Can't help it...

...but come on -- Kennedy died in 1953? Don't think so, USA Today:

It's going to be awhile...

Yes, it's going to be awhile before I get totally comfortable about is blogging thing -- my topic is definitely going to be the news media -- but I know I can't just spend my days bitching about spelling and grammatical errors I see online and in print. Bear with  me while I aspire to write about more meaty topics.

My local paper, the Jackson Citizen Patriot, had an interesting story this week. Their police reporter was arrested and charged with domestic violence after an incident with his girlfriend. He was charged with a misdemeanor and pleaded not guilty.

I am fairly certain the paper ran the story to head off criticism about ignoring the arrest of one of their own. I applaud that -- the situation is an unfortunate one and the Cit Pat is not showing any favoritism. It will be interesting to see what future coverage, if any, ensues.

I can't help it - it makes me sick....

...to see stupid spelling errors in news stories. Are there copy editors in newsrooms anymore? How about reporters who read their stories before they submit? Oh wait, the guy who wrote this is an editor -- you didn't read/edit your own story?

And...is this really news?

Sorry to pick on you, NBC, but it's your website that I read for news.

Don't call it local news anymore...

I was recently in my hometown of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and looked at the Sunday edition of its newspaper, the Oshkosh Northwestern. Not only am I familiar with the paper because I grew up reading it, it was my first full-time reporting job out of college. I learned a lot from my editors there. Back then it was privately owned. Now it's a Gannett paper. I'm quite familiar with Gannett -- I've been a staffer at three of their newspapers in my career.

What struck me going through that paper -- and it didn't take long -- was the fact there was so little local news. I think I counted three local stories in the front section, with wire copy making up the rest.

Though very disappointed, I was not surprised. The same holds true for many newspapers across the nation. I now live in Michigan and subscribe to the Jackson Citizen Patriot. Though I am a subscriber, I only physically receive the paper at my home three days a week -- Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. They figure I can read it online all the other days.

Like my hometown rag, this paper runs more wire copy than local copy. They also re-run stories that are in the Monday, Wednesday and Friday papers on the "delivery" days in case you didn't buy it at the newsstand (What? I"m a subscriber! I shouldn't have to get it at a newsstand!). At least the Northwestern delivers seven days a week to subscribers.

What I don't get? Research shows locals still look to their local papers for local and community news. The National Newspaper Association's annual survey of local subscribers shows that 83 percent of readers rely on newspapers for local news and information and 75 percent read all or most of the paper. Yet, dailies are cutting staff and the amount of local news they run.

Of those readers with internet access, 49 percent said they never read the paper online. Local newspapers - are you listening?

Many people have said it...

...but right now Paula Deen is being punished for it.

The N Word is not good at all -- but should this screw up from years ago dominate our news media?

No.

Am I surprised it has?

No.

Hey, News Media! Wanna move on to a new story? How about Alec Baldwin? He went postal on his Twitter feed. Oh wait - that was a big story. But did he lose his job?

Martha Stewart was in prison! Uh...that was big news also.

I guess the question I have is why is this news? There are too many other issues in this country and in the world to continue to focus on stupid things that come out of celebrity mouths. Yes, celebrities and their lives are good copy, but the more you publicize it, the more people will read/watch it.

How about this experiment? Forget celebrity news and concentrate on stories about our economy, education, our do-nothing Congress and other topics that we all have a vested interest in.