Thursday, May 31, 2007
Interesting Links
Today's posting begins with links related to journalism, but if that subject does not interest you, I would encourage you to skip to the end where there are some very Lakewood-centric links that ought to inspire lively discussion.
Working in PR, you often hear people complain about how they are treated in the media. Sometimes it is justified, and sometimes it is wishful thinking. There's a fascinating take on this in a recent radio segment - the transcript of which is here - about a guy who will only be quoted via email. I don't agree with that at all, but it reminds me of the important ideas discussed in the book The Vanishing Newspaper. (My regular readers, both of you, will recall that I've said no one can understand the media these days unless they have read this book). Among other things, the author says readers are increasingly showing impatience with papers because readers are increasingly aware that owners are providing for profits, not quality journalism. Readers, who for many decades were inclined to extend goodwill toward the media, are increasingly impatient with poor reporting because newspaper owners have been giving them increasingly understaffed newsrooms for all those decades.
So perhaps this latest idea is yet another symptom of how the public is turning on papers. There is further discussion about the quoting subject on the gentleman's own blog.
One newspaper story that reminds us of the 'good old days' of newspapers was the thorough treatment of safety issues at Western State Hospital by The News Tribune this past weekend. In general, newspapers look to mark someone as a clear good guy, or a clear bad guy. This series of stories was far more subtle, and far more in-depth than the usual investigative journalism. This was a great report.
Western State is a major employer in Lakewood, and a huge part of our community's history. So we should all support efforts to make it a safer place for both staff and patients. The paper has an interesting followup on its blog, suggesting that some of the criminally insane may be diverted from Lakewood to Seattle under a new program. It turns out that people involved in the courts system in King County would like to see evaluations done closer to home, where transportation does not cause a delay. This seems like a good deal for Lakewood and Western State, unless I am missing something.
Speaking of trying to pin someone as a bad guy - if you are still interested in the media at this point, you might check out this column from the soon-to-be-downsized San Francisco Chronicle. This writer seems to pin an awful lot of blame on Google. But his overall concerns seem chillingly real.
And finally, here are some links very pertinent to Lakewood. One of our citizens, Malcolm Russell, has built a series of Web pages about issues of interest. It seems to me that whether you agree with it all or not, his Web approach helps people think about and visualize an issue before it all comes to a head on a Monday night ... or worse yet, never gets addressed at all. The wording and opinions are his:
LAKE ACCESS
http://www.re-developmentgroup.com/lakewood/lakeaccess/
Summary: This proposal seeks to promote lake access for all Lakewood citizens and especially the many residents of homes bordering the southeast side of Lake Steilacoom. The proposed public access point is located on at the western terminus of 100th Street SW
(Walter's note - in case you are wondering what is going on with this topic, the city's parks and recreation advisory board is planning a series of neighborhood meeting to talk about lake access)
MEADOW ROAD
http://www.re-developmentgroup.com/lakewood/meadowroad/
Summary: This proposal seeks to change the lane pattern at the intersections of Meadow & DeKoven. The proposal seeks to add green space, beautify the area and improve safety both for vehicles, pedestrians and neighborhood's children.
CHEVRON
http://www.re-developmentgroup.com/lakewood/chevron/
Summary: Chevron owns a corner at Gravelly Lake and Alfaretta Street. The area is highly visible from Gravelly Lake Drive. It's a bit of an eyesore. Yes it's private property, but surely there is something that can be done, suggested, or inspired in order to help motivate an improvement of the conditions at this location. Got Any Ideas? How about a new office building or business?
