Ole Pappy

This past week, an article circulated in an area newspaper and again caused a huge uproar in Minneota.

I got involved because I was quoted in the story, but then I made the mistake of trying to correct the facts on the newspaper’s website. While many supported my comments, some did not.

Let me clarify.

The story started out being a reflection on the excitement in the community about the football team playing in the state championship.

The writer quoted me heavily — and I must say accurately.

However, she used far too many quotes from me simply because, (as I believe), she couldn’t find other people to comment.

When she did find two other gentlemen, they used the platform to:

1. Tell the public Minneota pays too much money to send teams to state (the figures were inaccurate and misleading).

2. Bashed the Minneota Mascot by saying we don’t print Honor Roll anymore and print too much sports. Neither is true, of-course, and we spent a great deal of time and money printing a LOT of news of the community, as well as sports.

Anyway, the questions become: 1. Why print the opinions of these two fellows when their comments were not what you asked for or wanted for the article? The answers took this story in a whole different direction.

2. Why print opinion that has a good chance of being incorrect when by checking the facts, you could have printed the proper amounts?

3. Why would the writer let someone bash the community newspaper when they knew they were not correct?

4. Why wasn’t good, sound journalism practice put into use in this case? Someone told me I haven’t always been correct in everything I’ve printed in the newspaper. I believe that is true — but I always make an attempt to check out the facts, find the truth and make sure its accurate before I print it. I’ve heard a lot of rumors and ideas for potential stories while at coffee break in Minneota.

But I NEVER print those as facts. I try and contact someone who has the details and who can give me as accurate the facts as possible.

For instance, when someone gets hurt in the community, I hear about it at coffee. But I check with the police, fire department or whoever was involved before I print it.

Journalism is not an exact science. It takes hard work, a nose for the news and a dogged determination to get it right! Sadly today, we have a social media network that works well for many people because they can get information fast.

If that’s all you want — hey, that’s great! But don’t expect social media to be of journalistic excellence — because it IS NOT. What it is, is GOSSIP.

What makes me sad is that we are losing good solid journalism. The general public is satisfied to go with the gossip — while the truth, or the facts, are of little relevance.

As long as we still have a medium such as a newspaper, and journalists who try hard to get the facts and present the truth, America will be in much better shape.

When true journalism disappears, we will lose one of American’s greatest sources of information — and of the truth.

LAUGH A LITTLE: Women and Sports

The reason women don’t play football is that 11 of them would never wear the same outfit in public. And ... I recently stumbled upon my favorite new sports team. It’s a woman’s bowling squad called: I Can’t Believe It’s Not Gutter.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: As my Ole Pappy used to say, “If you want to be successful, get out of your own way.” I didn’t know what he was talking about then. But I’ve figured out that I can be my own worst enemy. If I’d back up and think it through again, before I act, I may not get in MY OWN WAY. Thanks Ole Pappy!