Well, I'll say this for the gang at CNI's "Oak Creek-Franklin-Greendale-Hales Corners NOW" newspaper - - they appear to have a sense of humor. The very next week after they consciously mislabeled an aide for a Republican State Senator and conservative radio fill-in as simply a "Franklin resident" and "Community Voices blogger on FranklinNOW.com," they run another one of his blog entries, this time a rant that ends with the line, "Shhh! Don't tell anybody!" Very amusing.
And, to add ineptitude to injury, they change Mr. Fischer's bio line this week - - but don't add the required information!
That's not to mention the fact that this tired screed is labeled "Best of the Blogs." Nothing better than this simple tripe was posted on FranklinNOW.com the past seven days?
I guess we shouldn't hold our breath for a series of stories in the CNI NOW papers about, for instance, transparency in local government while they routinely conceal the true identity of their contributors.
An embarrassment. But don't let ethics stop you, legislative aides and other bought-and-paid-for partisans - - sign up at CNI NOW today so you can begin misrepresenting yourself with the full blessing of editors Mark Maley and Roger Bartel.
And, once again, let's give credit to Kevin Fischer for seeing and exploiting a lapse in journalistic ethics.
"Shhh! Don't tell anybody!" Indeed.
RELATED STORY: Journal Communications Sees Profit Plunge 59.5% (because advertisers shy away from media formats that make themselves irrelevant.)
Wow - that's pretty bad.
It's almost like the NOW is trying to prop him up, too.
What a shame.
Posted by: Greg Kowalski | February 14, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Pretty bad news. Shameless, actually.
Posted by: John Michlig | February 14, 2008 at 10:26 AM
I am guessing that if and when they put Greg's blog about the nature trails on the "Best of the Blogs" they will not mention his commissionership to the Conservation Commission.
Shameless!
Posted by: Bryan Maersch | February 14, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Bryan, you make a perfectly good point - and the point I've been trying to make all along. This type of disclosure is not limited to partisan government employees; it also goes for persons like Greg should he comment on issues that impact the Environmental Commission.
Unfortunately, there appears to be a wink-and-a-smile understanding between Fischer and NOW that conceals his true agenda and, ultimately, robs the NOW paper of its objectivity and relevance.
Posted by: John Michlig | February 14, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Bryan,
I would be perfectly comfortable with the NOW publishing my role as Commissioner if they post a blog entry of mine that has to do with environmental matters.
Posted by: Greg Kowalski | February 14, 2008 at 12:25 PM
John
Has NOW or the HUB ever been relevant. The one writer that they have is irrelevant most of the time. Most of the FranklinNOW bloggers have all ready written about the issues.
It took Janet Evans to publish interviews with the School Board candidates that actually had any meat to them.
Have you ever read a HUB or NOW printed page and said "Aha now that is investigation journalism"?
You talk about the wink-and-a-smile understanding with Fischer. That is how all their writing is dealing with Franklin politicians. No there is no relevance to what they write it's plain vanilla tripe.
After all this time. Does it surprise you?
They don't even have something as simple as the Semester 1 honor roll published for Franklin High School.
Posted by: Bryan Maersch | February 14, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Keep in mind as well that the editor-in-chief, Roger Bartel, can decide WHAT gets printed and what details to leave in or take out.
REMEMBER THAT: It will be relevant in a posting I make in the very near future.
Relevant or not, the paper gets into houses and has the power to influence public opinion. And with power comes responsibility, as Spider-Man taught us.
Posted by: John Michlig | February 14, 2008 at 12:30 PM