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Tag Archives: our failed media experiment

Do your damn homework, Dave

10 Thursday Dec 2015

Posted by Michael Bersin in media criticism

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

al gore, dave Helling, Internet, Kansas City Star, our failed media experiment

A throw away line in a “both sides do it” article from Dave Helling in the Kansas City Star:

December 9, 2015
Misleading politics may hit an unprecedented high in 2016, pundits say

….Republicans also point to Hillary Clinton’s statements about her role in the killings in Benghazi, her emails or Al Gore’s claims about his involvement in the early Internet as evidence that Democratic candidates routinely lie and exaggerate too….

Really, citing republican political spin as evidence?

This is what then Vice President Al Gore (D) actually said about the Internet in 1999:

Transcript: Vice President Gore on CNN’s ‘Late Edition’
March 9, 1999 Web posted at: 5:06 p.m. EST (2206 GMT)

[….] BLITZER: I want to get to some of the substance of domestic and international issues in a minute, but let’s just wrap up a little bit of the politics right now.

Why should Democrats, looking at the Democratic nomination process, support you instead of Bill Bradley, a friend of yours, a former colleague in the Senate? What do you have to bring to this that he doesn’t necessarily bring to this process?

GORE: Well, I will be offering — I’ll be offering my vision when my campaign begins. And it will be comprehensive and sweeping. And I hope that it will be compelling enough to draw people toward it. I feel that it will be.

But it will emerge from my dialogue with the American people. I’ve traveled to every part of this country during the last six years. During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet. I took the initiative in moving forward a whole range of initiatives that have proven to be important to our country’s economic growth and environmental protection, improvements in our educational system.

During a quarter century of public service, including most of it long before I came into my current job, I have worked to try to improve the quality of life in our country and in our world. And what I’ve seen during that experience is an emerging future that’s very exciting, about which I’m very optimistic, and toward which I want to lead. [….]

[emphasis added]

Over a year later:

Thursday, Oct 5, 2000 02:33 PM CDT
Did Gore invent the Internet?
Actually, the vice president never claimed to have done so — but he did help the Net along. Some people would rather forget that.
Scott Rosenberg

….It took social engineers as well as software engineers to build the Net. And that may be why the response to Gore’s original statement was so savage: Not because his claim was a lie, but because it was a truth that a lot of people today are trying to forget or bury….

From The Internets Gods (in 2000):

Al Gore and the Internet
By Robert Kahn and Vinton Cerf

Al Gore was the first political leader to recognize the importance of the Internet and to promote and support its development.

No one person or even small group of persons exclusively “invented” the Internet. It is the result of many years of ongoing collaboration among people in government and the university community. But as the two people who designed the basic architecture and the core protocols that make the Internet work, we would like to acknowledge VP Gore’s contributions as a Congressman, Senator and as Vice President. No other elected official, to our knowledge, has made a greater contribution over a longer period of time.

Last year the Vice President made a straightforward statement on his role. He said: “During my service in the United States Congress I took the initiative in creating the Internet.” We don’t think, as some people have argued, that Gore intended to claim he “invented” the Internet. Moreover, there is no question in our minds that while serving as Senator, Gore’s initiatives had a significant and beneficial effect on the still-evolving Internet. The fact of the matter is that Gore was talking about and promoting the Internet long before most people were listening. We feel it is timely to offer our perspective.

As far back as the 1970s Congressman Gore promoted the idea of high speed telecommunications as an engine for both economic growth and the improvement of our educational system. He was the first elected official to grasp the potential of computer communications to have a broader impact than just improving the conduct of science and scholarship. Though easily forgotten, now, at the time this was an unproven and controversial concept. Our work on the Internet started in 1973 and was based on even earlier work that took place in the mid-late 1960s. But the Internet, as we know it today, was not deployed until 1983. When the Internet was still in the early stages of its deployment, Congressman Gore provided intellectual leadership by helping create the vision of the potential benefits of high speed computing and communication. As an example, he sponsored hearings on how advanced technologies might be put to use in areas like coordinating the response of government agencies to natural disasters and other crises.

As a Senator in the 1980s Gore urged government agencies to consolidate what at the time were several dozen different and unconnected networks into an “Interagency Network.” Working in a bi-partisan manner with officials in Ronald Reagan and George Bush’s administrations, Gore secured the passage of the High Performance Computing and Communications Act in 1991. This “Gore Act” supported the National Research and Education Network (NREN) initiative that became one of the major vehicles for the spread of the Internet beyond the field of computer science.

As Vice President Gore promoted building the Internet both up and out, as well as releasing the Internet from the control of the government agencies that spawned it. He served as the major administration proponent for continued investment in advanced computing and networking and private sector initiatives such as Net Day. He was and is a strong proponent of extending access to the network to schools and libraries. Today, approximately 95% of our nation’s schools are on the Internet. Gore provided much-needed political support for the speedy privatization of the
Internet when the time arrived for it to become a commercially-driven operation.

