Publisher's Point

An answer for an anonymous on-line critic.

The L-H really sent a reporter to cover this story?? I'm surprised they even decided to put on their front page! I wouldn't have been the least bit shocked to find a photo of a tree changing colors or someone riding their bike. There is no pride at this paper, no leadership ability, and the lack of common sense should set an example for bad journalism and newspaper layout.

You can safely bet I would have loved to click on the abuse button. Then again, jason99 seldom posts without taking a shot at The Leader-Herald or the staff.

My educated guess is that jason99, along with a few others, just might be either a disgruntled former employee or perhaps even employed by another newspaper. Just a guess.

I could comment on our website, but it is my choice to respond on my newspaper blog.

Mr. or Ms. Critic, if you are in the news gathering business, how unprofessional of you to take such snipes at people who work long hours, nearly 365 days a year and each and everyone of them do take pride in the job the do and the career they have chosen.

If you are not in the business, please take me up on an offer to shadow any of our editorial staff for just one week and let us examine your work. This invitation goes out to you, and others. Of course, you would then not be able to be anonymous.

You are a perfect example of the negativity that engulfs a community.

Instead of mocking a local newspaper that has been an essential part of this community for over 122 years why not have taken the high road?

Great job Leader-Herald, it is good to see that our local paper not only covered the event where our President of the United States spoke but gave a tremendous opportunity to staff. For a reporter and/or photographer to have the individual experience of covering a President’s speech is something that they will take with them their entire life. It was good coverage, great photos and our local newspaper was front row center.

jason99, that is what The Leader-Herald staff deserved.

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Member Comments

View Comments: | 1-14 | Post a comment

AreaResident
11-01-09 10:21 PM »Report Abuse	Pat, I'm a little late finding this blog post. Although I am a former employee and sometimes critic of the paper in the comments section and elsewhere, I do not post under the screen name you're responding to. I try to be specific in my criticism and to avoid the overheated language that's so common here. Even though I understand the pressure reporters and editors are under, the paper is not perfect. When you're trying to do something worthwhile it stings to have to tolerate the cruel jabs and mocking remarks of the jason99s of the world. I left my reporting job because I experienced that from within the paper, when morale in the newsroom was at its nadir. I have seen things improving at the paper lately, though the editorials are sliding into the realm of the right-wing fringe and photos are sometimes chosen to ridicule their subjects rather than for their importance to the story. By the way, L-H screen names are always anonymous, unless the post is signed. -- Jason Fazzio
Discobulous
10-06-09 7:58 PM »Report Abuse	I think the measure of success for a small county newspaper is whether it meets the needs of the community. The general population here - God bless 'em - looks to the Leader to meet it's informational needs. Some may think it could rise higher in that, but if the majority of readers are satisfied, it is meeting their needs.
RWEHVNGFUNYET
10-06-09 3:24 PM »Report Abuse	Anytime I go to another town, I ALWAYS pick up their local paper. I must say, that after having read about 100 local papers, the Leader ranks near the top. I'm not saying it's perfect but, for a paper that tries to balance local and world news, it tries hard. I know from a lot of the comments, that some of you critics have never left this fine community. You have never seen the outside world. It is very easy to be a critic, having never had to actually create something, it is easy to complain about things when you have nothing to compare it to. But, next time you go away to a small town, buy their paper and read it. It will give you a taste of that community and that is what a small town paper is for.
Preacher
10-06-09 3:21 PM »Report Abuse	Dis you just ruined moderation's job shadow experience.
Carlttfn
10-05-09 5:45 PM »Report Abuse	While I'm not a supporter of Obama or his politics... and would rather see a tree changing colors or a kid riding a bike, the story was news and should have been reported. I'd rather watch paint dry but I understand the editorial decision.
Discobulous
10-05-09 1:15 PM »Report Abuse	He uses section A in the morning and the sports section later.
Preacher
10-05-09 11:58 AM »Report Abuse	My-o-my moderation! Pat- here is your first volunteer to take you up on your offer to job shadow you and your editorial staff. My guess is moderation isn't qualified to job shadow Discobulous while he monitors his neighbors puppy's morning dump.
Discobulous
09-29-09 12:35 PM »Report Abuse	I disagree. My neighbor's puppy thinks highly of the Leader...uses it every day.
moderation
09-29-09 12:18 PM »Report Abuse	He did not take the high road, Pat, because he was following your lead. The L-H never passes up a chance to take the low road. Specifically, your complete lack of balance, fact-checking, or multiple sourcing. No one disrespects the hard-working rank & file workers—just the amateurish, lazy editors and publisher. All you need to know about the L_H is they have not exhibited any reluctance to metaphorically throw High School athletes under the bus to promote a story. They will actually use students names without seeking comment or balance. No one can shame the L-H or newspapers in general more than you have, Pat.
teebzz
09-26-09 2:27 PM »Report Abuse	aww disco, youre not amateur.
Discobulous
09-25-09 7:50 PM »Report Abuse	Just keep Dick tracy in the Sunday comics. If you loose Dick Tracy, you loose the war.
WordPrefect
09-25-09 11:39 AM »Report Abuse	I just got back from a meeting of newspaper editors from all over New York state, and one of the things I took away from our discussions was that no daily newspaper (of any size) has ever published an utterly perfect edition. All we can do is use the resources available to us -- which are limited by factors we have little control over, such as the local economy and population demographics - to TRY to put out the best possible newspaper day after day after day. And we do that. We always welcome constructive criticism. - Bill Ackerbauer, assistant city editor
Discobulous
09-23-09 8:07 PM »Report Abuse	As an incompetent amateur psychiatrist, I suggest he suffers from issues of inadequacy due to either an unsucessful relationship with his mother or else his shoes are too tight.
Chris
09-23-09 12:24 PM »Report Abuse	I totally agree with you Pat! I feel it was a great article, was a honor to have Obama in our upstate! Good job LH!!

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