Viva La Daily Sun Editorial Policies....

[gfmucci]

How many times have we heard ourselves or others say "all you hear on the news is the bad stuff - why can't they write something positive?"* Most news media make their bucks (and attract their jaded audiences) by either making bad news worse than it is (weather reporting), or slanting positive or neutral events toward the negative.* News consumption is much like movie consumption.* I recently noticed that the professional movie reviewers tend to give the worst ratings to PG-13, PG and and G movies, and the best rating to the R and worse while the occasional movie goers give better ratings to the PGs and Gs.* (check out Yahoo movies.)* Why is this?* Movie reviewers, those who immerse themselves in the trade - are jaded - they require increasingly violent, increasingly sexual, increasingly wierd to engage and excite them.*

News is similar.* Todays local paper (not TV's, Hallelujah!) reported on our annual State of the City event where the Mayor factually highlighted and celebrated the several dozen major successes of the City during the previous year.* Our local papers' account?* The editorial cartoon featured a man handing out "rose colored glasses" as the Mayor was speaking.* This negative spin is all that the majority of residents of the City will know: good news turned sour as viewed through the negative lenses of the local newspaper.* This is the impression most residents keep and nurture.* And isn't this typical.

The Villages Daily Sun is different.* Unlike some other posts on this site, I absolutely find the editorial content of The Villages Daily Sun to be refreshing and welcome.* You can go anywhere for negative spin, exaggeration, and obsession with real or imagined horribles:* gossip mills, New York Times, POA (paranoid over anything), and most local newspapers.* The Sun reports the news - it doesn't obsess, distort, and grovel in it.* It obsesses over the best side of life - the positive, the engaging, the things that cause us to want to wake up in the morning.* To me, their editorial policy compliments the whole purpose of my moving to The Villages - to enjoy life.* I'm certainly looking forward to this non-negative positive immersion.* I won't need rose colored glasses.

[captain1202]

A well stated comment!!

It also occurred to me recently that many of the folks who move to TV have "paid their dues" with controversy, etc., and are ready to enjoy a few years without "Chicken Little" on the tv and radio all the time. There are plenty of outlets for a horror fix if we need it.

As an aside, I could use a little more variety on TV radio WVLG. Pop music has come a long way since the 50's!!

[Villages Kahuna]

I don't differ with your comment on the obvious Daily Sun policy of not getting involved in negativism in its reportage. But while I read the paper every day, I certainly don't rely on it for a balanced and complete coverage of local news. There is never any coverage of events or issues that might negatively affect the sale of homes in TV or the reputation as "Florida's Friendliest Hometown". There's never any coverage of crime, political issues, governmental issues such as the budget of the CDD's, statewide issues or even coverage of the ongoing political campaigns other than those of the candidates that the developer and owner of The Daily Sun supports. It really isn't a newspaper that one should rely on for balanced and complete coverage of important local news.

That's really OK with me. I use the Daily Sun for activities and recreational schedules, an occasional look at those who advertise in the paper, the construction updates, etc. But for the real day-to-day news, one needs to look elsewhere, whether it be other print media, TV or the internet. Oftentimes this approach doesn't produce the desired results as the "newsworthiness" of events or issues which may be important in The Villages declines precipitously as one gets more than a few miles "off campus",

A good example of the voids in news coverage by The Villages Media Group is the class action lawsuit by residents against the developer and the settlement that has been agreed to by the litigants. There has been absolutely no coverage of this situation and it's unlikely that there will be, even after the agreement is approved by the judge this coming Wednesday in Tavares. There is little more important to Villagers than our golf courses, rec centers, pools, clubs, etc. Yet a very important legal settlement which will affect the operation of our rec facilities, future amenities fees, etc. will occur without any news coverage whatsoever. While things that involve our recreation is important to residents, it's not a subject that the developer/owner of the local media chooses to report on. And there is little newsworthiness of issues regarding our golf courses and facilities in Orlando, or even Leesburg, as an example.

The developer owns the media here and can set whatever editorial policy he wishes. But no one should really conclude that The Daily Sun, WVLG or VNN ar anything more than self-promotional newsletters published by the developer of The Villages.

