There's only one thing worse than being talked about ...

Many people have heard the old saying that applies to people in newspapers, radio, television, blogs, etc ... "There's only one thing worse than being talked about - Not being talked about." So, I get a tremendous kick out of other media commenting on and referencing me or anyone else at the Missourinet.

Such is the case today with Fired Up! Missouri, which takes exception to a Missourinet Blog entry on the differences between the mainstream media and bloggers ("The differences between us and them.") Interestingly enough, most feedback from my entry has been positive, with readers telling me they thought I had accurately portrayed the political blogosphere as being made up of those on the right and on the left. And there was nothing in that entry that reflected negatively on Fired Up! Missouri - I even linked to the site.

My guess is that the anger stems from the fact that while my entry was not slanted in any way, I opined there are differences between the MSM and the blogosphere. And that apparently didn't sit well with Fired Up! Missouri - which, by the way, I read and enjoy daily. In fact, I enjoy reading a wide variety of political blogs every day.

That aside - as the recipient of criticism from the folks at Fired Up! Missouri - I am reminded of another difference between "us" and "them" which I failed to mention in my original entry. While Fired Up! Missouri uses my name and a photograph, the writer of the Fired Up! Missouri blog uses the pseudonym "Howard Beale" - the fictional character played by Peter Finch in the movie "Network."

Many folks at the State Capitol have offered their thoughts on who "Howard Beale" really is. Those who know, for sure, are remaining tight-lipped. The bottom line is that the MSM folks are proud of their contributions and stand behind them - whether it's somebody at the Missourinet, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Kansas City Star, or any other mainstream media operation. Such cannot be said of the folks at Fired Up! Missouri.

Hey, "Howard Beale" ... you know who I am ... who are you? (I hope you're not a state worker engaged in political activity on the taxpayers' dime). Care to give up the anonymity and step out from behind the curtain? Probably not!  And that, my friends, is yet another example of the differences between "us" and "them."

- Steve Walsh

Comments

[Darren]

"Beale" says you have a right-wing agenda and cites your moniker for a Robin Carnahan spokesperson ("Cloner") as evidence. Did you call the Dem spokesperson a "Cloner?"
I don't know if you have an agenda or not, as I don't read the KC paper. If you have an explanation for the namecalling, if that is what it is, I would like to know it.

[Steve Walsh]

Thanks for the comment Darren ... As a point of clarification, it was never my intention to label anyone at the Secretary of State's Office as a "cloner." During a busy day dealing with the "Anti-Cloning Initiative" we used the words "clone," "clones," "cloning," etc. for different pieces of audio. "Cloner" was a form of "clone" that had not been used and was available in our audio space. I spoke to Secretary Carnahan's former Chief of Staff, Mindy Mazur, about this ... apologized for any implication that might have resulted from the name attached to a sound bite ... and made a change at her request. She understood and was fine with it. Apparently we are dealing with some individuals who are "offended by proxy," and that is silly.

[Darren]

Sounds reasonable enough.
Thanks for the quick response.

[JW]

There's a couple of problems with your argument. First of all, the disclosure of your name and persona have everything to do with your job and value as a reporter. Secondly, it's your job - You get paid for it and have the resources to do reporting.
Bloggers often are posting in their spare time and are diclosing information that can upset a lot of emotion. We are not protected by our employer - in fact, our personal well-being can be threatened by the opinion we epouse.
That is the reason why journalists are allowed to protect their sources. Disclosure can be dangerous for the parties involved.

[Edward]

Not talking about "disclosure." The subject is owning your opinion with your legal name? Right?

Furthermore, it could be argued with great success that "moonlighting bloggers" are MORE protected from lunatics than their "professional" counterparts. Because, not only are professionals names listed (and information about them might be available in the phone book) their place of employment is also known. Thereby making them susceptible to work place shenanigans as well.

[Jason Bauer]

Steve,

You hit the nail on the head brother! These clowns are too scared to leave their real names because they know the people they pop off about would kick the crap out of them.

As to Beale's identity, I'm betting on Robin Carnahan's deputy communications director or this other weird looking kid in the Blue Book. Total Roy Temple Cowardly Goons.

Keep on telling it like it is!