Orignal Thoughts or Astroturf?

Have you ever read the Letters to the Editor in the Journal Gazette, and wondered: "Where do these letters come from"? 

While most of us envision someone sitting at a keyboard, wracking their brain to condense their heartfelt thoughts into a well-written letter full of their own opinions backed up by factual information, it's not. In reality, it's what politicians and media call "astroturfing", manufactured, mass-produced "public opinion" designed to sway the media and their audiences.  

This morning a letter critical of Robert F. Kennedy Jr's nomination as Health and Human Services secretary appeared in print. After reading the letter a few times, the Maven "Googled" a few of the sentences and found something strange. Those words and phrases in the JG letter matched a "write-your-own-letter" template on the MomsRising.org website. Kind of a "cut and paste" way of flooding one's local newspaper with opposition to Kennedy's nomination. 

Here's the letter in the 2/11 JG, the writer's name has been blurred to protect their privacy.

The Maven added the red numbers to correlate with the MomsRising Talking Points below.

Well, here's where it came from:

The Maven is fairly certain this letter will not qualify for the Journal Gazette Gold Pen award for the best Letter to the Editor of the month. 

Political Yard Sign Violence/Vandalism

If you watch the local TV news, one would think that political yard sign vandalism only happens to Democrats and only happens in communities outside the city of Fort Wayne. 

The Maven does not doubt that these incidents happen. But the Maven wonders why it's only the supporters of one political party that seem to get the coverage.

Are these people better at involving the media? 

Do the supporters of the other political party not experience this vandalism?

Do incidents of political sign vandalism/violence only happen in areas away from the Fort Wayne city center?

Just seems odd.  

Balanced? Maybe, Maybe Not

WANE-15 aired a story a few days ago (October 15) alleging political yard sign vandalism in Van Wert, Ohio.

Here's a link to the story: https://www.wane.com/top-stories/van-wert-residents-targeted-for-having-harris-yard-signs/

It's a standard story during election time. Vandalism to political yard signs has been with us since, well, the first political yard sign appeared back in the 19th century. What made the WANE-15 report curious was that it implied that only signs supporting the Democratic Party presidential candidates were stolen/trashed. The local chairman of the Democrats was featured making comments about the vandalism, including concerns that residents were living in a fearful environment. 

The Maven wonders why no one contacted local Republican party officials to ask if their supporters' signs were damaged or stolen. Does the Republican chairman in Van Wert believe his supporters live in a fearful environment?

The Maven has no issue with the accuracy of the story, but does have concerns about "balance". 

Only interviewing the Democrat Party chairperson, and promoting a local Democratic Party event including time, location and ticket price information seems, in the Maven's opinion, to unbalance the story.

Please note: the ticket price information for the Van Wert Democratic Party event is only mentioned in the "live" report (imbedded in the story) and does not appear in the text of the story as published on WANE.COM. 

Media Decides Winner and Losers?

Kudos to WOWO's Pat Miller for a Monday afternoon faux pax, and quick recovery. 

Mr, Miller, WOWO afternoon host and staunch Conservative was interviewing Andy Downs, PFW professor and democrat party activist about Tuesday's Municipal election.

While discussing the Republican candidates in the highly contentious primary race, Mr. Miller remarked that on the Democrat side, incumbent Mayor Tom Henry was unopposed. 

After some texts were sent to WOWO, and running a Gina Burgess for mayor commercial in the next commercial cluster, Mr. Miller quickly mentioned that Ms. Burgess and Tommy Schader were also on the Democrat primary ballot. 

To his credit, Mr. Miller's misstep was minor and was quickly corrected. However, the issue of how the local media generally treats "fringe candidates" continues to show how media is complicit in choosing winners and losers. The cozy relationship between the current political ruling elite and the media elite is easy to see. The Journal Gazette can't seem to decide if Ms. Burgess is a Republican (as stated in print) or a Democrat (as stated in print). Other media feature "mainstream" candidate interviews at more favorable times than those pesky "fringe candidates" because they fear viewers will flee if Tommy Schrader, for example, pops up during a high viewership newscast slot.  

Because media helps determine winners and losers, the Maven ponders the money that could be saved if we just let the news media tell us who our next "rulers" will be.