[1033] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: Reporting the net community
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Willis Marti)
Thu Jul 18 18:19:59 1991
Date: Thu, 18 Jul 91 17:17:07 CDT
From: willis@cs.tamu.edu (Willis Marti)
To: com-priv@psi.com, taylor@capital.com
Cc: edtjda@magic322.chron.com
Taylor does a good analysis in his post but misses two points:
He says:
" I am regularly chagrined at how little Americans understand
the role of the press. This is not like selling barbells
or automobiles, after all. Admittedly, the interest in
accepting the role of reporting and publishing is often
slapped silly when you or one of your interests seems to
be treated badly. But we can't give up on what the press
is supposed to be doing. Hold the writer and his editor to
to the fire. Editors don't like to hear that their reporters
didn't come close to an accurate portrayal.
"
First, most people, I think, would hold the Chronicle to a little higher
standard than the National Enquirer. Remember that *most* of the comment
came because Mr. Abernathy posted in this forum & claimed he was (one of?)
the most qualified to write about the subject. I don't think people are
giving up on what the press is doing as much as saying this reporter and
that newspaper are not an appropriate forum to support. We *are*
holding the writer (does his editor read email?) to the fire.
Taylor also says:
"already well known. Did anyone write a letter to the editor of the
Chronicle at the time, offering to show what else is going on in the
net? It's not guaranteed to do anything more than put a little message in
the corner of the editor's mind, and it could do more.
"
I live in Texas, read the Chronicle every day, know a little bit about the
Internet and WROTE a letter. Nothing published, nothing that showed the
least feedback.
I read a paper for 3 things -- humor, opinions and what's going on in the world.
The front page gives the newspaper's opinions. The editorial page is for
humor, 'cause I usually can't believe anyone thinks that way, and the comics
provide a good view on the world.
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Willis F. Marti Internet: willis@cs.tamu.edu
Director, Computer Services Group, Dept of Computer Science, Texas A&M Univ.
---Not an official document of Texas A&M---
