The Nature of Opinion Journalism
A recent subsidiary comment over at NA Confidential jarred loose a few thoughts about the nature of public affairs Web logs, their uses, and their limitations.
from www.dictionary.com
pol·i·tics ( P ) Pronunciation Key (pl-tks)n.
1. (used with a sing. verb)
a. The art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs.
b. Political science.
2. (used with a sing. or pl. verb)
a. The activities or affairs engaged in by a government, politician, or political party: “All politics is local” (Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr.). “Politics have appealed to me since I was at Oxford because they are exciting morning, noon, and night” (Jeffrey Archer).
b. The methods or tactics involved in managing a state or government: The politics of the former regime were rejected by the new government leadership. If the politics of the conservative government now borders on the repressive, what can be expected when the economy falters?
3. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Political life: studied law with a view to going into politics; felt that politics was a worthwhile career.
4. (used with a sing. or pl. verb)
Intrigue or maneuvering within a political unit or group in order to gain control or power: Partisan politics is often an obstruction to good government. Office politics are often debilitating and counterproductive.
5. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Political attitudes and positions: His politics on that issue is his own business. Your politics are clearly more liberal than mine.
6. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) The often internally conflicting interrelationships among people in a society.
Usage Note: Politics, although plural in form, takes a singular verb when used to refer to the art or science of governing or to political science: Politics has been a concern of philosophers since Plato. But in its other senses politics can take either a singular or plural verb. Many other nouns that end in -ics behave similarly, and the user is advised to consult specific entries for precise information.
Bloggers have it within their power to be completely unaccountable to anyone. They may establish standards as they like, answer to no one, and speculate at will. They may even remain anonymous if they wish, and their readership will wax or wane based on how reliable, informative, and/or entertaining their postings are. Maintaining a regular schedule with fresh material is also an important factor in the utility of any particular blog.
Death for a blog comes when it ceases to entertain or inform. To the extent that a blog misinforms, its value deteriorates. To the extent that a blog disinforms, it loses all credibility.
Our objective at Volunteer Hoosier is to stir debate and shine the spotlight on those issues and personalities who, by whatever means, add to or subtract from our lives. In recent weeks, our attention has been focused on issues in New Albany and Floyd County. In the past and in the future, we have and will address issues of wider concern.
Obviously, we seek to influence opinion. When it comes to public officials whose stances or performance we see as hindrances or threats, we treat them as opponents, not enemies. It's politics, folks.
We seek answers and offer our own insights, we question and we criticize, but always in the belief that our opponents are making rational choices. When we can see no rational reason for those choices, we don't assume stupidity (as a fellow blogger was recently accused of doing). We assume cupidity.
That is, we assume our opponents have motives and motivations different from our own. These are the agendas we question. Absent any answers from our opponents, we speculate. Is it self-interest? Is it unawareness of the facts or the impact of a decision? Is it fear of someone? Is it the corruption of power or the corruption of money that is the hidden motivation?
We seek dialogue. We want our opponents to answer. But we also expect our opponents to subject themselves to challenge - the "but what about" question, the "the facts say otherwise" response.
If, for example, a council member believes we should do nothing to halt sprawl and its attendant pollution, he or she should say so clearly. And then answer why. If a council member says one thing and does another, that's hypocrisy and we'll point it out. If a council member takes a stance with which we disagree, and consistently defends that stance, we won't cease to try to persuade them of the rightness of our stance, but we will take them at their word. And we'll advocate their replacement at the next available opportunity.
That's politics. And that's the nature of opinion journalism, done right.
I encourage anyone to correspond, whether they agree or disagree with what they read here. If, from time to time, I neglect to offer my e-mail in the body of a comment, my e-mail is always just two clicks away under my Blogger profile. If I misunderstand you, tell me so. But if I simply disagree with you, know that, after all, that's the nature of politics.
----------------------------------
Randy Smith, destinations@sbcglobal.net
from www.dictionary.com
pol·i·tics ( P ) Pronunciation Key (pl-tks)n.
1. (used with a sing. verb)
a. The art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs.
b. Political science.
2. (used with a sing. or pl. verb)
a. The activities or affairs engaged in by a government, politician, or political party: “All politics is local” (Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr.). “Politics have appealed to me since I was at Oxford because they are exciting morning, noon, and night” (Jeffrey Archer).
b. The methods or tactics involved in managing a state or government: The politics of the former regime were rejected by the new government leadership. If the politics of the conservative government now borders on the repressive, what can be expected when the economy falters?
3. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Political life: studied law with a view to going into politics; felt that politics was a worthwhile career.
4. (used with a sing. or pl. verb)
Intrigue or maneuvering within a political unit or group in order to gain control or power: Partisan politics is often an obstruction to good government. Office politics are often debilitating and counterproductive.
5. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Political attitudes and positions: His politics on that issue is his own business. Your politics are clearly more liberal than mine.
6. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) The often internally conflicting interrelationships among people in a society.
Usage Note: Politics, although plural in form, takes a singular verb when used to refer to the art or science of governing or to political science: Politics has been a concern of philosophers since Plato. But in its other senses politics can take either a singular or plural verb. Many other nouns that end in -ics behave similarly, and the user is advised to consult specific entries for precise information.
----------------------------------------------------
Bloggers have it within their power to be completely unaccountable to anyone. They may establish standards as they like, answer to no one, and speculate at will. They may even remain anonymous if they wish, and their readership will wax or wane based on how reliable, informative, and/or entertaining their postings are. Maintaining a regular schedule with fresh material is also an important factor in the utility of any particular blog.
Death for a blog comes when it ceases to entertain or inform. To the extent that a blog misinforms, its value deteriorates. To the extent that a blog disinforms, it loses all credibility.
Our objective at Volunteer Hoosier is to stir debate and shine the spotlight on those issues and personalities who, by whatever means, add to or subtract from our lives. In recent weeks, our attention has been focused on issues in New Albany and Floyd County. In the past and in the future, we have and will address issues of wider concern.
Obviously, we seek to influence opinion. When it comes to public officials whose stances or performance we see as hindrances or threats, we treat them as opponents, not enemies. It's politics, folks.
We seek answers and offer our own insights, we question and we criticize, but always in the belief that our opponents are making rational choices. When we can see no rational reason for those choices, we don't assume stupidity (as a fellow blogger was recently accused of doing). We assume cupidity.
That is, we assume our opponents have motives and motivations different from our own. These are the agendas we question. Absent any answers from our opponents, we speculate. Is it self-interest? Is it unawareness of the facts or the impact of a decision? Is it fear of someone? Is it the corruption of power or the corruption of money that is the hidden motivation?
We seek dialogue. We want our opponents to answer. But we also expect our opponents to subject themselves to challenge - the "but what about" question, the "the facts say otherwise" response.
If, for example, a council member believes we should do nothing to halt sprawl and its attendant pollution, he or she should say so clearly. And then answer why. If a council member says one thing and does another, that's hypocrisy and we'll point it out. If a council member takes a stance with which we disagree, and consistently defends that stance, we won't cease to try to persuade them of the rightness of our stance, but we will take them at their word. And we'll advocate their replacement at the next available opportunity.
That's politics. And that's the nature of opinion journalism, done right.
I encourage anyone to correspond, whether they agree or disagree with what they read here. If, from time to time, I neglect to offer my e-mail in the body of a comment, my e-mail is always just two clicks away under my Blogger profile. If I misunderstand you, tell me so. But if I simply disagree with you, know that, after all, that's the nature of politics.
----------------------------------
Randy Smith, destinations@sbcglobal.net
posted by All4Word at 12:00 PM
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