The content of locally created media web sites has always been regulated in one form or another, however between sometime in the most recent past and now, OMI, in conjunction with the Fairy Blog Mother and “cablenut” formed what the OMI Anti-Media Activities Committee (AMAC)- (known colloquially as A-Mack).
In spite of the OMI web site’s stated goal, namely “News, commentary and rank gossip for the Oregon media community,” the purveyors of this so-called Open Community have turned tail on their professed belief system and have now begun employing active censorship of their membership. It is a sad day, but then, sad days are lately upon us.
How do I know this to be true? In the course of the past 24 hours, this auteur has submitted a small number of anonymous comments to postings of interest. The web site apparatchiks make it clear that anonymous posts will be necessarily cleared prior to the actual posting, so as to avoid legal entanglements. This is perhaps a sound idea as we live in a highly litigious society and who wants to pay attorneys? Consequently, this author understands the need for examination prior to publication.
That said, this writer posted what could only be seen as a harmless comment to the blog by Art Vandalay. His comment was concerned with how Portland Television news was so wrapped up in it’s typical self-congratulatory behavior over their self-diagnosed “excellence-in-broadcasting” coverage of the Gearhart plane crash that they failed to cover the deaths of many Fire Service personnel in Southern Oregon. Mind you, my post was a simple affirmation of what the original Blog author had offered. I avoided my usual level of piercing insight and sharp wit and simply agreed with the blog’s perspective. Remember if you dare, the underlying postulate guiding the OMI web site philosophy: “News, commentary and rank gossip for the Oregon media community.” I didn’t make this up.
My posting was made the morning of Thursday, August 07, 2008. It is now Friday, August 08, 2008 and still there is no evidence of my brief but scathing agreement with Mr. Vandalay.
One might conclude that there were “technical difficulties.” One could surmise that my brilliant nod to Vandalay’s thinking was never received. One could place blame on the site hosting service. The possibilities for blame are nearly endless. In a court of law, my case is not demonstrably provable beyond a reasonable doubt. But, my friends, “Modest doubt is called the beacon of the wise.” My hat is off once again to Mr. Shakespeare for that thought.
My modest doubt and laser beam insight has led me to consider one other possibility. As has been noted by several of my OMI detractors, (mostly ill-informed mooncalves) my opinions are rarely appreciated for their spot-on accuracy. That many would choose to ignore their better interests is perfectly okay by me. OMI readers can certainly make the choice to ignore my contributions but they would be wise to heed the words of Benjamin Franklin who said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
I understand that those practicing the television arts, mostly not very well, have no wish to see their fatal flaws uncovered, their blemishes exposed, their shortcomings so precisely delineated on a daily basis. Dirty laundry and all that. That is why I chose to avail myself of the OMI site – because OMI made open and public claim to be a home for commentary, news and gossip.
All I have proffered on these pages is exactly that; commentary on what I view as the glaring shortcomings of what was once a proud and somewhat dignified profession. That few contemporary practitioners of the broadcast News endeavor agree with me is their absolute right. Interestingly enough, I have seen little that could be defined as a vigorous defense of the television News industry by those on the inside, but that is an issue for future examination by this steeled writer. You can expect more along these lines if the leadership of OMI remain true to their professed mission and continue to allow unfettered access to their pages. Time will tell.
Blah Blah Blah
Yawn.
The act is old.