Herald News Online v. Print

I usually read the online edition of the Herald News, however, today I read both the print edition and the online edition. I was concerned to find the online and print versions of an article differed. The print edition of the article about the Bob Correia's forum last night completely cut off the last two paragraphs that follow:

"Stefani Koorey, involved in the city’s art and history scenes, jumped at a chance to ask what Correia meant earlier in the forum when he said he let managers run their departments because he was not qualified to. 'What are you qualified for?' she asked.

The mayor said he doesn’t know how to run a police or fire department but that he can do his own job well. 'I never said I wasn’t qualified to run this city'.”

Online Version Of The Article HERE

Paper Version (click to enlarge)

Did the Herald run out of space in the paper? Or, are they purposely excluding material from the print version of the paper? I'm a little concerned that there are 2 different versions of the newspaper.

I don't know whether it is the New Jersey license plates contrasting with the super important Fall River Mayor's license plate, which is proudly displayed in the back window (click to enlarge), OR whether it is the rental car parked in the Mayor's space, there is just something about the shot that I like.


While we are on the subject.....I have heard differing reports of how many people were at Mayor Correia's Portuguese Cultural Center (huge venue) campaign fundraiser on Thursday. The numbers have varied widely between 35-50 people. What I DO know is that he was scheduled to be at a student event the next morning and didn't bother to show up (maybe he was afraid of getting booed).

I can understand why the Herald News would do an article on proms. I can understand why the Herald News would do an article on how 'tough economic times' affect prom business; but why the heck would the Herald News think that the daughter of Ken and Carole Fiola, both of whom make lots and lots of money, is an appropriate representative kids weathering 'tough economic times.' "despite the lousy economy, Fiola’s not giving up her one shot at splurging for the junior prom." My thoughts:

shamrockblogga 11 hours ago
Using Lauren Fiola as the poster child for a prom goer splurging, despite the tough economic times, is just distasteful and a slap in the face. Luckily for her, her family is not feeling the effects of tough economic times, but rather, her family is partly responsible for tough economic times.

A $300 dress is a month's worth of food for many in Fall River. A $30 tanning package is a month of electricity for others. But her family can afford this, this is not a case of someone going all out despite the economy. I am sure there were plenty of kids in $50 dresses paid for by parents who worked an extra shift to buy it...and THAT is going all out in tough economic times. NOT a kid who's bmw suv driving mother spent pocket change on a dress made out of zebra and pasties."

This is not a reflection on the kid, I am sure she is a great (and I "reported abuse" for the nasty comment on the HN - but they haven't taken it down), she just isn't the appropriate figure to represent tough economic times. There are plenty of kids who didn't get to go to their prom because they didn't have any money.

Has anyone else noticed the garbage smell over the past two weeks?

The Herald News Makes God Sad --Bernie Sullivan

Bernie Sullivan's weekly "editorials" (listen below) on WSAR just keep getting more foolish. His target this week was the Herald News, the police, Herald News commenters, and things that make God sad (ie the Herald News).

I think perhaps the most egregious lines in his verbal diarrhea were about the police:

"It is not the Mayor who is the problem. Where was the tight bond of brotherhood and sisterhood we hear so much about, when the call came to agree to wage adjustments that would save the jobs of many. They talk of taking a bullet for each other, but I guess that love affair doesn't extend to a pay adjustment"

In my opinion, the Herald News has done a 180. They are reporting in depth, on a variety of news stories, and it no longer pains me to read it. I think the comment section of the online paper is a great outlet for residents to share their thoughts and collaborate with ideas.

Bernie claims that the Herald News has the secret agenda of selling ads to make money...no shit (sorry mom) - that is how they stay in business, dumbass (again).

Is it easier to trust a newspaper whose agenda is selling ads and papers or the local radio station whose owners are trying to promote their political agenda, get their candidates elected, and keep an option to purchase on prime real estate in Fall River?

I'll take the newspaper hocking 'headache medication' any day, Bernie.
_________________________________________________________

Dear Herald News:

Thank you for today's edition. It is fantastic.

