Insight from The Tribune
Tribune City Editor Amany Ali, after a brief sabbatical from column-writing, has come back recently with a flourish.
This Sunday, she reaches for the pinnacle of analytical journalism and, for the most part, reaches that summit.
In her rather awkwardly headlined piece (New Albany has its share of problems), Ali takes on the misinformation being disseminated around town. Those paying attention can provide their own examples and Ali is somewhat cryptic in her examples, but otherwise she pulls no punches.
We're asking The Tribune to post this opinion piece on its Web site, or, in the alternative, to provide the article to us. We'd be happy to offer it as a guest column just to get people thinking about what's really going on in this city.
Here are a few excerpts:
"I have such a problem with misinformation because it often comes from elected officials (Not all elected officials, just a select few). Don't get me wrong, there are non-elected local residents who spend entirely too much time spreading gossip as the truth.
"Anyone who wants to hear misinformation on a grand stage should attend a New Albany City Council meeting. Get there early, and stay late and you're likely to hear more misinformation..."
"...Some people, both elected officials and members of the general public, use City Council meetings as an opportunity to spread misinformation under the guise of a concerned elected official or concerned-taxpayer. Bewildered, I sit at the meetings and wonder why those people wait for council meetings to get on their soapbox. I wonder why they don't pick up a telephone and direct their questions at someone who can actually give them an answer."
To be more precise, this isn't misinformation. It's tactical disinformation, designed to obfuscate and distract the public from the woeful lack of competence of a particular faction of council. It is disinformation designed to create a sense of disgust where none is deserved, to depress voter turnout, and to wrest control of the levers of government through lies.
Frankly, I don't care if The Tribune offers opinions with which I agree or disagree. Taking on the real issues is their job, and Ali certainly did so this weekend. It's a great thing to see from our only local paper.
-----------------------------------------
Randy Smith, destinations@sbcglobal.net
This Sunday, she reaches for the pinnacle of analytical journalism and, for the most part, reaches that summit.
In her rather awkwardly headlined piece (New Albany has its share of problems), Ali takes on the misinformation being disseminated around town. Those paying attention can provide their own examples and Ali is somewhat cryptic in her examples, but otherwise she pulls no punches.
We're asking The Tribune to post this opinion piece on its Web site, or, in the alternative, to provide the article to us. We'd be happy to offer it as a guest column just to get people thinking about what's really going on in this city.
Here are a few excerpts:
"I have such a problem with misinformation because it often comes from elected officials (Not all elected officials, just a select few). Don't get me wrong, there are non-elected local residents who spend entirely too much time spreading gossip as the truth.
"Anyone who wants to hear misinformation on a grand stage should attend a New Albany City Council meeting. Get there early, and stay late and you're likely to hear more misinformation..."
"...Some people, both elected officials and members of the general public, use City Council meetings as an opportunity to spread misinformation under the guise of a concerned elected official or concerned-taxpayer. Bewildered, I sit at the meetings and wonder why those people wait for council meetings to get on their soapbox. I wonder why they don't pick up a telephone and direct their questions at someone who can actually give them an answer."
To be more precise, this isn't misinformation. It's tactical disinformation, designed to obfuscate and distract the public from the woeful lack of competence of a particular faction of council. It is disinformation designed to create a sense of disgust where none is deserved, to depress voter turnout, and to wrest control of the levers of government through lies.
Frankly, I don't care if The Tribune offers opinions with which I agree or disagree. Taking on the real issues is their job, and Ali certainly did so this weekend. It's a great thing to see from our only local paper.
-----------------------------------------
Randy Smith, destinations@sbcglobal.net
posted by All4Word at 10:22 AM
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