To: Naomi Guidry
Jennings Daily News
From: Joe Semmes
Anonymous sources have blown the whistle on countless scandals, and have been instrumental in bringing down a presidency, some time ago. Journalists, have gone to jail to protect the identity of their sources, and have become martyrs in the same newsrooms that demand the identity of every letter to the editor writer be made public. Even when it is not intentional that the identity of a source remains private, journalist frequently refer to “political analyst”, “sources close to .... “, observers or many “experts”. Every day, news agencies refer to these invisible sources, seldom revealing their identity or any information on their background. Every day we are asked to accept as valid the information and idea’s of people we cannot identify. They are anonymous to us, and the newspapers & news agencies report it.
We often read articles in the newspaper on the op/ed page stories or comments from someone that remains unidentified. The article appears on the far upper left side of your op/ed page. Who wrote it, is never provided. This is the hypocrisy of news agencies. Anonymity is a valuable commodity for news agencies and is rarely awarded to the common man. “Freedom of the press, belongs to those who have one” rings true, however the internet and put the “free press” into the hands of average people. To them Free Speech has limits, except when it’s them exercising it. They operate under a broader definition of free speech/free press!
When a society is starved for information and when it knows that there is something being covered up by the newspapers or news media, it opens the door to public speculation. Speculation is simply a thought process. Mouthing Off is simply a conduit by which this speculation flows through. It is a group of people discussing a number of topics. People do not need to begin their sentences with "I believe" or "I think" so the simpletons will know that it's opinion. Everyone should know that already. When they registered they agreed to it.
The true beauty of free speech is that it protects unpopular thought, but in most cases only against retaliation from the government. It does not protect us against retaliation from our neighbors, schools, customers, and crank callers and in some cases, employers and coworkers. Why should you be subjected to such fears simply because you want to express an opinion or idea or even ask for clarification on an important topic. There is another important right involved when you want to express yourself, and that is your right to privacy. This country was founded on the idea that you are entitled to vote your opinion. That is what a vote is. It is a vote of opinion. You are entitled to do so without fear or coercion from anyone. If we can vote in a local or national election without announcing our voting opinion publicly then why can’t we do the same thing on a local topic of concern?
I do not believe that anonymous postings on a discussion forum such as “Mouthing Off”, are even remotely the same as a letter to the editor. It is a matter of consumer choice that we come here and post our opinions, ideas or ask for clarification on some rumor that is floating around already. This discussion forum does not generate anything new or cutting edge. It simply a forum that allows people to discuss, what is already out there.
With a letter to the editor, we put our stamp of authenticity on it, by signing it. If that is what you want then by all means, a letter to the editor is a place for you. I have done it a few times myself.
By the very nature of an anonymous discussion forum, a different set of consumer choices are made. It is a different set of expectations about credibility. People who register with anonymous names and post, are not anything more than an anonymous opinion, that you can take for what you think it’s worth. Is the content of “Mouthing Off” taken with skepticism? Absolutely! In fact each person who registers knows what he or she is entering into. You yourself agreed to it.
Some would like you to believe that people are not smart enough to understand anonymous forums and the content that is posted. They want you to believe what they print in the newspapers is the most credible information based on their anonymous sources.
When people post anonymously and claim to have inside information, people call them down on it. You don’t have to wait for the next edition. It is instant! Your opinion, rumor, viewpoint or idea can be challenged immediately, by those who want to scrutinize it. This article is susceptible to the same scrutiny.
I value the freedom to decide for myself what I deem to be credible or true. I want to be free to endorse ideas or concepts such as free speech, freedom of press, or right to privacy without necessarily divulging my identity. I want to be free to do this without aggravation to those around me such as my family. If I were to publicly attack, using my name, the inner workings of the school system, police or other entity, I can expect my children to be treated like little bastards and I can look over my shoulder to see a cop giving me a ticket for spitting on the sidewalk. This is the part that is really sad about people. They cannot separate the job they do from themselves as a individual.
I find it totally amazing, and entertaining, that the same people who attack those for posting anonymously, are they themselves, registered with an anonymous name. Don’t presume that because you use a name like “jdnewsgirl” that everyone knows who you are. They don’t!
Everyone registers and posts articles anonymously for the same reasons. They too, do not want recourse against them. One of the things I recognized here for a very long time is that anytime someone decides to post a rumor, is that someone quickly responds by negating it. “Mouthing off”, as been around off and on for a very long time even though you may have just found it. In fact it was the first such discussion group in southwest Louisiana. I have seen many things that were posted that were nothing more than rumors. Those comments identified by some as nothing more than rumors were discussed and those mentioned were vindicated. The rumor died, or it became lost in excess conversation and nobody wanted to discuss it anymore. “Mouthing Off’, was not intended for mudslinging or trashing peoples reputation. It was intended for debate about problems of our times. However, it does not go in the direction that I had intended it but I will stay the course.
Your newspaper does not go after the errors or the controversial topics of the School Board, City Council, Police agencies, District Attorney’s office and others. In the past 10 years I can count on one hand the negative reports your paper has published about these local political/public entities. You do not hesitate to attack those whom you have no financial interest in. I can vividly remember the brutal attacks against former Mayor Watson, who was ill and would attempt to stay active by writing letters to the editor. I could see in his writings that he was ill and did not have clarity of thought. Your newspaper verbally brutalized him in response.
I offer you a challenge. Begin looking at the different agencies differently and point
out their mistakes. Question everything they do under a microscope and watch how fast you
get shunned. Write articles on what you find and really stir things up and watch how fast
you lose your job and only then will you know why people want to use anonymous names.
They post anonymously not because they fear a lawsuit for what they say. They post anonymously because they fear retaliation from their co-workers, neighbors and from law enforcement. They fear the government. Imagine, speaking your mind against the school board and having your child shunned at school because you said it. It happens all the time. Don’t believe me? Give it a try for yourself. Bathe yourself in controversy and see what happens to you. Your article painted you as a victim of attacks in the Mouthing Off discussion. You should try sitting in my seat for a while. I created the group and people attack me for all sorts of things either in the group or via email. Imagine it from my perspective. I provide the forum for them to attack the person who created it. Would your newspaper ever do that?
Rarely does the Jennings Daily News ask the tough questions that put local politicians on the spot. It is this failure to ask questions that reveal the truth the we the readers recognize. It’s not what you say in your reporting. It’s what you don’t bother saying!
How can you hold a government body or public/Official office to a high standard when they spend so much money with your organization? Your livelihood depends on the kindness you bestow towards those who advertise with you. It is the slippery slope that news agencies have fallen in to.