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When
the Statesman’s Erika Bolstad broke a rock-solid story about bonuses awarded by outgoing and embattled Sen. Larry Craig, the detractors were quick to chime in. Their message, loosely translated: “Hey Statesman, let the Craig story die already.” When Cynthia Sewell found some startling news about the city’s controversial streetcar public relations contract, and we followed up with an editorial criticizing the mishandled deal, we heard a similar refrain. “Enough about the streetcar contract; move on to real news.” So I’m left feeling a bit snarky. Readers say they want watchdog reporting. They want to know where their tax dollars are going. Do readers only really care when spending hits a certain undefined threshold? Is there some floor level we don’t know about, kind of like the unposted “real” speed limit on a remote stretch of I-84?/Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman. More here.
Question (from Kevin Richert): Do readers want watchdog reporting — or do they just say they want it?
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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Cabbage Boy on November 20 at 1:42 p.m.
Easy, most people want the watchdogs to watch the other side (politically speaking.)
Most will cry foul when their guy gets bit.
Me, I don't care who it is, if they are an elected or appointed official, I want them watched.
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nic on November 20 at 1:55 p.m.
Watchdogs are nice… as long as they're not the crazy types who find conspiracy in everything.
And I'd prefer watchdogs over lapdogs.
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Sisyphus on November 20 at 2:08 p.m.
Democracy doesn't function properly without them full time reporting their findings. Otherwise an election is just a fashion show.
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moscow_minidoka on November 20 at 2:22 p.m.
Well, I certainly want journalist watchdogs and whistleblowers, too. I can do without Spencer's troublemaking, but he doesn't qualify as a watchdog.
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DFO on November 20 at 2:23 p.m.
<invisible ink on>I wonder if I should tell Sis that the 43rd State Blues link has been restored in the Idaho Blogroll? Or let him find out for himself?<invisible ink off>
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Sisyphus on November 20 at 2:33 p.m.
Oh ain't you sweet. Things have been quiet down my way since the election. I have been doing some commenting, like responding to this Richert post but, alas, work must be a priority.
Hoping for better blogging days in the future.
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fortboise on November 20 at 3:18 p.m.
I absolutely want watchdog reporting. The work of journalists is indispensable.
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Cindy H on November 20 at 5:38 p.m.
“And I'd prefer watchdogs over lapdogs.”
Amen, nic.
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