Jackson Free Press

If you read the JFP's account of the Mayor Melton's "open" meeting with department heads this week (page 6), and then you read the Clarion-Ledger's online account posted Monday, you would have thought our reporters were at two different meetings.

What's the difference? Reporting.

Much of the press "meeting" focused on the mayor's current obsession with demolitions on Farish Street. Melton told Public Works Director Thelman Boyd and Charles Melvin (who was recently denied confirmation to the post of director of Parks and Recreation by the City Council) to drop what they were doing in order to knock down buildings in less than a week.

But during the meeting, Melton clearly demonstrated a lack of knowledge about historical preservation laws, the feasibility of local contractors "lending" heavy equipment to the city and how he could deal with the $1 million extra the demolitions would require of a city budget already deep in deficits.

Then, he accused the A-1 Pallets business on Farish Street of criminal activity and vowed to demolish the business.

But that's "just Frank," right? Why take it out on The Clarion-Ledger?

Because this is how writer Arnold Lindsey summed up that meeting in his online story posted that day: "Melton said the properties he wants destroyed will cost the city about $2 million, which he intends to whittle down by using as many city laborers as possible."

No mention of the accusations against business owners, no reporting to determine whether the majority of Melton's suggestions were even feasible—not a single direct quote of what the mayor said. And no follow-up story at all in the next day's print edition.

In other words, anyone who reads only what The Clarion-Ledger had to report about this "open" meeting is, literally, uninformed.

Thomas Jefferson once said, "The only security of all is in a free press." The Clarion-Ledger too often takes this responsibility for granted.

Right now is a critical time in Jackson's history, when we need local media to take an unflinching look at the mayor's actions and call him to account when necessary.

If The Clarion-Ledger's monopoly hold on the Metro means it's unmotivated—for whatever reason—to tell the whole truth in their reporting, then maybe it's time that we, as citizens of Jackson and consumers of news, demand better.

Previous Comments

ID

74921

Comment

I think that the Hampton's, the Agnew's, and the rest that have worked in Jackson so long that they are all party to petty feuds between folks in town. Over the years they have developed grudges, and fall prey to the "squabbles" between people that you hear about Sunday at church. Who here in town doesn't know someone who just can't stand such-and-such or whomever? Therefore, if they don't like A-I Pallet's owners for example, they will choose to ignore the law, the truth, and right journalism to see that 'their' own grudges get settled. Or if they have been dying for some new entertainment downtown and new businesses, they will ignore the whole Gene Phillips stuff because they are being told by friends that no one has pockets as deep as his that is willing to invest in Jackson. Yes, there are others. You just have to look harder. Atlanta, Austin, and Nashville weren't built in a day. But, now they build $209 million projects like it was a days work. Chump change in bigger cities. Where is that story? Come on. Don't sell your soul just because some fat-cats act as if they are willing to throw a bit of lettuce around. They should be better then that!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-05-16T15:46:03-06:00