Jackson Free Press

I just bumped into this entertainment feature that The Clarion-Ledger is doing—basically a Q&A interview with a local musician or band. Cool. But then you get to the bottom of the piece and realize just how far away from journalistic standards this Gannett rag is willing to go:

Jackson metro area bands and artists - send your answers to the five questions above to [e-mail missing], along with a high-resolution photo in jpeg format to be featured in a future edition of Local Live.

OK, not only does the Ledger commit the cardinal sin of doing e-mail interviews (which aren't real interviews, and are not allowed at the JFP), but they are calling for music interviews by asking musicians to e-mail in answers to the same questions, and they are issuing that call under their columns.

Can journalism get any lazier than this!?!

They really should provide their writers coffee. Maybe it would perk 'em up a little.

Previous Comments

ID

113747

Comment

This isn't just a problem with fluff pieces, by the way. Subjects of the Q&A interviews they do on Sundays with big newsmakers and public figures tell us the paper gives them a list of questions to answer and return as well. That's not an interview; it's a questionnaire, and I'm stunned that The Clarion-Ledger allows such a thing. I just can't imagine an editor allowing this to happen in their paper.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-13T11:27:55-06:00

ID

113748

Comment

First time I clicked on your blog. It definitely won't be the last. To be honest, I didn't think you and I would have too much in common, so I didn't figure your blog to interest me in no way whatsoever but I almost fell out the chair after reading this. The Ledge has gotten ridiculous. They definitely do not cover sports with any real journalism. They only employ "reporters." Too funny.

Author

dpsmith

Date

2007-08-16T19:53:36-06:00

ID

113749

Comment

Thanks, dpsmith. When a huge conglomerate monopolizes the media like the Ledger does (not to mention try do control distribution of local papers like ours), it is our responsibility to hold their feet to the fire on quality. And, for the record, the Society of Professional Journalists code of ethics calls for all journalists to hold media accountable and speak out about the misuse of the Fourth Estate. Even something seemingly as trivial as making sources do music interviews themselves denotes just how bad the media outlet is. This just should not be done by any company pretending to be media.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-17T09:30:50-06:00

ID

113750

Comment

Here's the edit-boyz' opening paragraph of their editorial today about Melton: Jacksonians are right to question why the city should hire a private law firm to represent Mayor Frank Melton and it when taxpayers already are paying for a city attorney and an entire city legal department. Translator, please?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-17T09:59:54-06:00

ID

113751

Comment

Jackson residents are wondering why hire an attorney to represent both the city and Mayor Frank Melton when taxpayers already pay for not only the city attorney but the entire city legal department as well. OK, I did my best. And, for the record, the Society of Professional Journalists code of ethics calls for all journalists to hold media accountable and speak out about the misuse of the Fourth Estate. The Fourth Estate? If so, how is the Ledge able to do as it please?

Author

dpsmith

Date

2007-08-17T15:51:19-06:00