The Joplin globe is my local newspaper, or maybe I should say," a local newspaper", because my newspaper would acknowledge me and consider me, not ignore me. After three members of the Joplin Freethinkers contacted The Joplin globe four times, and the event's guest author's PR guy sent a press release, we were assured our event would be publicized. Day after day, we seen our event go unnoticed. Even the free-for-all event calendar was "postponed"until it was little use.
The event? a well known author Dr. Darrell Ray came to the Joplin Library to give a presentation on his new book, "The God Virus". Many freethinkers came to the presentation and a few Christians also came. Everyone enjoyed themselves, and we all left feeling more aware and better educated about a lot of interesting things.
Having read the book, I can say it is a fascinating read that perfectly compliments Richard Dawkins, "The God Delusion", by metaphorically assigning a virus that spreads the delusion Dawkins refers to.
So, I ask, "Why did our event get left out?" Is it because it wasn't real news? Maybe there was just so much real great news that week, that our news couldn't fit?
Well, The horoscopes were in there. There were also plenty lengthy articles about what other local groups were doing.
Did the Joplin Globe sweep our event under the rug because they didn't agree with our views? If so, then how much of our local news is hidden from us? We are led to believe that the Joplin Globe covers current events, but I don't think so. I think the Joplin Globe masquerades as a newspaper to push their right-wing agenda. Too bad for Joplin. We sit home, read the paper, and feel outnumbered. Maybe us liberals are a majority, and all those conservatives happen to work for the Joplin Globe.
We all want to thank the Joplin Library for allowing us to meet there. We also want to thank the individuals that advertised on with flyer's, emails, business cards, phone calls, etc... too bad the Joplin Globe newspaper is not as efficient at delivering local news as these individuals were.
Labels: Darrel Ray, god virus, Joplin Freethinkers, Joplin Globe
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comments:
Randy,
I disagree with your assessment of the Globe. What you say was once true, but the paper has become much more balanced than in the past. On some days the editorial page is left of center, on other days it is not.
While I don't subscribe to all of its editorial positions, an objective observer would have to concede that it has begun to embrace positions that once were unthinkable.
Carol Stark invited me of all people to write several guest columns, as well as start a blog for the Globe, and I am anything but a right-winger.
As for the event involving Darrel Ray, I wish I had known about it, and I don't know why the Globe handled it the way it did. But I would have written about it and would have loved to have attended.
Finally, as an example to support my claim that the Globe has evolved, please read this entry on its website:
http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/blogs/dgraham/index.php?entry=entry090522-125632
R. Duane Graham
Post a Comment