The whole point of free speech is not to make ideas exempt from criticism but to expose them to it.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Mason used electronic billboard...

Today's Rapid City Journal carried this "Journal Staff" editorial comment on part of Jordan Mason's successful campaign bid for a City Council seat:

THE BAD? Some people might consider Ward 4-elect alderman Jordan Mason to be a fine-looking young man, but plastering his mug across an electronic billboard last week on election day was a sign of poor judgment. Mason soon will be participating in Rapid City Council decisions about regulation of billboard companies. In a city where many people would like to see them banned entirely, using them as a campaign tool undermines his credibility as an objective decision maker.

No. Using them as a campaign tool dilutes the ad money available to the Rapid City Journal. He won. His ads on electronic billboards vindicate his decision to use electronic billboards.

WTF? This is what the Journal considers the worst thing to have happened during this cycle of its generally absurd "Good/Bad/Ugly" commentary? Phhhhh......!

7 comments:

Thad Wasson said...

Future editorals by the Rapid City Journal....

Mr. Mason has granted an interview to Tim Giago, the publisher of several Native American newspapers in South Dakota, including a circulation in Rapid City. We consider this to be a rather blatant attempt to give a voice to the lowest among us and an obvious ploy to receive campaign money from the wealthy Natives.....

Jordan Mason is appearing in the newest issue of The Quick Quarter. The only purpose is to sway the voting block that is constantly looking for a good deal, or has nothing else to read. Will Mr. Mason ever come to his senses?.....

Mr. Mason made a motion to allow online blogs the chance to carry minutes from the council meetings. This man must be stopped! That is sacred local paper revenue!....

DDC said...

I think you hit the nail on the head with the ad dollar comment.

Using their "logic", City Councilmen shouldn't be able to own property (they might have to make decisions on code enforcement), shop at WalMart (many people would like WalMarts banned!) or drive on Rapid City Streets (might have to make decisions about speed limits or repairs!).

I guess that's a good thing if the most controversial thing to happen during an election is someone advertising on an electronic billboard.

Thad Wasson said...

Future editorials by the Journal....

Mr. Mason is appearing in The Quick Quarter, an obvious ploy to win the voting block that is always looking for a good deal and have nothing better to read....

Jordan Mason granted an interview to Tim Giago. This is an attempt to sway the Native Voice and a grab at the Wealthy Natives and all the cash they contribute to elected officials...

Mr. Mason made a motion to allow online blogs the chance to post minutes from the council meetings. This man must be censured! This is sacred Journal revenue!....

caheidelberger said...

Agreed, DDC. Candidates advertise in all sorts of ways and then make regulations that impact those media. By RCJ's logic, should candidates make no rules on yard signs, either?

Bill Fleming said...

The RCJ missed the story on this one. Jordan's ads were perhaps a smart buy, considering the declining (and aging) readership of the RCJ.

But the "Thank You" ad with the "Censored" stamp on it that Sam Kooiker ran in last Saturday's RCJ was the campaign piece most worthy of comment. I'm surprised no one's picked up on it.

I emailed a snap of it to Mike. Maybe he'll put it up.

Masta-Foo said...

If Jordan did not actually order and pay for those signs, well, that might be embarassing,,,for the RCJ, maybe they could "plaster an apology" on all those billboards

Michael Sanborn said...

The editorial had a sour grapes ring to it. On the whole, however, I think the Journal's new editorial page editor is doing a pretty good job.

People should also remember that the editorials are a product of the Journal's editorial board. And, the publisher of that paper came up through the advertising department and has little or no experience with the news department.

Obviously, I wasn't sitting in the meeting where the decision to run this editorial was made. But, waaaaaay back when, I did sit in those meetings, and I can tell you that everybody has a vote, but only the publisher's vote counts. And I can tell you from personal experience with this particular publisher, that news and fairness will ALWAYS play second fiddle to revenue.