditorium, Forest Park, 7 p.m. Free. For info call (314) 768-5466.
u Judith Freeman signs Red Water at Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave., 7 p.m. Free. Call (314) 367-6731 for info.
February 22-24
u Showing of "Werckmeister Harmonies" at Moore Auditorium, Webster University., 470 E. Lockwood, 7 p.m. $6 ($5 for seniors and students, $4 for Webster U. community). Call (314) 968-7487 for info.
Saturday, February 23
u Performance of "Mahalia: A Gospel Musical" at Morris University Center, Meridian Ballroom, SIU Edwardsville, IL. $8 ($4 students). Call (618) 650-5555.
Sunday, February 24
u St. Louis Chamber Chorus performs a concert at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, 4431 Lindell Blvd., 3 p.m. Prices vary. Call (636) 458-4343 for info.
Monday, February 25
u Lex Williford speaks on "The Process of Writing Fiction" at UMSL, 8001 Natural Bridge Rd., J.C. Penney 229, at noon. Free. For info, call (314) 516-5517.
Tuesday, February 26
u Nelson DeMille signs Up Country at Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave., 7 p.m. Free. Call (314) 367-6731 for info.
February 27-March 2
u Productions of "Arsenic and Old Lace" by Center Stage Productions at St. Charles Community College, 4601 Mid-Rivers Mall Drive. Times vary. $5 ($3 students, seniors). For info call (636) 922-8050.
Late Edition
Has September 11 changed your life?
By Charles L. Klotzer
A day doesn't pass without the media or a legislator proclaiming that Sept. 11 has fundamentally changed how we live and how we act.
Has life changed that much in America?
To examine the impact of Sept. 11, we have to separate how Americans as individuals and how the U.S. administration have reacted.
Residents of New York and those linked to the event by personal losses in lives or work throughout the country were deeply hurt. But aside from these so directly affected, reactions have been minimal. Yes, lines at airports are longer, but the wait is manageable and passengers are patient. Even the decline of air travellers appears to be temporary, according to a study by Jonathan Bricker, a doctoral student at Wisconsin University. He found that only 10 percent, those who already felt extreme anxiety about flying, will stop flying.
For some the attacks have introduced an element of fear. They feel vulnerable. Reports have it that this concern may minimize attendance at the Olympics in Utah. Although that concern was not evident at the Super Bowl.
Aside from these considerations, little has changed in the day to day activities of most Americans.
A quite different picture emerges if we review reactions by the U.S. administration. Our government is not only facing up to the consequences of the September attack-who can argue that a strong reaction was not required-but it is also superimposing an array of steps in line with its agenda, but unrelated to the attack.
Actions taken or proposed covering social, economic, political and foreign policy initiatives reflect a mindset which not only advocates countermeasures against terrorism, but also promotes or reverses programs in line with the long-range policies of the administration.
Congress is being asked to enact an Anti-Leak Legislation, Cyber Security Internet Act and a Flag Desecration Act. On the day of the attack, the government asked Internet firms and service providers to hook-up e-mail sniffing software to monitor private citizens' e-mail. They also want powers to spy on telephone and internet traffic and force librarians to reveal information about patron's use of computers.
Paul McMasters of the First Amendment Center of the Freedom Forum, warns, "A civil liberties catastrophe looms." We even hear Rep. Richard A. Gephardt, minority leader in the U.S. House, intone, "We're not going to have all the openness and freedom we have had."
Attorney General John Ashcroft has not been bashful in claiming that some invasions of privacy are necessary to protect American lives. In his support, he quoted President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's actions in World War II. In response former Senator Thomas Eagleton, writing in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, found the right words. The detention of Americans of Japanese descent and other wartime measures permanently tarnished FDR's reputation no matter his other accomplishments.
In the administration's foreign policy, unilateralism has been enthroned as the hallmark of its diplomacy. Way before the Sept. 11, international treaties which did not conform with the demands of the American position were rejected irrespective of their merits. The characterization of "evil" has reemerged as a foreign policy tool. Decisions are simple: those countries which are not supporting and cooperating with America's fight against terrorism, are against us. Doubts by European, Asian and Middle Eastern leaders are ignored.
Robert McChesney, author and professor at the University of Illinois, summarized a number of assumptions, he claims, many of us share.
1. The United States is always a force for good.
2. Opposition to the United States is a sign of evil.
3. The United States has a right to invade any country.
4. The United States is the only country which has that right.
5. Foreign governments are legitimized by their relationship to the United States, not by their internal conditions, upholding human rights or the structure of their government.
These judgments, in essence, reflect our foreign policy both before and after the Sept. 11 attack. Now, however, it is justified as a response to terrorism.
The economic sphere is intimately linked to our defense spending. Programs which have been underfunded before, will be cut further in order to increase defense spending to the highest level in decades. Tax cutting, a long-standing platform of the incumbent administration, is pushed for its political advantage irrespective of the budgetary shortfall it will cause.
That tunnel-vision approach to domestic and foreign policies appears to appeal to many Americans. That is so not only because our policy makers are so persuasive, but because they have managed to color all dissent as suspect and aiding the enemy. The few street demonstrations are dismissed and will not affect policy. What is required is that the mass media and the country's political leaders not indebted to the administration speak up and, while supporting measures which combat terrorism, have the courage to oppose those partisan measures which cripple the incremental progress we have made slowly, step by step. We shouldn't let them do it.