The Miami Herald's Reporter David Smiley keeps taking stories he initiated and does not give Crespo credit.
The same has happened here at Eye on Miami. I include Miami Herald links why can't they include ours? They are misers with credit to us, the blogger journalists. Al, this has happened to us so many times over the years, I am numb to it. So many people steal our material it is a sad state of affairs.
16 comments:
When it's a good cause - I mean a bad govt proposal to defeat or expose I see the bloggers and all media outlets working their own angles that serve to defeat or expose the issue. Part of a grand public discussion. Bloggers have to expect the mainstream media will pick up an idea and report on it. Crespo deserves credit for original reporting and so does Eye on Miami. But some tolerance and graciousness is also in order. The Herald reporters aren't the real enemy. Keep your eye on the prize.
Al Crespo was first to cover the proposed giveaway of the historic Firehouse site to a Sarnoff campaign contributer. Sarnoff and his toadie "Billboard" Bockweg were hoping no one would notice this scam and their buddy, Nir Shoshani, could get the site for $3 Million or less. Chairman Gort disclosed an appraisal for $8.7 Million. Oops. Sarnoff and Bockweg have already given $9 Million to this same campaign contributor. Crespo deserves credit.
A lot of reporters are rude to me, I won't mention their names. Some are smart enough to call and talk and share the wealth. But all we ask is for a link like we do for them. One reporter treated me like scum at a recent meeting. I was glad to meet him and he was dismissive.
That is so unfortunate. You should be honored anywhere in this town. Miami is a gold mine of unexplored stories. All they have to do is look around and go to work. No need to pimp off of the work of others.
Lets be real, with the state of affairs in today's news media, where paying the mortgage on the leverage enterprise is tantamount, there simply is no wiggle room for nice things like giving credit, or doing independent investigation, or not just regurgitating what gov source's blatter, and on and on.
Yea, it would be civilized to adhere to some "Standard" , but that train left the station long before blogging began.
This week NPR had a discussion where noted journalist opined that the Irak war would have never happened, had the press done their job.
How is that for insult to reader ship and humanity.
They also opined that bloggers should be called the fifth estate, in defense of humanity. I could have said in defense of democratic, but that train left the station to.
It appears the times of the wild west are still with us.
Here is an example of how mainstream media ignores news that is important to this community:
The FDLE replaced its Special Agent in Charge (SAC) two weeks ago and has since replaced it with a new one. The agency has suffered a huge embarrassment and it's trying to keep the whole thing quiet. The old SAC was replaced for permitting the misuse of overtime funds and overtime intended for the Police Officers Assistance Trust (POAT). To this date, no local paper nor any TV station has bothered to question FDLE on the replacement or the extent of the irregularities committed by the old SAC. This sort of news could expose major corruption within FDLE but I guess no local writer to TV personality wants to rock the boat. It's OK folks nothing to see here. Continue to live with your heads buried in the sand.
If you watch the mainstream television news, the only crimes worth noting regarding missing persons, the only murderers or victims, have to involve quite attractive people. If you are butt ugly you get a minimal, to no coverage free pass. Remember that toadies.
As for stealing others ideas and newsworthy topics, other than the recourse of shaming them, you're stuck.
Crespo should get credit along with the other writers, researchers and bloggers who do this kind of research. Not so hard to credit a story with a mention of a blog or website where the story came from. Journalism 101. If the Herald wants to avoid being negative they can quote the blog as a negative source.
There is just so much carelessness in the media these days … it's downright ugly. Watch the final season of "newsroom" for instruction.
It seems to be a simple thing. All you have to say is "so and so investigated such and such and found xy and z.". Or such and such reported in 'name of blog or publication' that this happened. From there you can add new information, make conjecture, or say anything you want to say.
The Herald's story had slightly different numbers than Crespo's, but more importantly, a neutral stance. Crespo clearly felt that the city was being ripped off, having spent $3 million to remove the asbestos and renovate this historic (and attractive) building, only to have it sold for high-rise redevelopment to businessmen he insists are pals of Com. Sarnoff. The Herald did not suggest a Sarnoff connection. Not there? Not evident? Special consideration? We can only speculate. Too bad the city commissioners can't keep a few more beautiful old buildings.
Law Enforcement also get information from EOM. Its a leading blog coming from the bloggers. The comments given on this blog help us solve crimes and corruption.
Genius you are a valued member of this community.
What they don't get is that it would actually give their story and THEIR reputation a boost to acknowledge the bloggers. A good part of Herald readers, read the blogs and therefore know where the stories originate. This is especially true of younger readers. It just makes the Herald, et al, look petty.
Reports at major papers have always thought of themselves as the "chosen elite" they got into a major daily. They are often jerks and even jerks to their families. They got "selected." To admit that their journalistic sources are internet bloggers with no training just undermines journalists reputation and prestige. While this has always been true, never before have "amateur" journalist had such prominent platforms and such large readerships. All the while reports have had to undertake pay cuts and papers are in significant decline, even the WP, WSJ,and NYTs. Take away the sports readers and I would not be surprised if blogs that update daily like, EOM might have more traffic than the Herald itself. The "staff" at EOM are amazingly talented, smart, and professional. While Crespo is often right and right to be upset, EOM has the polish and professionalism to be a major news organization, certainly as much as the New Times chain with a lot less resources. What EOM needs is professional foundation support. Sadly where Knight throws money at many local organizations, it would not consider EOM for obvious reasons, it really should.
That is a very naive view. People who are familiar with knowledge and information discovery knows that they come from all kinds of sources, both expected like EOM, and a bunch from unexpected sources. Maybe that is why they can't find all these stories waiting to be discovered. They are looking in the wrong places.
Years ago we were a two newspaper town. For the body politic they seemed to work well together. The Herald reported that there was a heated discussion at a meeting. Once you read that, you would go to the Miami News to read the 'blow by blow' discussion of exactly who said what and when.
With all the resources at the disposal of the newspapers, it would seem that they would gladly give credit to others as it is a blinking light to notify them to look over here for more detailed costly investigations.
The main stream news media such as the Miami Herald will soon be history. They just do not want to admit it. Instead of treating others with respect, they display arrogance. Gone are the days of a media that people looked to for honesty and integrity.
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