Thin-skinned publisher needs to face new mediaworld
When accused of “fake news,” the boss of Grand Junction Sentinel went completely bonkers. But his over-the-top response revealed a deeper truth; it’s been a long, hard fall for newspaper publishers. No longer do they stand as immortals on high, handing down judgment from above. They’re just part of the cacophony, having to defend their opinions just like everyone else. Welcome to the new media world.
This ridiculous story grows out of the mundane. The Sentinel sharply criticized State Sen. Ray Scott for delaying a hearing on an open records bill. (Full disclosure, Sen. Scott is a friend of mine). Channeling his inner Trump, Scott then tweeted that the Sentinelwas “fake news.”
This sent the newspapers’ publisher, Jay Seaton over the edge. Bemoaning that Scott attempted to “diminish” him, he compared the local politician to Syrian dictator Assad (the guy that nerve-gassed and cluster-bombed his people), and then pledged to sue for defamation.
It was a childish threat, and Seaton quickly beat a hasty retreat. He claimed that Scott had legislative immunity (wrong), that the state would have to foot Scott’s legal bills (wrong again), and that he couldn’t bear to waste taxpayers money (how noble). Oh well, the entertainment had to end sometime.
A harder truth is that not so long ago, publishers were impervious to criticism; classified ads drove profitability and sports pages drove subscriptions. No amount of criticism against editorials or skewed coverage could dent that profit machine. Newspapers even claimed objectivity, but in fact newspaper barons ran their papers as personal fiefdoms, using their considerable influence to shape politics and policy as they saw fit. All while using the First Amendment to shield themselves from any criticism.
Seaton comes from this newspaper baron tradition— his family installed him as publisher when it bought The Sentinel— but newspapers no longer have an information monopoly. Profits from classified ads are gone, and alternative news sources compete on a daily basis. More than before, traditional newspapers must rely on quality reporting and thoughtful ideas, and face scrutiny from a public no longer cowed by powerful newspaper corporations.
This is the new media world. Or perhaps it’s an old media world. During an earlier period, newspapers made no pretense of objectivity. They gave and got their hits in the mosh pit, like everyone else. Publisher Benjamin Franklin regularly wrote scathing, anonymous articles and falsely reported that his major competitor had died— creating much fury and helping drive newspaper sales. For all of you liberal newspaper publishers out there, consider this revenge of the Tea Party.
And about that First Amendment? Well, it doesn’t shield newspapers or anyone else from criticism, and it applies to everyone equally. Yes, it protects “the Press,” but that means far more than dry ink on white paper. It means the ability to distribute and publish ideas; by paper, or twitter, or even old-fashioned web sites and email.
More voices mean a more vibrant discussion, and we want companies (like newspapers) and individuals (like politicians or community critics) to spend time investigating and opining about public policy. And from this give-andtake, accusation and counter-accusation, comes real honor; Benjamin Franklin’s grandson ran a newspaper and went to jail for criticizing President John Adams. He died there awaiting trial.
Is The Sentinel fake news? Well, I empathize with Scott; the Sentinel always treated me poorly. I still joke about a minor thing— when a car on the wrong side of Interstate-70 nearly hit me headon, I told The Sentinel the car was “teal.” They reported it as “blue,” which contradicted the police report of “green.” (The color teal, by the way, is blue-green.) More broadly, their Capitol reporting was consistently biased, inaccurate, just a muddled mess. Fake news? Holding a public official accountable? You decide.
Regardless, here are three good rules for newspaper publishers: Stop the sanctimonious bleating about “fake news;” no more whining about incoming criticism; and comparisons to dictators and threats about lawsuits onlymake you look foolish.
Newspapers sell a product— information, entertainment, and opinion. So make it good, and stand on the quality of your work.
Scott Gessler is a former Colorado secretary of state and a Denver attorney.