Meeting Minutes for January General Membership Meeting of the Indiana Democratic Club
January 23rd, 2007 7:47 pmMeeting Minutes for January General Membership Meeting of the Indiana Democratic Club
Meeting called to order by: IDC President Ken Kern at 7:42pm at the Julia Carson Government Center in Indianapolis
Tonight’s Sponsor: Marion County Treasurer Mike Rodman
Moment of Silence and words spoken for: former Indianapolis Mayor Charlie Boswell
Speaker:
- Dennis Ryerson, VP/Editor, Indianapolis Star
Since June he’s still getting mails saying he isn’t a Hoosier and never will be a Hoosier, still getting messages from people saying how they dare print pictures of African Americans since they have their own newspapers (really!). If he’s not doing his job, people won’t push back.
Plans for changing their coverage, including upcoming municipal elections, presidential elections, etc.
Since he was last here, Knight Ridder no longer exists. It sold its papers to McClatchy(?sp?). Unfortunately they put some of their papers up for sale and some of them were never bought. One was Philly, which was bought by local investors and are now laying off 70 members of their newsroom. San Jose is also laying off people. Dallas Morning News has laid off some 100. Akron Beacon-Journal is also undergoing changes. It’s a trying time for the newspaper business. Even the Tribune Company is up for sale!
There were 1400 department store companies in the 60’s. there are now 14. When LS Ayres used to be around they would buy full print ads in the Star. Now that Macy’s owns it, those ads have gone away. Same thing has happened in other sectors. This makes for challenging times for the industry.
It’s still a healthy industry in terms of revenue for owners and return as a business, it’s just not what it once was. They are having to make changes and the industry is slow to change. But with so much competition via the Internet, etc, they are having to change.
Of the top 100 newspapers by circulation (they are ~38th), one of 6 to see circulation growth. Trying to react hard to keep that and not have to lay off newsroom employees by thinking of new ways to do their job and reach people (community newspapers, magazines, websites etc.)
Example: Moms still want to network and talk to other moms, even in a changing world where that doesn’t happen as much. How can they help moms with social networking, etc. IndyMoms.com. Since it started around Thanksgiving, 800,000 pageviews. Participants register and has 3800 registered users. This is another way they can connect with more readers and bring readers together. They will be starting a monthly digest in print as well.
This is, obviously, not hard news. But if they don’t provide this information someone else will so they need to provide it.
Also something different with the core newspaper: Name a team of people to be the advocate for the readers in ways that haven’t been done before. Say the City/County Council wants to reduce arts funding and there will be a hearing next week. The team will inform the readers and link to studies and any information the council has access to, comparative data, budgets, etc. If readers want to know, he wants to provide that information. They will also provide pages for how to speak and attend open meetings, how public access meetings work, etc. How can you make your case, better make your case, etc. How to empower readers/ordinary people to become better participants in the public process.
They will also build a database of public information. Example: who has concealed weapon permits, education data, crime data, etc. You could log in, punch in your address and get a record of police calls made near your home in the last 24 hours. Just one example. But don’t leave the newspaper out of it – print the trends in the newspaper. Put crime in perspective – most people affected by crime aren’t random but the 24 hour news cycle puts any crime into a local perspective and keeping fear levels up. They need to report the real trends better and put everything in perspective.
Also have the team contact groups like the IDC and others of what are the important questions and issues. What should we ask? Do community groups and people have information that will be helpful. Partner more with readers.
Design the newsroom as a center of information, when and how you want it and how it suits you. The Newspaper does not want to marginalize any voice. Some people in the community thinks some people don’t deserve a voice at the table of discussion. We need to defend that right fiercely. “We are a diverse society and we need to start acting like it.”
Also want to do a better job of holding people accountable. Wants to reorganize how they do investigative journalism. Wants more information from the people: how many times have you seen in a story on a big issue “do you have information that will help us? Contact us.” Never. They want to know what’s happening and let people know they can contact the paper to help give the paper information about stories. They want to ask.
Acknowledges the need to admit mistakes and problems and failures. Wants to remain a part of the community and an essential part of the community.
Q&A:
- Re: the demise of print newspapers
Doesn’t think this will be the case. Newspapers need to provide information readers don’t already know. By the next morning people will already know the headline. Provide more information that is deeper. It’s a tall order. They are frankly throwing out things from the paper that people can already get elsewhere and there isn’t more they can provide.
- Re: more information available in newspaper vs. what’s on TV.
Now that stocks & bonds are gone from the newspaper, is there success doing it completely online?
On the website there is a way you can chart your own finances and it will report to you each day. They have lost very few readers since they stopped offering daily stocks. The vast majority of people have access to computers (acknowledges some people do not) and they have to pick and choose what makes it to the paper.As for TV vs. Newspaper info, Peterson came out with his plan for the Police Pension. His wife works in TV, and admitted “she can’t tell this story” because it’s too much information and too complex and can’t be covered in just a couple minutes. This is the type of story perfect for the newspaper.
- Re: Tully
Good columnists create debate. He doesn’t know his politics, left or right. He grew up in NW Indiana and even for some publications in Washington. He’s out of the office a lot and gets out there. He does work hard.
- Re: separation of advertising and editorial in the “Information Center”
reporters will not write advertising copy. That will be a separate unit. He has told his ad director he will take a good story from anyone and anyone can talk to him about anything. He’ll treat an advertiser the same as someone who spends no money on the paper. All papers lose money from advertisers not happy with a story. The publisher has been very supportive through thick and thin. If they are fair and do their jobs right, that is what needs to be done. Needs to maintain ethics and credibility standards that separate them from the “blogosphere, which doesn’t have standards.”
