It's the day after our local election in Michigan's capital city and the local newspaper--the Lansing State Journal--has demonstrated again how it is in a state of active disconnect from the values of our community. They have also shown that it's time to look at the viability of the op-ed page in the local newspaper. It is facing extinction.
I point to today's editorial in the State Journal where the editorial director castigates our two United State Senators for voting for a bill that allows the Boy Scouts to use government facilities. They whine that the Boy Scouts are an anti-gay group and, hence, shouldn't be allowed the right to use government property. Hmm...
The community needs to speak against this intolerance by the Lansing State Journal through the one language they understand, economics. It's easy to see that column inches of advertising are at best staying the same and may even be declining. It's time to let the remaining advertisers know that their suport of this intolerance will be reflected in consumer patronage.
The editorial should lay out some facts about its contention. How about gay groups that hold rallies on the State Capitol lawn and use state facilities? Nobody complains about that and they shouldn't.
A strong newspaper is needed in this town and every town. The media can play a vital role, but it's not. The Lansing State Journal, all the other Gannett papers and the Detroit Free Press which is being bought by Gannett need to get back to the basics of the profession.
They need to stop dissing the Boy Scouts and start reporting real news in this area.