Vote Tampering

Is this a sign of what is to come in the 2009 Fall River elections -

The Herald News offered a poll today on their website "Mayor's first year." I voted at noon, and along with most (73 other people), I indicated Correia was "Failing." At that time about 7% of the approximately 90 voters thought he was was doing an "Outstanding" job. I was a little surprised that there were about 6 people left that thought he was doing an outstanding job but realized they were probably relatives.

Around 3:00 I went back to check the results and noticed a large spike in "Outstanding" votes. Soon after this the Herald News posted a message that, "This poll was reset at approximately 3:30 p.m., because of multiple votes from individual IP addresses. The ability to vote multiple times from a single IP address has now been disabled."

Sad? Desperate? Both?

Pot Calling the Kettle Black

I am still enjoying the irony of WSAR's biased editorial today by Bernie Sullivan accusing the Herald News of being biased. In what I considered a malicious attack on the Herald News and its editor, Bernie Sullivan accuses the Herald News editor of malicious attacks on Mayor Correia.

I kept a straight face while listening until I got to the part where Bernie proposes an imaginary scenario where Correia runs into a burning building to save a baby and still gets criticized by the Herald. The scenario was especially amusing because, as my buddy over at FRC pointed out:
1) Bob would send his assistant into the building, obviously and
2) the building is probably burning due to Bob's incompetence

Bernie stated that, "all the editor of the newspaper focuses on, through a basis of inaccurate facts and assumptions, is style and process rather than the substance of actions needed to address the critical problems facing the city." This is wrong in numerous ways. I welcome Bernie to correct me on this; but from what I have read, the Herald News hasn't been basing their articles/editorials on Correia's actions on innacurate facts. In fact, unless there is any truth behind that quote from Bernie, it seems downright libelous.

In response to Bernie's criticism of the Herald News' focus on "style and process rather than the substance" of Correia's actions....despite what Bernie and Correia think, we are a democracy rooted in procedure and not simply unilateral action by mayors. I commend the Herald News on their attention to the process, or more accurately, the lack thereof.

It is ridiculous to place blame on the Herald News for not reporting "good stuff" about Correia when there is no news in that arena to report. Correia is merely reaping what he has sowed. I welcome comments from anyone who can enumerate good things that Correia has done....seriously because I can't think of any.

The Fall River Herald "News"

I have long held the belief that the Fall River Herald News is being put to best use when lining the cage of a puppy. I hesitate to kick them when they are down (Gatehouse media stock went from a $19.00 per share 52 week high to .99 cents as of the time of this post) but they are doing a disservice to their readers and it needs to be addressed.

Wednesday's Herald News reported in a lengthy and detailed article that the Tuesday night city council meeting held a wind turbine project presentation. I understand that there are deadlines but if the reporter had not left the meeting at 9:00 (2 1/2 hours before it ended) he would have noted that, although the issue was on the agenda, the presentation never occurred. After a commenter on the Herald News website called them out for reporting a story that never happened, they updated the article on their website. The update didn't do much good for the people that actually pay for the hard copy of the paper.

Now we have today's errant Herald News report that Governor Patrick signed the Home Rule petition based solely on Bob Correia's word.

Commenter "Adv" in the Herald News comment section online, said it best (i would offer a link to it but it isn't very flattering to the Herald and they will certainly flex their censorship muscle and remove it from their site):

"Good job, The Herald News. Way to source your information. Did you even bother calling the Governor's office for confirmation, or did you just take it from the collective horses' mouths (e.g. Menard & Correia)?

Just one more example that this paper is a joke when it comes to real journalism. Usually one could expect a sentence, 'as confirmed by a representative of the Governor,' or in this case above, maybe an asterix...'due to our collective laziness, The Herald News could not have been bothered to verify the alleged facts stated in this article. In fact, our heads are so far up Mayor Correia & Senator Menard's butts, that we're not even sure when it's daytime.'

I believe that this paper gets its journalistic ideals from the film Tommy Boy: 'You can take a good look at a T-bone by sticking your head up a bull's ass, but wouldn't you rather take the butcher's word for it?'

Yes we would, says the Herald News. Why dig?..."