Now I'm angry. Now I'm really angry. (What I'm hearing in my head is the sound of an ineffectual comic anger, so don't take the anger too seriously.)
Some posts ago (like here) I wrote a very minor post on the LNR and the policy of requiring everyone who makes money to buy advertising before getting anything published. I questioned the policy, and mentioned that I thought it made more enemies than friends.
Now I'm angry.
I wrote, and Bethany's publications person sent, a press release on "A Christmas Carol," our new production for the Christmas season. There are lots of important things to say about the production, not the least of which is that this is the largest cast we've had on the stage in many moons. I've got folks from McPherson calling for reservations. We're bringing business to town and enhancing the theatre program at Bethany.
So what's the LNR's response - you have to buy an ad because you're selling tickets. Not only that - if we just meet the technical requirements that LNR has set - say by buying a classified ad - we get a minor two line announcement in News Briefs.
In order to get the LNR to publish what we wrote for them (i.e., what they didn't bother to report on), we have to buy a display ad. The smallest display ad is $64.
This is extortion! It is legal, I suppose, but it is a clear violation of journalistic ethics. The more you pay, the more coverage you get, and John Marshall doesn't have to actually hire anyone to report the news, it's all done for him by people to pay to play.
Good Grief! This is shoddy on so many levels.
Dan Carr took umbrage at an earlier post in which I pointed out the advantages of online reporting versus what the LNR does. I hope he reads this and writes a defense of a policy that can't be defended.
A Christmas Carol, by the way, is December 7 & 8, 7:30 pm, in the Burnett Center.
The young man at the top of this post plays Jacob Marley. It's going to be an unusual production. The Lindsborg Youth Choir will perform between the staves. Ya'll come.
For more details call the Bethany Theatre Hotline - 227-3311, ext. 7910.
3 comments:
Question: is the performance sold out, or expected to be sold out?
Not sold out, but wouldn't it be nice! Tickets at the door. We'll get everyone in!
I so agree with you. I have talked with quite a few others about this just in conversation. I have yet to talk to anyone who thinks what the LNR is doing is honourable. It is a shame. A newspaper prints the news. Period. And in a small town we should all support each other for the good of the town. How stupid not to. Just a sad commentary on what is going on.
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