- If a reporter writes a story and they didn’t have the facts or got something wrong, does he call the reporter or call someone else to set the record straight?
Years ago there was a Marion County Democratic Platform Committee and they talked about taxing cigarettes for use in health care funds. Where do you go to find that old of a story? Latin phrase translated “what is written, remains.” But how do you dig it up?
After a certain year is archived electronically… (more information on this?)As for errors, be careful about errors, they track them. All errors they are made aware of goes through an electronic system. The person making the error has to fill out a form showing what the error is, what’s the correction, and who reported the error. The correction information is filed with the story in the archives. They will actually change the archived story so it is correct.
- Re: reputation of a lazy media in town, especially suburban papers. If he wants to put a story in one has a friend writes it as a story, sends it to the suburban paper and it will get printed. It’s also hard to talk to reporters directly and they shunt contact off to assignment editors.
As for contact of reporters, that’s not how it should be and if the questioner has examples of this he should let him know.
As for filed stories with community papers, that can happen where they “file” a story from people but show where it came from. Trying to do more of that [ed: I can see how this can create problems with credibility]. Editors do look at those things and if “someone smells a crook” they will check it out, but they want to develop relationships with people who will provide good information and also not pretend the information is theirs and cite who is providing this. Wants reporters spending time on explaining and reporting complex issues.
- Re: partering with readers
Safeguards to protect whistleblowers?
Some information we need to be good informed citizens is increasingly proprietary, how will the paper get the real figures if they are proprietary?
They will absolutely protect whistleblowers. Strong rules for anonymous sources as well. A wire story came through with an anonymous source that many outlets were running with. He asked: “is it logical and make sense”, “does it have a couple sources”. It was something out of Iraq. He will often not publish a story or wire story that has an anonymous source and isn’t trustworthy. They will absolutely protect anonymous sources. Always try to get more sources to cover it. But if someone gives them wrong information, all bets are off.As for access to information. “This nation is becoming one of the most secretive countries. This administration has made a habit of trying to classify documents that are widely available on the internet.” Democracy is not easy, it’s not a business it’s government. He’s not reluctant to use some of his publisher’s money to bust open a story that is important. Example: the library board. They asked for phone records, wanted to know how many minutes were being spent on PR firms, lawyers, etc. Fought back and forth, got some records with most things blacked out. Took them to court, they have a right to the information. This isn’t important for just newspapers, ANY citizen can get public information. Admits they don’t push enough on these things. They got a favorable ruling from the public access counselor. Need to continue to be vigilant. They are also pushing the Capitol Improvement Board for information such as architects, plans, etc.
Don’t just say on the editorial page that they can’t get the information, don’t just put calls for information from readers on editorial page, but put calls for information in the stories themselves.
- Frequently newspapers bend over backwards to cover both sides of an issue no matter how ridiculous one side is. Does Mr. Ryerson make an effort to really do an analysis when there simple is bogus information.
perfect example: debate about evolution. Some people want to posit a different theory. They want to present all sides, but they can also say the preponderance of science supports this [evolution] theory. They have to be careful though, one person’s truth is another person’s fiction. There could be an issue where someone disagrees not because the facts are wrong but because they don’t believe the facts are true. It is a dilemma. You want to be fair, but you need to search for the relevant true information and provide it.
- A strategy back through Reagan and before, the drumbeat of “the liberal media” to the point it has become a common accepted “fact”. Does he do any reporting on the direction of and the effect on the media by this.
Also saw they added Charles Krauthammer (“right wing” columnist) but there is a hole, no balance offset by a liberal/left columnist.
Some on the right, columnists, were dropped. He reviews the pages all the time and go back through trends and says they are even. He tries to maintain a balance by going back and checking.
- Most hotly contested local race was the Prosecutor’s race. Did he have a goal on coverage of that race, and rate himself on the coverage.
That was a very good race. Melina was a good candidate and smart, articulate person. The issue always is, can the challenger make a strong enough case for the incumbent not be re-elected. It’s tough, and he believes she just didn’t make quite a strong enough case to say that Brizzi should be ousted and at the end of the day that’s what it came down to.
The club seems to agree we would like to have him back. He welcomes criticisms, hold him accountable for the things he has said.
Club Business:
Minutes: Accepted as handed out
Treasurer’s Report: Deferred to next month
Swearing in of 2007 officers.
Dues are due. Contact Sheryl. The label on your reminder notecard in the mail will tell you when they are due.
We need more meeting sponsors, contact the club. You are recognized in the meeting and mentioned on the meeting reminder cards in the mail.
Guests, New Members, Candidates & Notables:
- New Member: Jim Perrant
- New Member: Anita Johnson joined last month. President Pike Township Legislative Board, President Pike Township Democratic Club
- Cornell Burgess, President Indianapolis Chapter NAACP
Announcements:
- Play, Marx In Soho, performed at the UIndy Community Theater at Wheerler Arts
February 3, 2007
7pm
1035 Sanders St, Indianapolis (near Fountain Square)
Admission is free, for information call 317-926-4318 - First Thursday of February, NAACP Membership meeting
6pm
Right here in the Julia Carson Govt. Center
Meeting adjourned at 9:11pm
Respectfully Submitted: Jason Borneman, IDC Secretary