Up & Coming Weekly

January 17, 2017

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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4 UCW JANUARY 18-24, 2017 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Last week's article in Up & Coming Weekly penned by contributing writer and Fayetteville resident, Karl Merritt, "Diminishing Effectiveness of the Race Card,"which can be found at, http://www. upandcomingweekly.com/views/diminishing-effectiveness-of-the- race-card, lit up social media like the Las Vegas strip. The topic of race took on a life of its own as dozens of misdirected posts debated the validity, or lack of, the use of race when it comes to the influencing decisions being made in our community. I'm not going to debate Merritt's subject matter or the content of his article. Those who are interested can click on the link above to read it for themselves and draw their own conclusions. However, what I do find extremely interesting is that Merritt, who is an African American, made an intelligent observation based on facts and reason. He then articulated this information in a clear, intellectual, logical format for which he took full responsibility. Yet, Merritt's name was never mentioned or referenced in any of the fiery and critical social media posts that appeared online. Why? Maybe, just maybe, it's because criticizing someone else's position when that position is supported by intellect, facts and logic would be akin to someone showing up at a gunfight with a butter knife. It has become the norm to blame race bias for any unfavorable experience or outcome rather than take responsibility for the outcome itself. In the case of Merritt and his article, the distractors knew it would be difficult, if not impossible, to find fault with the truth of his content. Unfortunately, what played out on social media only confirmed Merritt's position that the biggest obstacle to finding meaningful solutions when addressing problems of race bias is through open and honest communication. The inflamed responses to his article only reinforced the position that all too often, people tend to speak in vague generalities while stating innuendo as truth and drawing conclusions based on predetermined and subjective opinions rather than truth and fact. Unfortunately, this is becoming a common mainstream media practice at all levels. Traditionally, mainstream media, especially newspapers, were referred to as the Fourth Estate of the U.S. government. Journalistic integrity, truth and honesty of all media kept the other three branches of government in check. The mainstream media acted as the watchdog for all Americans who searched out the truth. Unfortunately, over the last decade, the media has morphed into a partisan political strategy, depriving the general public of their right to know the truth while pushing non-transparent hidden agendas. There is no better example of this kind of mainstream media bias than in the memo that was sent out recently to all N.C. media outlets by Daniel Keylin, communications director for North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis. With his permission, I have reprinted this memo below as an example of how the media is compromising journalistic ethics for the purposes of political gain and depriving taxpayers of the details of the real issues. Read the following and know that Walter Cronkite and David Brinkley are probably turning in their graves. TO: North Carolina Media FROM: Daniel Keylin, Communications Director, Senator Thom Tillis RE: Coverage Bias In North Carolina Media The media has been on the receiving end of a lot of criticism lately, particularly for chasing shiny objects designed to attract viewers and page clicks, rather than focusing on the important policies that actually have a meaningful impact on the lives of the American people. Reflecting this, a recent Gallup poll found that the nation's trust in the mass media is at an all-time low. I know many good journalists who are incredibly frustrated by this development, and this memo is not meant to be an attack on North Carolina's media outlets or reporters. It's simply a presentation of enlightening data points that I hope all reporters and editors in North Carolina will take to heart when they consider what to cover and how they cover it. Yesterday, many television stations in North Carolina provided air time to Rev. William Barber for a protest he held at Senator Tillis' constituent services office in Raleigh. Barber was protesting the nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions as Attorney General, demanding that Tillis oppose his confirmation. In total, 14 television stations covering North Carolina devoted air time yesterday to Rev. Barber's protest at Senator Tillis' office regarding Senator Sessions. And of those 14 television stations, only 1 reached out to Senator Tillis' office to give the Senator an opportunity to share his thoughts. Consider what this television coverage was about: a partisan political activist opining on what a duly-elected statewide official's position should be. Then consider how few media outlets in North Carolina actually covered Senator Tillis when he publicly declared his position on Jeff Sessions' nomination back in November, through a press release that was sent to the news desk of every single television station in North Carolina. In total, only 4 television stations devoted air time to Senator Tillis' statement on Jeff Sessions' nomination during the November 18, 2016, news cycle. None of the 14 stations covering Rev. Barber's protest yesterday included Tillis' original statement in their story. This poses an important question: why did media outlets believe it was newsworthy to cover a partisan political activist's opinion on what Senator Tillis' position should be, even though they previously made the decision not to run a story when Senator Tillis publicly expressed his position months earlier? Or, more simply put: why are views of a partisan political activist deemed newsworthy, but the views of a statewide elected official are not, even though they are in a direct position to influence the subject matter? Whether this type of coverage bias is intentional or not, it's bias nonetheless, and it's a disservice to North Carolinians. [end] Whether you agree or not, this makes a grand argument for "fake news." I'll conclude with this: We have come to a point in our nation where every issue and every situation we deal with has become politicized. It is frustrating and heartbreaking. Last week, I penned an article about how the amount of litter on our streets is trashing our community's image. I advocated for the city and county to initiate a countywide beautification campaign that would involve education, awareness and enforcement of littering ordinances. Believe it or not, some of my good friends and loyal readers pushed back and were upset with me. They objected to my bringing up the subject of litter. They became defensive, saying that I didn't appreciate what the city and county were doing in regards to controlling the litter. Not true. Here, they took a simple observation and recommendation and applied a political value to it that the city and county elected officials were not doing their jobs. Crazy! I, along with everyone else, just want a cleaner community. Nonetheless, this misdirection will serve to do nothing to move the community forward. Only progressive action can do that. In closing, I say we need many more people like Karl Merritt and Daniel Keylin. Fayetteville, the state of North Carolina and America all need journalists and media outlets who are honest and not afraid to speak out for truth. And, they must be willing to report the facts without a personal agenda or political bias. We gain nothing from ignoring the facts and even less if we don't speak truth to power. Make no mistake about it, without the Fourth Estate, it's all fake news! Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. Click here to visit www.karlmerritt. com PUBLISHER'S PEN Fake News! A Convenient Diversion from the Truth by BILL BOWMAN STAFF PUBLISHER Bill Bowman Bill@upandcomingweekly.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/EDITOR Stephanie Crider editor@upandcomingweekly.com SENIOR REPORTER Jeff Thompson news@upandcomingweekly.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Elizabeth Long art@upandcomingweekly.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS D.G. Martin, Pitt Dickey, Margaret Dickson, John Hood, Erinn Crider, Jim Jones, Shanessa Fenner, Heather Griffiths BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Keri Dickson keri@upandcomingweekly.com SALES ADMINISTRATOR/ DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Laurel Handforth laurel@upandcomingweekly.com ACCOUNTING Paulette Naylor accounting@upandcomingweekly.com MARKETING/SALES Linda McAlister Brown linda@upandcomingweekly.com ––––––––––– Up & Coming Weekly www.upandcomingweekly.com 208 Rowan Street P.O. Box 53461 Fayetteville, NC 28305 PHONE: (910) 484-6200 FAX: (910) 484-9218 Up & Coming Weekly is a "Quality of Life" publication with local features, news and infor- mation on what's happening in and around the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. Up & Coming Weekly is published weekly on Wednesdays. Up & Coming Weekly welcomes manuscripts, photographs and artwork for pub- lication consideration, but assumes no respon- sibility for them. We cannot accept responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or material. Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to edit or reject copy submitted for publication. Up & Coming Weekly is free of charge and distrib- uted at indoor and outdoor locations throughout Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Pope Air Force Base, Hope Mills and Spring Lake. Readers are limited to one copy per person. ©2007 by F&B Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or advertisements without permission is strictly prohibited. BILL BOWMAN, Publisher, UP & COMING WEEKLY. COMMENTS? BILL@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200. 2017. Believe me, I'm ready. Judging from all the calls, emails and countless social media posts, our readers had a very Merry Christmas. And, for the most part, residents throughout Fayetteville and Cumberland County are excited about the future prospects in store for our community. And we should be. The seeds of growth, economic development and a better quality of life have all been planted. Now, city and county leadership need to take aggressive and affirmative action to make sure these local life-changing projects stay on track. Elected officials and city and county staff all need to be at the top of their game. Initiative, hard work and leadership will be vitally important in the months to come. In the words of the late General George S. Patton Jr.: "Lead me, follow me or get the hell out of my way." This should be the battlecry and motto adopted countywide. It will be interesting to see who steps up. One thing is for sure, Fayetteville is a community full of opportunity. The challenge is knowing how to capitalize on it. So, my hope for the New Year is that aggressive leaders will seek out the people, businesses and organizations that can help us realize our dreams, thus contributing to this growing vibrant community. Here are just a few of the organizations poised to take this community to new heights, starting with your favorite weekly community newspaper: Up & Coming Weekly Chamber of Commerce City of Fayetteville County of Cumberland FTCC CEED Reeve's School of Business Fayetteville Economic Development FSU Entrepreneurial Center Better Business Bureau These are just to name a few organizations ready, willing and able to help take our community to new heights. In other words, the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community has the will and all the resources necessary to help individuals and businesses develop, strive and survive, along with the willingness to "help those who help themselves." 2017 is going to be an exciting and awesome year. So, buckle your seat belts folks, because, if executed properly, our progress will be fast and furious. And, you can count on us to be right in the center of it. Happy New Year! And, as always, thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly. PUBLISHER'S PEN Fayetteville and Cumberland County Heed These Words: "Lead me, follow me, or get the hell out of the way!" by BILL BOWMAN STAFF PUBLISHER Bill Bowman Bill@upandcomingweekly.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/EDITOR Stephanie Crider editor@upandcomingweekly.com SENIOR REPORTER Jeff Thompson news@upandcomingweekly.com ART DIRECTOR & GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sara Smith art@upandcomingweekly.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS D.G. Martin, Pitt Dickey, Margaret Dickson, John Hood, Erinn Crider, Jim Jones, Shanessa Fenner, Heather Griffiths BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Keri Dickson keri@upandcomingweekly.com SALES ADMINISTRATOR/ DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Laurel Handforth laurel@upandcomingweekly.com ACCOUNTING Paulette Naylor accounting@upandcomingweekly.com MARKETING/SALES Linda McAlister Brown linda@upandcomingweekly.com ––––––––––– Up & Coming Weekly www.upandcomingweekly.com 208 Rowan Street P.O. Box 53461 Fayetteville, NC 28305 PHONE: (910) 484-6200 FAX: (910) 484-9218 Up & Coming Weekly is a "Quality of Life" publication with local features, news and infor- mation on what's happening in and around the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. Up & Coming Weekly is published weekly on Wednesdays. Up & Coming Weekly welcomes manuscripts, photographs and artwork for pub- lication consideration, but assumes no respon- sibility for them. We cannot accept responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or material. Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to edit or reject copy submitted for publication. Up & Coming Weekly is free of charge and distrib- uted at indoor and outdoor locations throughout Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Pope Air Force Base, Hope Mills and Spring Lake. Readers are limited to one copy per person. ©2007 by F&B Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or advertisements without permission is strictly prohibited. BILL BOWMAN, Publisher, UP & COMING WEEKLY. COMMENTS? BILL@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200. – General George S. Patton Jr. General George S. Patton Jr. America needs the Fourth Estate.

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