There are many factors that have contributed to the Internet’s rapid growth since the later 1980s, not the least of which has been political support for its privatization and continued support for research in advanced networking technology. No one in public life has been more intellectually engaged in helping to create the climate for a thriving Internet than the Vice President. Gore has been a clear champion of this effort, both in the councils of government and with the public at large.

The Vice President deserves credit for his early recognition of the value of high speed computing and communication and for his long-term and consistent articulation of the potential value of the Internet to American citizens and industry and, indeed, to the rest of the world.

So, a Libertarian (they don’t believe government does anything, even though it does) writer posted a story (you can look it up) and subsequently republican politicians and operatives spun the media to create a convenient narrative that our lazy old media bought hook, line and sinker in 2000. Dave Helling shows us that the zombie lie still lives today.

These things are easy enough to check out. We understand you can even use the Internet. It took us less than five minutes.

* In the interest of full disclosure, I was a delegate from Missouri for Al Gore at the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. As if that makes any difference.

Nobody shows up at our parties…

05 Monday Jan 2015

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

lobbying, meta, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, our failed media experiment

…because we don’t throw any.

Publisher’s parties highlight reporting issues in Missouri ethics laws

By Rudi Keller

Sunday, January 4, 2015 at 12:00 am

JEFFERSON CITY – During the 2014 legislative session, the High Street offices of the Missouri Times became the venue for legislators and their staffs to enjoy parties with lobbyist-paid liquor, beer and snacks that went largely unreported to the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Publisher Scott Faughn called each party an “unveiling,” honoring a particular lawmaker. He text-messaged invitations with the names of sponsoring lobbyists or organizations. At the appointed time, participants who agreed to be interviewed said, a photograph of the chosen legislator would be hung on the office wall and those in attendance would be asked to comment…..

[….]

And a somewhat testy response:

We have officially arrived…..& we owe it all to our readers

January 04, 2015 / by Scott Faughn

Our readers will particularly understand being in a campaign as the hopeless underdog, where you’re so irrelevant that your competitor doesn’t even mention your name.

So you work your ass off for months in obscurity, and then comes that moment when out of nowhere your opponent attacks you.

And that’s the moment when you know you’ve arrived. You have their attention, it’s now a race, and they’re not happy about it….

[….]

….After 24 months of hard work, endless hours, countless mistakes, thousands of challenges the fact that the 100+ year old Columbia Tribune ran by the eminently respected Hank Watters allowed reporter Rudi Keller to attack us days after we announced that we would begin distributing in Columbia is more gold plated proof than anything we could have ever said about ourselves that we have officially arrived….

[….]

Alrighty, then.

Uh, isn’t that the point of civilization?

10 Thursday Oct 2013

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

budget, meta, our failed media experiment, shutdown, waiting for the asteroid

There was a story on one of the morning infotainment shows early today about a restaurant chain franchise donating one day of profits to help make up some of the loss in survivor benefits for military casualties which have been suspended due to the government shutdown. The person representing the franchise stated (paraphrased), “If enough people contribute it can be taken care of…”

I believe that’s the point of taxes in a representative democracy.

I await the arrival of a giant asteroid.  

The stenographer: What? Did the conventional wisdom faerie whisper something in your ear?

07 Wednesday Nov 2012

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

2012, election, media criticism, missouri, our failed media experiment, Steve Kraske

Heads or tails? In the universe of political stenography all stupid ideas or concepts have the same value as anything else.

A few days ago:

KRASKE: Forecasting all the big races, including Akin-McCaskill….

….Predictions: Obama (yeah, I’m a flip-flopper. I picked Romney in January), McCaskill, Nixon, Peter Kinder for lieutenant governor and Chris Koster for attorney general (Koster instantly becomes the 2016 gubernatorial frontrunner). KC’s own Jason Kander, a secretary of state candidate, and fellow Democrat, treasurer Clint Zweifel, get swallowed up in the pro-Romney tide in Missouri and fall short.

The cigarette tax passes….

Well, Kansas City also has the Royals and the Chiefs. Nope, the cigarette tax didn’t pass, Jason Kander (D) will be the new Secretary of State, and Clint Zweifel (D) will continue as State Treasurer.

Previously:

Too damn close, but we’ll take it (November 7, 2012)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): have we got a poll for you… (November 7, 2012)

Because there are no other pressing issues to address in Missouri these days

14 Sunday Oct 2012

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

media criticism, missouri, New York Times, our failed media experiment

Is this really necessary?:

Missouree? Missouruh? To Be Politic, Say Both

By SARAH WHEATON

Published: October 12, 2012

In Missouri, a perennial swing state with a deeply divided electorate, it has long been one of the politically delicate calculations a candidate can make….

Another sign that a giant asteroid is gonna strike when the Mayan calendar ends in December.  

Our failed media experiment

03 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

media criticism, missouri, old media, our failed media experiment

No, not us.

An editorial in the Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal [subscription required]:

9/30/2012 6:29:00 PM

Newspaper says no to political letters

EDITORIAL

Jack Miles

Editor

Each October – in a presidential election year, especially – voters naturally want to tout the virtues of the virtuous candidates they support and eviscerate the miserable demon spawn whom they oppose, which leads from the obvious to this point: The Daily Star-Journal does not accept endorsement letters, and does not accept condemnation letters, regarding candidates.

