Word on the Street column ignored Tuesday elections
The Peoria Journal Star was never known for it’s sparkling political coverage. That the paper doesn’t cover national politics is a given. Readers with a hankering for inside dope about state politics are advised to pick up a copy of the Chicago Tribune or Sun-Times, or read a site like Capitol Fax.
The only consistent local political reporting except for breaking news is found in Word on the Street, which runs every Monday.
And today, the day before a primary election, that is the one and only subject matter in Word on the Street. A whole bunch of stuff about Sarah Palin’s April 17 speech in Washington, IL. Like it couldn’t have waited for a week. Or two, assuming next weel’s Word on the Street is actually about the results of the election.
But with the Journal Star, you just never know.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
diana
writes billy dennis is a dumb bell
Billy,
I'd can't believe you don't already know this, but the Journal Star has had a longstanding policy NOT to write election stories the day before the election — any election. Most newspapers have this policy, as a matter of fact.
The policy is to avoid last-minute gamesmanship by candidates, which include slinging unfounded accusations that cannot be defended in enough time for the public to digest before voting. Of course, the rule can be bent or broken for true breaking election news.
As someone who has been on both sides of this issue, I tend to agree with the policy. I personally know of politicians who hold back last-minute dirt (generally unfounded dirt) and then sling it for late publication or broadcast, knowing full well that it will be in the voters' minds as they cast their ballots. A certain last-minute, and patently false, abortion accusation in a radio ad during the 2008 Congressional race comes to mind …
That said, isn't there an election round-up on the front page? Or did you NOT read the paper?
They'll probably work on their pre-election coverage today and have it ready to publish by next Monday. Ha ha.
Billy,
I'd can't believe you don't already know this, but the Journal Star has had a longstanding policy NOT to write election stories the day before the election — any election. Most newspapers have this policy, as a matter of fact.
The policy is to avoid last-minute gamesmanship by candidates, which include slinging unfounded accusations that cannot be defended in enough time for the public to digest before voting. Of course, the rule can be bent or broken for true breaking election news.
As someone who has been on both sides of this issue, I tend to agree with the policy. I personally know of politicians who hold back last-minute dirt (generally unfounded dirt) and then sling it for late publication or broadcast, knowing full well that it will be in the voters' minds as they cast their ballots. A certain last-minute, and patently false, abortion accusation in a radio ad during the 2008 Congressional race comes to mind …
That said, isn't there an election round-up on the front page? Or did you NOT read the paper?
Terry, The lead story on the front page of the PRINT edition of today's PJStar is about Beyonce "making Grammy history". This is obviously SOOO much more important to Peoria readers than about who might become our next governor and senator.
Also, perhaps the PJStar has not had "election stories" the day before/of an election in the past, but this was NOT the case less than a year ago. On April 6-7 there was an article which specifically mentioned that the day's ballot included the "Build the Block referendum". I remember because I made several calls and sent emails to have them remove that wording and replace it with "public facilities sales tax referendum".
The Journal Star didn't mind putting a sticker advertisement for a local candidate on the front page of my paper today.
Front page has a story about how officials expect low voter turnout (that's news?). Editorial page has the editorial board chastising the public for questioning their endorsements.
Sigh. Anne, we had this argument a year ago. It was an advertisement. NOT a story.
Also, I didn't say the polical story was the LEAD story on the front page. I mean, you have read the other 10,000 election stories that have run over the past seveeral months, right? No need to make it the top story, as though the fact that there is an election is somehow news to anyone not living in a cave.
I stand by what I said earlier.
Sigh. Terry, there was an advertisement, but there was also an article the day of the election. Here's the link to the (updated) article: http://www.pjstar.com/breaking/x549597063/Voters-... It was originally entitled "Voters shouldn't see a wait at the polls" And, if you look at the first two comments (Cj's, then mine) you'll see what I'm talking about.
Terry, regardless of what the priorities of the rest of the paper may be, the WOTS column is strictly a political column. So the notion that it would ignore the biggest political event yet this year is pretty pathetic. And by virtue of the comments in this post I think you can also see part of the reason for the continued decline of journalism. What a journalist considers to be newsworthy is often in disagreement with what the reading public wants to see as is evident in this discussion.
CJ – Actually they have just completed their post-election coverage.