Bad Journalism + Biased Editor = The Gray News

Sunday, July 16, 2006

"No news is good news!"

Overview of how the Gray News is not a real newspaper

According to Wikipedia, "General-interest newspapers are usually journals of current news. Those can include political events, features, crime, business, culture, sports, and opinions (either editorials, columns, or political cartoons).

The Press Herald did an article in 2000 about the Gray News's ethical failings. One sentence from the article says: "This 3,500-circulation weekly largely ignores news about crime and unseemly behavior. Bad news gets around town without the paper's help, said Miriam Bisbee, the Gray News' 77-year-old correspondent from the First Congregational Church." Miriam is 82 now and still on the Board of directors.

So, no crime in the Gray News. Fine. What else should be in The Gray News but isn't? Wikipedia:

political events, (yes but only if they are Democrats)
features (no)
crime, (no)
business, (no)
culture, (no)
sports, (no)
opinions:
--editorials, (yes, LOTS!!)
--columns, (yes, LOTS!)
--political cartoons (no. They're too "vicious")
weather news and forecasts (no)
photographs to illustrate stories; (no)
editorial cartoonists, (no)
comic strips (no)
and other entertainment:
--crosswords (no)
--horoscopes. (no)

Tally: According to the online encyclopedia, The Gray News should have 16 separate items in it in order to call it a newspaper. The Gray News actually has: 3.

Maybe they think to make up for the lack of news it can substitute opinion and no one will notice.

What DID the Gray News have in it this week?

Early night for Council, (a short non-news article)
First Congregational, (a church article by crime-busting Miriam Bisbee)
Good Shepherd, (another church article)
Journey for Sight, (a thank you note)
Karate Camp, (promotion about karate)
Park the Ark, (dunno, too bored to read it)
St. Gregory, (another church article)
Two Council meetings, (a repeat of a notice about an upcoming meeting)
Underage Drinking, (don't do it)

No news is good news!
To left, a fossilized Gray News reader

posted by Gray Maine at 8:50 AM

29 Comments:

  • I like this entry. I thought the Gray News was a bit thin this week too.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:03 PM  

  • Not only Thin...Boring!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:39 PM  

  • It may have been thin and boring, but I'll take that instead of thick and drama/hate-filled. At least this week's issue wasn't so full of hate it made me want to move.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:53 PM  

  • Yes, I agree, I will take bland over temper tantrum editorials and colicited hateful commentaries any time.

    By Blogger Gray Maine, at 5:23 AM  

  • Back around the time the PPH wrote the article about the GN a few locals were objecting that SAD15 was leasing a building to the GN ... and for $10.00 a year. Bill Nemitz, a columnist for the PPH went to the GN to interview Ray Clark. A few days later Nemitz's column appeared and it was sympathetic to the GN. Not long after that the SAD15 BOD voted not to renew the GN lease and Ray Cluck moved the GN to a former chicken house in New Gloucester.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:43 AM  

  • At least anonymous 10:53PM has sense enough that GN was thin and boring! However, the bias of its editors should be all the reason they need to move! Bias reporting is hateful.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:37 PM  

  • Anonymous 12:43, thanks for the reminder. It would be good to let readers know the Nemitz column was an opinion piece. His opinion was based on a news article published front page B section. It is damning to have respected and authoritative industry folks saying the Gray News is unethical when they are saying so in a news article written by a top reporter.

    I think at that time his wife had Gray ties, too, so he was predisposed to being sympathetic.

    By the way, I happen to know that Ray Clark was so upset at that article that for years after he harassed the Press Herald, calling, e-mailing, attending editorial meetings, demanding they retract it. They finally had to tell him to stop. Then they had to insist that he stop.

    By Blogger Gray Maine, at 5:47 PM  

  • If you retrieved the Nemitz column I think you would find interesting material.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:13 AM  

  • It is not interesting to me. I am not about to pay for downloading tripe. But some people liked it. The Gray News used it to justify its bad doings, forgetting it is an opinion column, and that it mostly aimed at making fun of the most vocal of GN detractors, Cal Cutter. There was nothing substantial in it saying that yes, it is OK to participate in the news you cover, or yes, it is OK to accept freebies from the Board that you cover. It simply did what the other blogs do and the GN does: attack the citizens raising the questions.

    By Blogger Gray Maine, at 3:41 AM  

  • **The process of attacking citizens that raise questions seems to be right up your alley- Ms Biasbuster

    And, yes, I do sign my comments... :-)
    You, of all people, should know by now that cowardice does not run in my family

    **Now watch as the fools rush in**

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:27 PM  

  • Where or how did I do attack anybody, Ms Mancini? Can you offer an example? There's courage in offering an example in which you stand by, and from which the recipient has a chance to learn.

    You are making an assumption by using 'Ms.' And I am glad for you that cowardice does not run in your family. Though I do not believe science has confirmed that that particular quality is genetically passed from generation to generation.

    By Blogger Gray Maine, at 8:48 PM  

  • My friends told me to see what you were writing about me... they are sickened by your actions--
    I must agree
    ---------------------------
    You say that there is courage in offering you an example-- I say there is stupidity in offering you anything at all--

    Why would anyone offer you an example for you to devour and spew back up like Carrie on the Exorcist?? You are so vile!

