Dec 1, 2014

The TS could learn from LOCO's Kym Kemp on giving due credit and Tuluwat and other blogs for original reporting

Took four days off from blogs, computers, and last night caught up with local blogs and media.

I noticed Kym giving a hat tip to News Channel 3 for the stabbing that occurred near 3rd street in Old Town this weekend. Kym, that is class.

TS is a daily paper and yet they report news as "breaking" that has already been published hours ago, mostly by LOCO or myself and occasionally Channel 3. That is not breaking. They report a week later after the same article has been investigated, researched or reported by someone else.

Two recent examples: Ryan Burns reported on the concerns about Cannabis Voice pushing through a marijuana ordinance. TS did a Sunday full page story on Jack Wu opening a restaurant in the Fisherman's terminal. The reporter even contacted me to for help if I could reach Jack for the article. Told him I would get back to him. I posted on this story a couple days ago. There was no listing on the agenda about who was opening the restaurant. I called City Hall, researched and since I know Jack and have written about his businesses previously, I made the connection.

There have been other instances where NCJ, TS and others have followed up on court and business stories that I scooped, found due to my business and community involvement.  Did they give me any credit? Thad used to in the past.

I do original work. So does LOCO. So does Tuluwat Examiner and some other local blogs.

LOCO is the one stop news source. They provide the community a service by linking all other blogs and news sources and help others succeed. LOCO has not always linked my court coverage in posts but they do not have to; they link my blog.

Why am I making  this point repeatedly, recently? I may be a blogger but I have an extensive background in journalism. I prefer the blog format. Gives me freedom. I actually seek out and cover stories. Most of the news in TS and NCJ is done from an office or press releases. I label press releases as such not "breaking news."

I don't have a beef with the TS reporters; I have helped them and other media in court and with other stories. I have a beef with the the editors and management of the "main local media". They should find a way to give credit, even if it is not every single time. Whether it is to me or someone else.

I approached TS to do free, local business profiles and then when it took off, their reporters took over. I started covering the courts and soon more court coverage followed. TS was approached by local business owners complimenting me on my business profiles helping them succeed instantly and requesting that they have me write regularly.

People locally complain about big corporations and they complain about "big" business owners yet they are silent about a corporate owned daily and another local publisher who cannot even report daily and relevant news.

2 comments:

  1. I have shared your stuff on the air before but always with the proper attributes. You do your homework and are a great source for news in Humboldt County. Thanks for what you do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Tom. I really enjoy your blog and have followed it for a while.

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