Bill Speer

Okay, now that I have your attention, let me assure you that everything you read here is my opinion and there is absolutely nothing fake or made up about it.

Every so often I want to step up onto my soapbox and rant and rave about people’s misguided perceptions about newspapering. I hear it from people in the coffee shop. I hear it from people at church. I hear it from casual acquaintances, and I hear it from people I consider close friends.

I usually bite my lips, smile, and refrain from getting into a discussion. Most people have their minds made up and nothing you are going to share will sway them.

But then comes a week like this one, where if one more person comments about my former profession, well it results in a column like this one.

What brought me to this point was a recent study published in November by the News Literacy Project, a group whose goal is to teach students the difference between accurate and professional news reporting versus fake news stories.

While I applaud the group’s efforts, I am troubled that their existence is even needed. Thirty years ago there never would have been a question about a news story’s accuracy. Not so today.

In that report I just referenced, 747 teens from around the U.S. were surveyed. Of that group, 84 percent used a negative adjective to describe the news media. When I graduated from college it was lawyers who were the least thought of regarding a profession. Not so anymore.

It bothers me immensely when I see statistics such as that. As evidenced by that number, there is a lot of education left to do to ensure the American public most reporting is accurate and professional.

Notice I said “most” reporting. For as much as I hate to admit it, there are problems. I believe three main elements are to blame for the current state of public perception and journalism.

First, the public needs to understand there is a huge difference between national media, such as The New York Times as opposed to local media, such as The Alpena News. National media types today seem more inclined to spin news in a particular direction than just report it straight up. Local journalists are your neighbors and acquaintances. You see them at the store, your kids play together on the playground. They are going to be accurate in their reporting because they know if they aren’t, they are going to have to look you in the eye day after day.

Back in October of 1984 President Ronald Reagan came to Columbus and held a rally, where he addressed the economy.

I was there reporting that appearance for newspapers in Wheeling, W.Va., I was working for at the time. What struck me that day was the callous and disinterested (and even rude) attitudes of the national media versus the local reporting press corps.

As local reporters strained to hear and ask questions of the president, the national media laughed and joked in the background. They had access to Reagan on Air Force 1 earlier, and their stories had been filed away hours ago. They could care less about the people who came to hear the president, or the local press crews trying hard to hear and document what the President was saying.

Second, fault lies with our current President Donald who has impacted the journalism industry. He has made “fake news” a house-hold word that unfortunately, everyone of his supporters embraces. In fact, the phrase almost seems weaponized and used in insulting ways against journalists.

Trust me, truth and accuracy still are the foundation of LOCAL journalism reporting. It always has been, is today, and will always be that way tomorrow.

The only thing fake about fake news is the term itself.

Finally, and I believe the most damaging, is the advent of social media and the fact that anyone who carries a cell phone believes they can become an instant commentator.

And, the truth is, some can. There have been some outstanding reports from people who are first upon a scene from time-to-time.

But most people don’t do that. They don’t fact check their information. They listen to innuendo and gossip and pass it off as facts. They speculate on causes for what just happened without seeking an official source.

They hide behind anonymous posts as they libel one person after another. They ruin people’s reputations by reporting here say instead of the truth. Rarely do they put their name to their work.

I’ve gone on way too long. As you can tell, this study has hit a nerve with me.

I believe because you are reading this today that you care about the local newspaper, and I appreciate your support.

It’s my hope to help educate the others out there who think we are puppet masters pulling strings.

I chose journalism because I wanted to make a difference for my community by reporting its history.

I believe I helped toward that end.

And, if given the choice all over, I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.

Bill Speer is a former editor and publisher of The Alpena News. He can be reached at bspeer@thealpenanews.com.