    Coming here on this blog and commenting to you makes me feel bad enough...kind of dirty...stooping to your level of disgracefulness

    Gray will be a better place when you discontinue this bitter revengeful display of hate against me and my friends

    P.S. I know who you are and this is not your best use of time-- you have fallen to such a low spot in your life, haven't you?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:52 AM  

  • I think YOU protest too much, Debbie Mancini! Could it be that biasbuster has struck a nerve??

    P.S. Don't you have a Real Estate Business to run?? I dare say that your best use of time is certainly questionable!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:31 AM  

  • Debbie, You're only mentioned once in the posts, and that is a reference to the new blog. I am sorry you find that sickening.

    By Blogger Gray Maine, at 12:01 PM  

  • I'd like it if Mrs. Mancini just left Gray.

    I could refer to her as a "witch", and say that her business is a "pile of dung", and refer to her and her friends as blinded, evil sheep. But that would be stopping to her level of disgracefulness, now wouldn't it, Mrs. Mancini?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:18 PM  

  • I'm not going anywhere--

    Sorry you feel like blaming me for all of your dirty little comments.. I am not responsible for the anonymous comments you place here or on any other blog...

    Just because I sign my comments, you think it is o.k. to target me
    That is just plain silly...

    Grow up..

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:24 AM  

  • If you are in the public, you are looked at, and your actions become fodder for discussion, opinion, and talk. It is the way of the world. Debbie, you chose to participate in Gray's first political recall, actively campaigning in a negative political process. That decision means that you operate under heightened scrutiny. You made harsh and unflattering statements about local people, you bear the fallout for that. It also means that there is increased responsibility attached to your actions and statements. It is THAT which makes you a target- your choices. I think you are having a hared time dealing with the reality that people judge you on your actions and you are coming up short.

    By Blogger Gray Maine, at 8:14 AM  

  • "Sorry you feel like blaming me for all of your dirty little comments.. I am not responsible for the anonymous comments you place here or on any other blog..."

    My comments are not "dirty". The "dirty" things I said in comment 7:18 are just quotes from comments YOU'VE posted.

    Grow up.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:27 AM  

  • Okaaaaay... Let me end this tit-ta-tat right now--nip it in the bud--
    [ I have a closing to go to]
    So, this will be short and sweet!

    Plain and simple- when I make a comment- a stand for what I believe is RIGHT- or give my opinion--
    A handful of people feel it necessary to try and tear me down

    ie:{I'd like it if Mrs. Mancini just left Gray.}
    OR
    The comments made about my business "tanking" etc etc...

    We got a chuckle out of that one--

    Please make no mistake by thinking that I take your innuendos to heart... I do not...

    The only people in whom their opinions matter to me are the people that are brave enough to sign their name to their comments or talk to me directly about what really matters to them—They are the true voice of this town…

    We do care about Gray and our neighbors...
    Nothing you say here on this blog will change the truth of how we feel...
    That you CAN take to the bank

    P.S. If you really want to know the full truth.. just ask me.. I am available to answer your questions... try it-- you may be pleasantly surprised

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:21 PM  

  • Ok, answer this: Are not the "dirty" comments I posted quotes from comments you've left on blogs?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:29 PM  

  • I'm really sorry...I have no idea what you are talking about.

    By Blogger Gray Maine, at 4:48 AM  

  • I was speaking to Mrs. Mancini. Sorry about the confusion, Biasbuster.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:28 AM  

  • Still no answer yet, Mrs. Mancini?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:11 PM  

  • Where did you go, Debbie? I thought I could ask you a question?

    Oh geez, don't pull a Nathan on me...

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:28 PM  

  • Maybe she is busy. or forgot this thread is still active. you can always e-mail her directly. Her e-mail is debmancini@hotmail.com

    By Blogger Gray Maine, at 4:36 PM  

  • Maybe if you signed your name, she would answer your questions

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:53 AM  

  • "P.S. If you really want to know the full truth.. just ask me.. I am available to answer your questions... try it-- you may be pleasantly surprised"

    She never said I had to post my name, and the fact that I'm anonymous didn't stop her from answering me before. Is she scared now to answer my question, because she knows it's true?

    She's doing what Nathan did to me. WHen I asked him a question that pointed out flatly that he was a liar, or that John Welch was, he never answered me. Figures that Mrs. Mancini would follow in his footsteps.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:58 AM  

  • 8:27 AM Debbie Shaw Mancini 7/l8/06 said... "The Process of Attacking Citizens that raise questions seems to be right up your alley-Ms Biasbuster". She also stated...You, of all people, should know that cowardice does not run in my family.
    What is She Thinking??? She and her Cohorts Thrive on verbal attacks towards Anyone who is not aligned to their way of thinking!!
    As far as cowardice in her family...I, personally, think it is 'running rampant'!! She lacks the courage to be Honest with Herself; and will never be at Peace as long as she is in Denial. It's a fact..You can't Change What You Don't Acknowledge. It's time SHE got a handle on her own life instead of continually attempting to undermine someone elses! She must have some better and more productive things to do with her time???

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:35 AM  

  • It is apparent to most people that she does attack and verbally assault...but can't see her own hypocrisy or anger. Was it Robert Burns who wrote: "O to see oursel's as othrs see us...it would blunder free us"

    By Blogger Gray Maine, at 9:39 AM  

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