VALDOSTA —
I read a column recently written by a Florida newspaperman who, like many of us, is trying to align himself with the new journalism.
He had been a reporter for many years. When he started his reporting career, he wrote a story and it was published in the next day’s paper. If a reader did not agree, they would call or, if they were real energetic, the reader would write a letter to the editor about the issue reported in the story.
Today, with online journalism on newspaper websites, readers are able to go online, read the story, post a comment and, within minutes, their comment (thread) is answered by another reader. The bantering can follow a positive line or it can quickly move to having all the attributes of a barroom brawl.
The Florida newspaperman said reader comments with a story is like having “maggots with your steak.”
Many of our readers write useful, positive and creative responses. Unfortunately, there are those who see this as an opportunity to go into a tirade. On our site, a reader can flag a story if they deem it inappropriate. I can only hope our readers will use the comments to open dialogue about issues in our area. This is an excellent way for people to debate and learn from each other. Use it at will, but remember, commenting on our website is a privilege not a right as I was told this week.
POST OF THE WEEK
In response to our online story about the egg recall, two readers decided to go political on us: OOOPS! The bad eggs to recall are in Washington D.C., not Iowa. A reader responded: Democrat and Republicans aren’t the only bad eggs that egg-ist. They all need to be egg-ported somewhere else ... possibly Eggland?
NEW DIGITAL NEWSPAPER
In September, we will be debuting a brand-new e-edition of the daily print edition. Print readers will have access and readers who only want to read the newspaper online will be able to subscribe. Subscribers will receive a newsletter each morning and access to the full newspaper. Eye-sight not good?
The e-edition stories can be read to you simply by clicking the listen button. If you are from another country, the stories will be translated into the readers’ native language and read to the listener in the language chosen by the reader.
LOOKING AHEAD
We have much more coming for our readers and Internet-users. Live streaming video of events will become common for The Times during the next year.
Sandy Sanders
Maggots with your steak
- Sandy Sanders
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Think before you answer
I got an email this week where a writer of an online column tells the story of a young child in Sunday School. The writer says the little boy’s teacher asked his class ‘What’s the animal with a long, bushy tail that lives in trees?’ One child quickly answers while probably thinking about the usual answer to questions in his church Sunday School, ‘Jesus. Though it sure sounds like a squirrel to me.’
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Forgiveness, redemption go together
The news story on Friday read: “WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Thursday to censure once-powerful New York Rep. Charles Rangel for multiple ethical misdeeds — the first time in nearly three decades that House members have publicly rebuked a colleague.
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South Georgia roots run deep for these execs
David Ratcliffe and Mike Garrett, two highly respected executives with Valdosta and South Georgia ties, will be stepping down as leaders of two of the largest power companies in the nation by yearend.
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VDT ready with all-new digital edition
You can now go to the home page of our website (www.valdostadailytimes.com) and click on the link for our digital e-edition. You can sign up for a seven-day trial or, if you currently subscribe to the print edition, we will be glad to add the e-edition just by calling our office for details.
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We are losing our children and we are blaming ‘others’
Extinction! There are public outcries to save animals, bugs and reptiles while our own children are being lost to a new world order. In the past two weeks, I have seen two students, one high school, one middle school, with their parents blessing bring to the public area all the details of their student-teacher antics. Each student had been suspended from school and one was making his way to court.
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Do we want tax or football braggin’ rights?
A drop in our property digest seems evident and to maintain we will need a tax increase. We can recruit higher-paying jobs to the county and get more taxes that way but is that practical thinking for a quick adjustment in this economy?
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Blazer Zone moving into Drexel Park
Next Saturday, Blazer fan families will have a great opportunity for some pre-game tailgating fun. The university is turning Drexel Park into a mini carnival so families can spread out to enjoy an afternoon under the trees, as they get ready for the Blazers’ season opener.
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Maggots with your steak
Today, with online journalism on newspaper websites, readers are able to go online, read the story, post a comment and, within minutes, their comment (thread) is answered by another reader. The bantering can follow a positive line or it can quickly move to having all the attributes of a barroom brawl.
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Why do some children live in abusive houses?
As I have written many times in this column, I grew up in a small town. My father worked at Moody Air Force Base for 30 years and as he would recollect while laughing, “I ate a fried egg sandwich for lunch every day of those 30 years.”
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Turning 18 before the election board
When I turned 18 my father took me down to the courthouse one evening to go before the Board of Registrars so I could be qualified to vote. I was called into the room before three men. I remember being nervous. They asked me questions about residency and being an American before I was given their stamp of approval.
- More Sandy Sanders Headlines
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Think before you answer
