I think my head is continually spinning with the onslaught of news we’ve had recently.
The list is nearly endless.
The government shutdown and its major impact on Mariposa County.
The constant turmoil at the John C. Fremont Healthcare District.
The upcoming special election about redistricting.
Oh yea, the DA issue that dominated the front page a couple of months ago.
I could go on and on and on.
If there is one thing I can come to a conclusion on about this is there is certainly not a lack of news in Mariposa County.
That would be hard to argue.
On the bright side of things, it sure keeps us busy around here. Not only the “hard” news, but also the many other events that take place, including this week which just happens to be Halloween.
All of this goes to a message I have been preaching for years and that is the importance of local news outlets. Informing the public about what is happening in a local community is vital to this nation.
Many years ago I worked for a corporation called Gatehouse Media. You may not know that name, but today, it’s the owner of more newspapers in America than any other company. It took over Gannet, which is a more well known name.
It includes USA Today and many other prominent publications.
And it is a total joke.
Just last week, its CEO, Mike Reed, who has been there for a long time, announced they would be paying down large debt this year by “selling assets.”
In other words, say goodbye to even more local newspapers around the country.
This is their MO. Buy as many properties as possible and then liquidate, making profit by firing editors, reporters, ad salespersons, printers and more and then selling the property.
I’ll never forget working at a newspaper in Pennsylvania when Gatehouse filed bankruptcy.
The company line: “Bankruptcy can be a good thing.”
Sure.
It’s a pattern that has developed over the past decade or so and it should scare everyone in this country. They are dismantling the free press in America and that goes against everything this country has been based on since its founding.
I say this to all of those who believe I am some sort of evil, demonic person who is just looking to dig up anything on anybody. Of course, these people have never asked me about any of this and don’t know me from Adam.
But even for them, I say you need to really stop and think about this and what is happening to the free flow of information in this country. They, too, will feel the wrath if this trend continues.
You can continue to sling mud toward me and this newspaper, that is your First Amendment right. Though much of the time you look foolish and obviously you didn’t read the story, it doesn’t matter.
It is clear you only want to read the news you think conforms to your thinking. Sorry, but news doesn’t conform to anybody’s wants or needs. It is simply the news, based on facts and information from reliable sources.
That is why a free press is the bedrock of this nation. It’s a place where the truth is paramount and should result in the public making informed decisions based on truth.
Taking away news sources brings us right back to where these screamers get their news: social media. They put out absolute lies and some people take it as the truth. This is the direction we are heading and it’s not a good one.
People like Reed, who wields great power in the world of journalism, are the problem. He’s not alone. What is still called “McClatchy” that owns the Bees is nothing more than a hedge fund with people seeking profits and not the truth.
Trust me, they don’t care if the local softball league is struggling.
Alden Capital is another of the major players in this field and they continue to gobble up struggling newspapers, firing anyone with a brain and then hoping the public doesn’t notice.
Unfortunately, sometimes the public doesn’t notice. They turn to other sources, like social media and blogs and chat rooms and take it as the gospel.
I obviously don’t have a solution to this problem. If I did, I would be working on it right now instead of complaining.
There are many organizations in America who say they are working to save journalism. Indeed, they are working on it, but is it too little too late?
Or maybe that’s not the question. Maybe the question is whether they are going about it the right way.
I’ve done my best to try to reach out to as many of them as I can and tell our story. I’ve opened a few doors but for the most part, a little old country newspaper editor from rural California generally doesn’t pull a lot of weight.
But I will keep trying.
This world of ink in my blood has been with me my entire adult life. From marveling at the reporters who broke open the Watergate story to teaching young reporters the ins and outs of this business, it has been my life.
And continues to be my life.
I will always fight for the rights of everyone, even those who compare me to the devil himself. They have that right and I will defend them.
But they, too, need to stop and think about the ramifications of what is happening. That one day, maybe their rights will be taken away by those in power.
Then what will they do? Where will they go? Who will save them?
Nobody will if this trend continues.
That’s why now is such a crucial time in America. No matter your political beliefs or where you stand in various issues, all of us should be united in wanting the truth to be told.
How could we not want that?
Greg Little is editor of the Mariposa Gazette and can be reached at greg@mariposagazette.com
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