Just as TV and radio stations cannot give up valuable – meaning worth money – time for what amounts to free advertising for or against a candidate, neither can the newspaper. The fact is, if a candidate through his supporters’ letters can get the milk free, why would he buy the cow? To be direct, a letter of endorsement, no matter how heartfelt, amounts to free advertising….

Uh, one big difference is that the public actually owns the airwaves. Or we used to. It’s still a federal regulation that broadcasters must give qualified federal candidates preferential rates (something not available to SuperPACs).

The editorial continues:

….Obviously, if the newspaper prints one endorsement letter, more will follow. The same is true with allowing letters to slam candidates – with letters written in defense of or to rebut the nasty comments. Which, again, amounts to free advertising….

Why, if the proponents or opponents of a candidate or a ballot issue are particularly erudite that could elevate the level of our political discourse, don’t you think? If not, what’s the downside of an ignoranimus voluntarily exposing themselves to public view? Either one could increase readership and maybe even subscriptions ($!).

Whatever happened to acting in the public interest? Instead, we get a paean to Citizens United:

….When some politicians all but ignore newspapers, the one medium that people rely on, actually pay for, to receive their news and advertising, newspapers have no reason to print free political endorsement letters.

As a result, if a person feels strongly that Barack Obama should be re-elected or Mitt Romney should become president, then take out a small ad in the newspaper – better yet, a big one – and say so.

But to expect The Daily Star-Journal – which has but one way to make money, by selling advertising space – to give away space is not a sensible business model.

Wait we’re confused. If you have subscribers and advertisers isn’t that two revenue streams? You see, we’re kind of aware of that distinction because around here we have none of the former and few of the latter.

We’re assuming that a full page ad in the local paper costs more than five hundred dollars. If you do that you just might have some paperwork to fill out:

Missouri Revised Statutes

Chapter 130

Campaign Finance Disclosure Law


Section 130.011

Definitions.

[….]

(15) “Expenditure”, a payment, advance, conveyance, deposit, donation or contribution of money or anything of value for the purpose of supporting or opposing the nomination or election of any candidate for public office or the qualification or passage of any ballot measure or for the support of any committee which in turn supports or opposes any candidate or ballot measure or for the purpose of paying a previously incurred campaign debt or obligation of a candidate or the debts or obligations of a committee; a payment, or an agreement or promise to pay, money or anything of value, including a candidate’s own money or property, for the purchase of goods, services, property, facilities or anything of value for the purpose of supporting or opposing the nomination or election of any candidate for public office or the qualification or passage of any ballot measure or for the support of any committee which in turn supports or opposes any candidate or ballot measure or for the purpose of paying a previously incurred campaign debt or obligation of a candidate or the debts or obligations of a committee. An expenditure of anything of value shall be deemed to have a money value equivalent to the fair market value. “Expenditure” includes, but is not limited to….

[….]

….(e) “Expenditure” does not include:

a. Any news story, commentary or editorial which is broadcast or published by any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine or other periodical without charge to the candidate or to any person supporting or opposing a candidate or ballot measure….

[emphasis added]

Uh, it’s a campaign expenditure if you pay a newspaper to publish something supporting or opposing a candidate or a ballot measure.

Missouri Revised Statutes

Chapter 130

Campaign Finance Disclosure Law


Section 130.047

Reporting noncommittee expenditures.

130.047. Any person who is not a defined committee who makes an expenditure or expenditures aggregating five hundred dollars or more in support of, or opposition to, one or more candidates or in support of, or in opposition to, the qualification or passage of one or more ballot measures, other than a contribution made directly to a candidate or committee, shall file a report signed by the person making the expenditures, or that person’s authorized agent. The report shall include the name and address of the person making the expenditure, the date and amount of the expenditure or expenditures, the name and address of the payee, and a description of the nature and purpose of each expenditure. Such report shall be filed with the appropriate officer having jurisdiction over the election of the candidate or ballot measure in question as set forth in section 130.026 no later than fourteen days after the date of making an expenditure which by itself or when added to all other such expenditures during the same campaign equals five hundred dollars or more. If, after filing such report, additional expenditures are made, a further report shall be filed no later than fourteen days after the date of making the additional expenditures; except that, if any such expenditure is made within fourteen days prior to an election, the report shall be filed no later than forty-eight hours after the date of such expenditure. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a person who uses only the person’s funds or resources to make an expenditure or expenditures in support of or in coordination or consultation with a candidate or committee; provided that, any such expenditure is recorded as a contribution to such candidate or committee and so reported by the candidate or committee being supported by the expenditure or expenditures.

[emphasis added]

Uh, if you spend more than five hundred dollars (not in campaign contributions) in support of or in opposition to a non-federal Missouri candidate or a Missouri ballot measure you have to file a campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

The world we live in. If you have plenty of money you can take out an ad in the local paper expressing your support for a particular candidate or issue. If not, well, you’re out of luck.

Is it really an argument distilling the role of the newspaper in our First Amendment protected public discourse down to advertising revenue? John Peter Zenger weeps.

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