Newspaper reporting,or the lack there of

[Bob Wells]

Here I am attempting to find out about the South Walton Fire District budget and I had to look in the Defuniak Herald/ Beach Breeze. I find that there is an issue of where our government entities post the budget information. I read both the Herald and Beach Breeze and the Walton Sun for information. Unfortunately the Sun has lacked both content and substance for a while. I can't recall seeing very much about the budgets of any government entity. Come on SUN see if you can print some coverage, instead of burying news of this area on the back pages. This used to be a pretty fair paper. Tell us the positions of ALL Candidates, or is the relationship more important. I will give another month of reading the SUN and see if there are improvements, but lacking that, I will use it to wrap mullet. I guess I will have to start reading the Destin Log for information.

 

[scooterbug44]

I believe that the Defuniak Herald/Beach Breeze is the 'official' paper and so that is why legal notices etc. are posted there.

I gave up on reading them all, as Sowal gets me the info much faster, complete w/ feedback and dissenting opinions. Local reporters will even post their articles on here.

 

[Bob Wells]

Actually, according to the story in the DH/ BB it seems the notices were placed in the Destin Log. It just happened that a reporter from the DH was there and reported on the meeting, and there was no mention of the DH/BB

 

[beachmouse]

The Sun's got the same ownership as a number of other local papers (Freedom Communications) and it seems like every couple of months, the area papers in that group cut back more and more on unique truly local stories in favor of just running the same vaguely regional story in 4-5 newspapers Freedom owns.

I'm in Okaloosa County. I honestly don't care about a murder in Panama City Beach in anything other than a 'always sad to hear about something like that' vague sort of way. And those are the stories that are showing up more and more on the front page of the Daily News.

Similarly, it seems like California-based Freedom is lumping more and more Destin Log and Walton Sun content together. (and didn't someone say a while back that they were consolidating business fuctions as well?)

Support the truly local papers left in the area like the DFS Herald/Beach Breeze and the Bay Beacon, if only because the writing and local content is so much better than the Freedom stuff.

 

[AAbsolute]

Here I am attempting to find out about the South Walton Fire District budget and I had to look in the Defuniak Herald/ Beach Breeze. I find that there is an issue of where our government entities post the budget information. I read both the Herald and Beach Breeze and the Walton Sun for information. Unfortunately the Sun has lacked both content and substance for a while. I can't recall seeing very much about the budgets of any government entity. Come on SUN see if you can print some coverage, instead of burying news of this area on the back pages. This used to be a pretty fair paper. Tell us the positions of ALL Candidates, or is the relationship more important. I will give another month of reading the SUN and see if there are improvements, but lacking that, I will use it to wrap mullet. I guess I will have to start reading the Destin Log for information.

If you want a story written in the Walton Sun you just need to pay for advertising on a regular basis. They'll bend over backwards to print stories for you. If you disagree you can reach out to me.

 

[DuneLaker]

On the other hand, regional stories serve a good purpose. Some of the same political crooks that try to manipulate the system in Bay County, also try to mess with Walton County and Okaloosa politics. With seperate reporting venues, you might never connect the dots to the larger picture. Furthermore, some Okaloosa or Escambia County political dons operate with abandon throughout Northwest Florida. Only by seeing the entire regional picture, can you sometimes get a drift of what is truly going on. The editorial leadership is experienced in many cases. For the most part, I feel they are genuine in their attempts to cover news. Except for a few very experienced reporters, they have new staff that needs to be developed. Often, the reporters assigned to this area are new and are pitted against seasoned lawyers and lobbyists working for their vested interests. Tough job for a new reporter.

 

[sunspotbaby]

Sharing stories between the papers cuts costs and yes, jobs. I predict the Walton Sun will not have an office in Walton county by next year. This has been discussed before but I couldn't find the thread. At least you get a paper. :roll:

 

[Interested Girl]

Would you please tell us who the "political crroks" you are talking about in Bay County?

Who are they in Walton County ?

Please be specific.

You seem very certain about who "they are"".

 

[Bob Wells]

IG
I am interested also, maybe I can get whoever THEY are to fund my future political foray.

 

[Interested Girl]

The article that appeared in the DH/BB concerning the SWFD budget hearing is the most factually inaccurate news accout I have read recently.

The sad part is that it will be believed by may if not all.

Shared it with my accountant that is doing th budget analysis and he about die laughing.

He should have it ready for posting in the next few days.