Koenninger blows the call (again): Newspapers, democracy forever linked

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Good God... so much self-delusion and arrogance in one column.... where to begin?

In a world where the media sells out... in a world where the PI and the Columbian have lied, deceived, beaten people and groups and Republicans they disagree with to a pulp while typically giving leftists a pass; in a world where objectivity and even handedness are tenets of journalism laughed at in the newsrooms of the PI and The Columbian; the very idea that their disappearance will mean ANYTHING shows such a stilted view and arrogance that adequate words to deal with this type of garbage almost fail me.

Almost.

The media of this country used to be as special and precious as Koenninger would attempt to make you believe they are today. And had they met their responsibilities to the American people, they certainly would be. Such informational organs would certainly be a terrible loss, should they disappear.

But the local rag and the Pravda of the Sound have long since disqualified themselves from that type of consideration.

To print or mouth propaganda and do so in the guise of "news" is the sin these clowns are most guilty of.

The Columbian's recent outrages; wherein they did fake polls to get fake results to actually attempt to convince us that we really DO want loot rail (when everyone concerned knows damned well we do not) and wherein they endorsed ONLY democrats for ALL open elective seats where they endorsed anyone are just two examples where this newspaper DAMAGES THIS COMMUNITY.

A person, or people or a business that abrogates their trust and their responsibility in the name of their agenda where they completely disregard the will of the people they are alleged to serve removes that person; those people; or a business from any special consideration.

In many respects, the Columbian acts like a remorseless abusive spouse. We all know what a spouse is SUPPOSED to be, and what a spouse is SUPPOSED to do, but many abusers don't care, and they continue to damage us whenever they feel like it... until the abused spouse has had enough... and there's a divorce.

And that's what this community is doing. We're divorcing both the Columbian and the PI because we're heartily sick of all the abuse; the failure to acknowledge their massive bias; their inability to write in an evenhanded way, to fairly present all perspectives.

Just yesterday, the Columbian was babbling about the inauguration. Several people were quoted in that mishmash... and of the 5 people mentioned...

... four of them were not only democrats, but democrat office holders of some sort.

How many GOP'ers were there?

One.

That institutional bias is just one of the many reasons revenues at the Rag have collapsed. This paper refuses to acknowledge their bias; refuses to listen to criticism about that bias, and refuses to change or innovate to address those issues and new technologies. The result? They're circling the drain.

The PI was worse; the Joint Operating Agreement merely put off the inevitable.

So, when those papers are gone, they'll leave a whole the size of a thimble of water in Vancouver Lake.

And that Koenninger can't get that is but one of the symptoms of their, and his, irrelevance.



Koenninger Jan. 21: Newspapers, democracy forever linked

Wednesday, January 21 1:00 a.m.

BY TOM KOENNINGER

One of the great metropolitan newspapers of the Pacific Northwest — the Seattle Post-Intelligencer — is near death. Sadly, some don’t care.

The Hearst Corporation, its owner, announced on Jan.9 that the P-I will cease publication or be turned into an Internet product within 60 days if a new owner can’t be found by then.

The P-I built a reputation as a feisty, scrappy news rascal almost since its founding in 1863.

For years, Seattle area readers have been treated to fierce news competition between the P-I and its crosstown rival, The Seattle Times. Readers also benefited from the P-I’s investigative reporting of misdeeds, and attempts to keep government honest at all levels.

The P-I’s editorial voice has been strong, sometimes shrill; always provocative and usually persuasive.

Writing and photo quality remain high, and the P-I has received many awards. David Horsey, editorial cartoonist, claimed journalism’s top honor — the Pulitzer Prize — in 1999 and 2003.

Readers benefit from that practiced skill and dedication.

More, but why bother?
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