NorthCoastOregon.com

Opinion

Gonzo Journalism

It was in 1970 when Hunter S. Thompson coined the phrase “Gonzo Journalism.” It is best described as storytelling that mixes factual events into a fictional tale. It also describes a situation when a reporter becomes a part of the story they are reporting.
Recently the readers of the Daily Astorian had a chance to witness Gonzo Journalism in action. Rather than being content to report the news objectively as it developed, this news organization placed its well oiled promotional machine in gear in an attempt to influence the outcome of measure 4-123. Claims were made that the editor selectively excluded letters with views that countered the measure from being published. The paper directly refused to print a damning advertisement from the Charter Integrity group; claiming the facts in the ad were in question, while documentation for the claims in the ad were submitted to the paper.
Through out the campaign the Daily Astorian ran editorials in favor of the measure and ran positive articles and photos above the fold on what seemed to be a daily basis. With this imbalance I decided to start referring to the paper under a new name, “The Daily Marquis.”
Though this measure was defeated, the problem of Gonzo Journalism still stands. Proponents of LNG are claiming that the bias of the Astorian on this issue is again rearing its head reporting opinion as fact. Bradwood Landing, (Northern Star) took out a full page ad to counter claims made by the Daily Astorian. Shamefully, they had to pay the Daily Astorian to rebut claims the Daily Astorian made.
There is discontent among readers who just want the local news without bias or flavoring from the publisher.
As with all problem situations, opportunities arise. Tryan Hartill had been publishing his blog, North Coast Oregon for nearly two years. NCO welcomed article submissions from locals, which makes it a unique news and opinion cooperative. Enough people told Tryan it was time and that he should take his well respected web site to the next level. Fortunately, Tryan took the reigns and invested some of his money into a site upgrade, found advertisers willing to fund the effort. He sought and got commitments from local writers for reporting and opinion pieces.
Statistics show that news paper circulation is in decline. More and more people are getting their news from the Internet. Web News makes more sense since one doesn’t depend upon a lot of infrastructure such as presses, vending machines, delivery trucks, vast rolls of paper and ink. The news is there when you want it, and it doesn’t sit in a box out by the curb getting wet. Trees do not need to be cut down to bring you the news and recycling is totally unnecessary.
In the near future North Coast Oregon Internet readership may surpass that of the Daily Astorian. Internet Publishers need to give their readers what they want, which is good, fair and unbiased coverage of local events and issues. In the end integrity and objectivity will win out.
As a reader of the former NCO and as an opinion contributor to this new publication, I hope that everything continues to come together for the success of the Publisher, and his new news organization. Clatsop County deserves the best, and this is the best chance we have at reporting the news honestly without back room deals and politics.

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