Published October 13, 2009 07:31 pm - Way back during ancient times, I'm talking about a long time ago — in fact — I'm talking about 1993 or so, a local guy named David Bucci and myself helped set up a system by which people could read Star Beacon summaries online.
A week’s worth of positive newspaper A ROBERT LEBZELTER column
Star Beacon
Way back during ancient times, I'm talking about a long time ago — in fact — I'm talking about 1993 or so, a local guy named David Bucci and myself helped set up a system by which people could read Star Beacon summaries online.
There was an Internet back then, but unless you were one of the few with advanced software and an unlimited long-distance telephone budget, you didn't have it.
But there was a system of local computer enthusiasts who set up computer bulletin boards that people could log into, maybe one, two or three at a time, to get local information, play games, exchange messages or e-mail.
Bucci hosted one of these boards, called Happy Hacker. Among the extras he offered was Star Beacon headlines.
Of course, about 1995 the Internet became available to all and Dave moved his board onto the Internet. Recently, a discussion started there about the weak points of the Star Beacon. Some comments I might agree with. Others I didn't think were fair.
The Beacon is out there in the community. It is an easy mark for criticism. One familiar comment that was made is the newspaper ignores positive news to emphasize the negative.
Well, in a way news gathering automatically is drawn to the negative, because that's where the news is. It's what is out of the ordinary.
For instance, if the county had no economic problems, we wouldn't be running finance stories all of the time. There is no news value.
It is the bus full of students driving down the highway that crashed and people are killed that makes the news, not the bus that successfully gets to its destination.
I decided to spend a bit of time each day and record the positive news the newspaper published each day during the week of Oct. 4. Nobody in the office knew I was doing it so there was no attempt to artificially build up the positive. So here are my entries for that week:
SUNDAY
Corn Hole, a game played with bean bags, becomes a popular sport in the area.
GaREAT sports complex and Geneva Recreation Department collaborate and it proves to be a slam dunk.
Ashtabula Senior Center plans an October of fun.
A Conneaut sailor, Charles Giganti, a hull technician, receives a Surface Warfare Badge.
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