Journalism vs. Propaganda

Proganda Partner

July 18, 2006

The following was an editorial written May 30, 2001 in response to a Lancaster New Era editorial attack on me. The occassion was the fall out from the chairman of the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority (LCCCA) throwing a pie at me. (You really should read that story by clicking here!) Please notice that there is a reference to the newspaper owning 1/3 of the project. That was before Charlie Smithgall explained to me that the newspaper and Bank owned less than High!

Who will be the first of the project supporters to show REAL leadership and announce that's it's time to pull the plug? Meanwhile, the LCCCA has begun to dig the foundations for a project that they told the judge they can't do without his ruling! Who will stop the madness?

Ron Harper Jr.
Editor and Publisher

The editorial page is a newspaper's moral bully-pulpit. It's a place where the heart and mind converge to set forth ideals with the intent of persuasion and reform. A precious commodity, editors openly reveal what motivates their actions in deciding what stories should be written and what angle a story should take when describing an event. Editorials written by the paper are not signed for good reason. The nameless, written, motivational compositions are to convey a unified message from the entire newspaper staff that says, "We have thought about this event or this subject and this is what we collectively think about it!" That is not to say that all the members of the paper agree with the conclusions printed on an Editorial page, but it's often a majority - in any case it almost always represents the Editor's thoughts on a particular subject.

On Tuesday, May 15, Lancaster New Era's editorial discussed 5thEstate.com's editor, Ron Harper, Jr., in the context of the convention center and Jim Pickard's recent pie-throwing at an authority meeting. While it soundly condemned Pickard's actions, the editorial said, in part, the following about Harper's role in Pickard's temper tantrum:

"It was a classic act of provocation, of the politics of the negative. It succeeded in distracting public attention from the Convention Center. It masked the fact that opponents, like Harper, have no positive plans for restoring the economic vitality of Lancaster - only sophomoric antics to mock those who do want to revive our beloved city. "

This statement would lead the reader to believe that the convention center idea was born out of some grand discussion on how "to revive our beloved city". To the contrary, no such discussion has taken place in any governmental/public meeting! While the convention center idea was introduced using the buzz words of "revitalization", "economic growth" and "job creation", the public never had input on the best way to use their tax dollars for such goals. The public is to just accept that the convention center was and is the only solution. More than that, we are to open our wallets to pay for it. The fact remains, that the convention center project was pushed through from the very start with grand, idealist rhetoric that left the public no choice but to accept the project.

Vilification - that's how convention center supporters have treated anyone who has dared to question the validity of the idea. The New Era continues that vilification by saying that Harper has, "no positive plans for restoring the economic vitality of Lancaster". Really? And just how would the New Era have a clue about what are Harper's ideas on economic vitality? Lancaster New Era reporters make a regular, childish habit of not returning Harper's greetings.

Watchdog - that is 5thEstate.com's role in this controversy in Lancaster County, not propping up a bad idea. The New Era has pretended that 5thEstate.com does not exist. While this 'zine has arguably done more than any one thing to change politics in Lancaster County over the last 15 months, the New Era mentioned us ONE time. Anyone reading both the Intell and the New Era would conclude that something is wrong with the latter.

There is no better example than the "pie throwing" convention center authority meeting. While Lancaster New Era reporter, Bernard Harris, was at the meeting, he did not write ONE WORD about the event! A chairman of a county-wide authority throws a pie during a meeting and the reporter doesn't write ONE WORD? Only in the Lancaster New Era could such blatant disregard for the public's right-to-know occur. Do the reporters and editors of the Lancaster New Era have ANY journalistic beliefs and motivation? Do they have any idea what their responsibility to the public should be?

The editorial derides Harper's "sophomoric" action. Yet, have they ever contemplated why Harper might resort to using sight gags - giving a pie, giving a golden plunger - to make a point? How else could anyone get a divergent opinion/thought in the Lancaster New Era? If one of their reporters can see a pie thrown at a public meeting and then NOT write about the event, nor talk to the person, whom they now describe in an editorial as a "political agitator", exactly, how does one get a view contrary to the editors into the paper? Furthermore, how can they write an editorial about a subject that they DID NOT write about themselves!?!?

5thEstate.com has pounded the Lancaster New Era for being the "establishment paper". It looks like there might be even deeper problems than that going on at the paper. Their editorial, while not condoning Pickard's childish and immature reaction to Harper's humorous presentation of a "humble" pie, makes a kind of "Harper made me do it" argument. But consider this: if the newspaper is determined to manipulate the public, how can they handle the FACT that the leader of their pet project makes a total fool of himself in front of a couple of dozen people, three reporters, and two cameras? Answer? First ignore the story and then, when the public finds out through more reliable sources, you vilify your critics!

The other daily paper, the Intelligencer Journal, gave the story a deserved, front-page headline. A public servant throwing a pie in a public meeting - that IS big news. Lancaster New Era's blatant omission of the story, which was then followed by a biased, twisted editorial (on a story they didn't cover!) shows that they cannot be trusted. They have no credibility left.

5thEstate.com readers know this fact already, but we have to say it again: Lancaster Newspapers, Inc (LNP) is 1/3 partner in the private hotel that will benefit the MOST from any "economic vitality" that the taxpayer-funded convention center will bring to Lancaster City. The New Era Editorial is so blatantly hypocritical and self-serving that there is no excuse for their conduct. Their deteriorating subscription base is more evidence that they do not have one journalistic instinct left. Only LNP's old money will keep this shallow and poorly-produced, establishment-organ going.

If reporters want to know what "positive plans" Harper has for Lancaster City - they should begin by TALKING TO HIM. Harper attended Lancaster's Washington, Mifflin and Buchanan elementary schools. Additionally, he went to Reynolds Junior High and graduated from Lancaster J.P. McCaskey High School. Harper said, "I love my native Lancaster City. If civic leaders want my opinion on how to improve the city, let's have that conversation. It's counterproductive to jam the convention center project down people's throats and then attack anyone that doesn't agree with it."

So why would a newspaper purposely ignore a story? If you are getting the Lancaster New Era for hard news - forget that notion. Here is what the Pollyanna-shill-editor, Ernie Schreiber, said his newspaper's role is, "We are focusing on positive stories, on useful stories. We're writing more about the accomplishments of local people and less about misdeeds. We're writing about solutions, not problems,". Problems and not solutions? Besides, you can't write about solutions if you haven't reported/written about the problems. People can buy the Grit if they want that rose-colored viewpoint on life. Click to go to Grit

If you are getting one daily newspaper, cancel the Lancaster New Era and order the Intell. Ernie Schreiber has been recently appointed as Lancaster New Era's editor - don't look for a change anytime soon.

As ALWAYS thanks for reading 5thEstate.com - where we're "Changing the way news is delivered..."