Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/25873
4A – Daily News – Friday, February 25, 2011 Opinion The El Camino newsroom D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 No offense to Earl Hickey and other proud El Camino dri- vers, but this is a derogatory term when it comes to my voca- tion. Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 Back in 2004 I wrote a fea- ture on the future of journalism in general, newspaper news- rooms in particular, for the 100th anniversary of the paper I worked for at the time. I called it “Broadsheet to broadband.” One of the hot topics of the day was convergence, meaning the cooperation of newspapers, radio stations and television sta- tions, owned by the same com- pany, to get information to the public effectively. The conclusion of most was that the converged newsroom, which mixed the fuzzy bunnies of television with the plodding elephants of newspapers, creat- ed the El Camino newsroom. There it was, the half car, half truck, really not much of either. This concoction was aimed at larger markets in which single media companies owned print, radio and television products. So, it was with little trepida- tion that I attended a film at one of Red Bluff’s newest hangouts, Jack the Ribber, Wednesday evening. The screening of “Broadcast Blues” featured filmmaker Sue Wilson in atten- dance. The point of the documen- tary, dubbed “The movie the media does not want you to see,” is a scathing look at how corpo- rate ownership of massive num- bers of local media outlets, pri- marily broadcast media, has hijacked public ownership of the airwaves. Simply put, the airwaves, as with public lands, belong to us as citizens, yet they are being licensed to corporations that have taken the liberty to use them, sometimes abuse them, for the sake of pushing a politi- cal or business agenda. That was the talking point. Keep in mind, this screening was hosted by the Tehama County Coffee Party Loyalists — a liberal, some would say progressive, group formed in reaction to the conservative Tea Party groups in Red Bluff and Corning. There are few things I enjoy less than arguing extreme politi- cal viewpoints, so understand this column is by no means headed down that road. But the crux of Wilson’s thesis is that local media are beholden to corporate interests, therefore no longer looking out for the public good — a duty of the fourth estate. I can’t speak for local radio or televi- sion, but I can for your local newspaper. One of the things I appreci- ate most about Pub- lisher Greg Stevens is his attitude toward the separation of editorial content — news and opinion — from advertising content. As he often says, “church and state.” An apt example came early this week when we latched onto a story about Catholic Health- care West, the parent company of St. Elizabeth Community Hospital, agreeing to pay more than $9 million to settle false Medicare claims. When I popped into Greg’s office to give him a heads up that the story would be running, the response was a sigh. Not a request, command or other impeachment. Just a realization that I had my job to do and he, his. The hospital is one of our top advertisers, yet Wednesday’s Daily News carried a banner headline about the hos- pital story across the top of the front page. Were our corporate Chip Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. overlords asleep at the wheel? No, they are smart enough to trust us to report the facts as we know them — that’s what gives the Daily News value to its readers, and in turn its advertisers. Advertisers will still seek the most effective venue for their message, and we’ll con- tinue to report the truth, no mat- ter who’s involved. Chip Thompson can be reached at 527-2151, Ext. 112, or by e-mail at editor@redbluffdailynews.com. Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. To irk is human, to forgive is devine Commentary Headline in the Daily News of the 17th of February: “Board vote irks county employees.” I suspect there could have been a word more forceful than “irks.” Perhaps, because of space constraints, the DN had to use a short word like “irks,” whereas “pissed off” would have been more descriptive of the county employees’ reac- tion. Actually, my alternate phrase could be amplified with the adverb “thoroughly,” for I know that county employees do not rollover easily when it comes to discussions of salary and benefits. They have been known to get can- tankerous. Remember the townsfolk in the movie “Frankenstein”...when they marched down the street with shovels and pitchforks looking for the monster? And the more recent uprisings in Egypt? You get the idea. There are peaceful and there are violent reac- tions, but seldom are they reduced to irksome. The headline writer could have gone from “irk” to “ameliorate” or “piqued,” but the result would have been the same. Readers are now left with the idea that the county employees are con- tent to sit about and fret. I don’t want to stir up trouble, but I think they may contemplate more vigorous action. Demonstrations seem to be popular these days. However, if the editor composed that head- line....then never mind. * * * Speaking of irk, there is seldom anything more irksome than when a car ahead of me glides into a parking space in front of the post office…and stops, not on the end spot, but somewhere in the middle, forcing elderly peo- ple with rotator cuff problems to squeeze into a parallel parking space which will juuuuust bare- ly accommodate a pickup. This happens way too often…the last several times by women dri- vers. Their gender is not the issue…just their lack of courtesy. Tsk, tsk. * * * C. Larimer took umbrage after reading last Friday’s I Say via the DN website. He wrote,“I did not tell you to shove it!” He was referring to my critique of some chapters in his coming book. In response, he decided not to send any more chapters my way. I patiently replied that when I wrote “he told me to shove it,” I also added “…or words to that effect,” which allowed me artistic license. I never knew he was such a sensitive soul. Must tread more carefully on his Semper Fi ego if he is to continue to call me his friend. But then maybe living in Texas does that to former Northern California country boys. * * * Although I did not include it in the quiz section, last week I asked readers what Mrs. Samuel Clemens meant Robert Minch I Say by instructing her husband not to wear his “arc- tics” when visiting the White House. Several knowledgeable folks instantly knew that overshoes and galoshes were called “arc- tics.” In fact, one fellow brought me a page which looked like it was torn from an old Sears & Roebuck catalogue, showing pictures of same. So advised. As I tell anyone who will lis- ten, I’ve led a very sheltered life. * * * The misses asked me some time ago why I go “huh” on my glasses before wiping them. I told her that my breath condenses on the lens causing moisture to collect, which aids in the cleaning of the glasses. I thought everyone knew that and told her so. As my glasses are still intact, I guess she did not take offense at my assertion. * * * A fellow named George “Smiley” Mith recently went to his reward, and I think that is a dandy nickname to pack around though life’s ups and downs. Even if a recipient is not so inclined at birth, just having that moniker should make one put a good face on adversity when encountered. If my folks had given me “Smiley” as a mid- dle name, I would have sailed through life admired by all…even members of the Rotary Club. Imagine if, when they awarded me the Paul Harris Fellow- ship, the citation had read “To Robert ‘Smiley’ Minch, in appreciation for his etc., etc.” They would have allowed me to place the bell in the rotun- da in an instant. * * * Regarding last week’s quiz, many knew that Lou Costello’s name was Louis Francis Cristillo, that he made only one movie without Bud Abbot, “The 30-foot Bride of Candy Rock,” and that the first three voted in to the Country Music Hall of Fame were Jimmy Rogers, Hank Williams and Fred Rose. This week’s quiz: Cosmopolitan, a magazine primarily for women, was first to feature a nude male in a centerfold. Who was the fellow...and who was editor of the magazine at the time? By the way, several readers reported that the phrase “grapes of wrath “can be found in Revelations 19:15. I looked it up and could not find those three words together anywhere in the Bible. So maybe it was a wild grape chase. * * * A lawyer was approached by the devil with a proposition. He said he would arrange for the lawyer to win every case, make twice as much money, work half as hard and be appointed to the Supreme Court bench. In return, the lawyer had to promise to the devil the souls of his par- ents, his wife and his three young children. The lawyer thought for a moment, then said, “So...what’s the catch?” Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red Bluff and former columnist for the Corning Daily Observer and Meat Industry magazine. He can be reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail.com.