The strong will survive

Again, this is my opinion and my opinion only...not that of my employer.

The one (and only) good thing about a recession is that it may thin out the pack. That is, the weak among us will find something else to do. I don't mean this is a mean-spirited way, but in a real, business-sense way.

Frankly, there are people in media these days who saw it as an easy way to attain some sort of visibility in the community while making enough money from advertisers to make a living. Way too many of these media outlets --both publications and radio stations -- come as close to "blackmailing" their clients as you can without breaking the law. They certainly broke a number of moral laws.

A certain local radio station, which went out of business in 2008, convinced some very high profile advertisers to spend money with them by gaining a reputation for being willing to accuse non-advertisers of being racists for not advertising. This also has been true with one or two print publications over the years. I have had bank presidents tell me they advertised with these outlets simply to keep them from making trouble. Is that not blackmail? Is that not akin to paying protection money? Is that not "dealing the race card"?

Another local business newspaper sells "editorial" coverage -- on their front page no less -- and has been doing this for a decade. Just this month, a business person told me that a salesperson from another local business publication, who had sent a reporter to interview them several weeks ago, called and said that they couldn't afford the space to run the story unless the business bought an ad. Uuggh! I gag as I write this!

It's difficult to believe that in 2008-2009 this type of business strategy still exists.

I am proud to work for a true business news outlet that still has the moral standard, the journalistic integrity and the business sense to produce a product that stands on its own. One that knows news from promotion. One that separates editorial and advertising. God knows we fail now and then, but this is our goal.

I just hope there are enough people in this world who can still tell the difference between news and features, between journalism and paid-for placement, even between a reporter and a writer.

If this recession separates the wheat from the chaff, and some undeserving (in my opinion) folks in the media are left along the wayside, then maybe a good cleansing is just what the market needed. The strong will survive. We will be changed. Our paradigms will be shifted. Our "cheese will be moved". But we will be here when the smoke clears.

Just my thoughts on this Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas everyone!