This morning a BRILLIANT comment from our blog community offers an important perspective on local media coverage of the streetcar effort and an important juxtaposition that very few in this town have bothered to make.
Here's the word . . .
Objective journalism in KC?
As you know, journalists are supposed to ask the hard questions, be objective, and NOT practice public relations. In the case of the streetcar, they're all drinking the City's kool-aid.
This report on KSHB is talking about the streetcar. Once again. Ad nauseum.
But never do these reporters compare the streetcar to the Max bus. You never see it.
These idiots they talk to on camera are acting like the streetcar will finally bring customers to their businesses, even though the Max bus and other buses have been doing that for years. But none of these reporters ever say that.
They're all still acting like there has been no public transportation in Kansas City since the demise of the streetcar in the 1950's.
What are the odds that even one reporter from the four local TV stations will do a remote while riding a bus? They've done plenty while riding the streetcar. But I haven't seen a single reporter doing their report while riding a bus along the same route as the proposed streetcar expansion route.
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In 2003, a citywide vote was held and 73% of Kansas City residents supported a 3/8 cent sales tax increase for the KCATA. Streetcar folks have attempted to paint a picture of KC being unfriendly to public transit but the facts show something different. Give us a good, cost effective plan and don't use TDD law to legally gerrymander a district to bypass voters. This is *our* city and we all have a right to discuss how our public resources are spent and how our public transit should be designed.
ReplyDeleteNicely said!
DeleteWhat passes for local "journalism" is little more than hacks being handed press releases by one self-promoting group or another and simply reporting that information as actual "news".
ReplyDeleteAnd, of course, the television readers are the most clueless and worst.
And anything trendy, faddish, or kewl is sure to get their attention and endlessly repeated coverage.
It's no wonder all the good actual journalists and reporters get out of KC as soon as they can.
Journalists hate buses for the same reason the young hipsters hate buses - there are poor black people there. They love doing sad stories about their plight but being forced to ride a bus with them is just too much.
ReplyDeleteWhy does anyone pay any attention or put any faith in what KC Newies say?
ReplyDelete^^^^^^^Exactamundo! Check out the big brains of this cat!
ReplyDeleteJournalism? There is no journalism in Kansas City. Just a near-dead newspaper going through the motions ... and on TV, a bunch of vacuous, chirpy young women with really nice tits and asses.
ReplyDeleteKC's journalists can be bought for a dinner.
ReplyDeleteOur city's journalists pursue the public good with all the passionate zeal of a Knob Noster social columnist on smack.
ReplyDeleteI'd start your own really slanted blog with a false pretense of objectivity and free speech.
ReplyDeleteSad that it's a much better source of news than the sold-out media in our town. :)
DeleteSame reason why regular people don't ride the bus all over the US. And of course Tony blame the media from which he reposts all their content. Stick to titty pics man-boy.
ReplyDeleteI HATE THE LAMESTREAM MEDIA BUT WITHOUT THEN I WOULD HAVE NO BLOG
ReplyDeleteKC has plenty or media and editorializing. I can't find a real journalist to save my ass. Newsies today are bought and sold like politicians.
ReplyDeleteMany of the P.R. professionals are in town are former journalists too. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
ReplyDeleteRun the train over the Heart of America bridge, along Burlington, up North Oak and ultimately to KCI. Then it will be a tourist/commuter train instead of an amusement ride.
ReplyDelete