[gfmucci]

There is never any coverage of events or issues that might negatively affect the sale of homes in TV or the reputation as "Florida's Friendliest Hometown". * Yes...no slanderous comments, no opinionated mis-information common in most papers.*
I :bigthumbsup: love it!!

And if such stories were liberally run the paper would be accused of bias in a hundred different ways.

In doing my research prior to purchase, I learned of several sources one can tap into to get the alleged "truth".* Most were obsessed with negativity, and based on my knowledge of several of the topics, I concluded they were without basis and were promoted by what I have experienced in life as "the never satisfieds" or "the perpetually paranoids."

[Lil Dancer]

Kahuna, well said. The Villages Daily sun is okay, as far as it goes. If you're the type of person who wants all the pertinent information on a variety of subjects, you're best going to other news sources. Sometimes ignorance is not bliss.

[chuckster]

Kahuna have to disagree with your quote that "There's never any coverage of crime, political issues, etc. etc.". Simply not true to make a blanket statement such as this. I've read once a week listings of criminal arrests in our area as well as other criminal arrests. Also read articles you say don't appear. Always enjoy your posts but the word "never" triggered my response this time.

[gfmucci]

... no one should really conclude that The Daily Sun, WVLG or VNN ar anything more than self-promotional newsletters published by the developer of The Villages.
To declare that a newspaper is not a newspaper because it does not carry the type or quantity of news content one would favor is :dontknow: ???* :o.* If that were the standard, just about every newspaper in the nation would be classified as not a newspaper by one group of folks or another.

And besides, any newspaper that carries Ann Coulter's column is numero uno in my book :#1:* (Oops.* Did I just discredit everything I said with this last statement because some may not like Ann Coulter?)*

[gfmucci]

If you're the type of person who wants all the pertinent information on a variety of subjects, you're best going to other news sources. Sometimes ignorance is not bliss.
I agree that a variety of news sources is often needed. But, immersion in daily doses of distorted political-agenda induced cr-- in a newspaper is not bliss for me. Bliss for me is not being caught up in negativity and conspiracy theories and speculation about the worse case scenarios.

I appreciate Captain's comment: "It also occurred to me recently that many of the folks who move to TV have "paid their dues" with controversy, etc., and are ready to enjoy a few years without "Chicken Little" on the tv and radio all the time."

[Taltarzac]

The Villages Daily Sun was the first newspaper EVER that covered my struggle for survivors' rights information accessible though libraries over the Internet in a Neighborhood feature around May 28, 2007. I had tried to get the media involved from 1992 onward but got absolutely nowhere.

The reporter-- Mr. Gary Corsair-- also did a very good job with the information I gave him and the information he found in his research in that May 28, 2007 article.

And, it is not like I did not have any impact with my pestering of librarians for this information's availability. Received 24 nominations into Marquis Who Who publications from 1992 through about 2003 and am listed in several (14) Marquis Who's Who volumes like Marquis Who's Who in America, Marquis Who Who in the World, etc. You get nominated for these Marquis Who's Who volumes by making a difference in some field on another.

I sort of enjoy reading Ann Coulter. She is often witty even if I also find her remarks arrogant, mean-spirited, stupid, and often just written to get a reaction from others. I often do not think she actually believes 50% of what she writes.

[Talk Host]

Please don't confuse the Villages Media with "main stream" media. The newspaper, televison station and radio station exist to facilitate the sale of homes. Nothing else. It is the same as a club newsletter. That's it!

[Russ_Boston]

Jan - i think the point was that it is nice to read some positive spins on issues albeit from a one-sided point of view.

Let's not kid ourselves into thinking that papers such as the NY Times or Boston Globe don't pull (or bury) stories that don't slant their way (liberal) or that FOX news doesn't pull stories that don't slant their way (conservative).

A well educated person knows the scoop and will search for the info from all sides to formulate an opinion.

Sometimes i like just reading the club newsletter as long as they don't slip in a pack of kool-aid!

[Taltarzac]

Jan - i think the point was that it is nice to read some positive spins on issues albeit from a one-sided point of view.

Let's not kid ourselves into thinking that papers such as the NY Times or Boston Globe don't pull (or bury) stories that don't slant their way (liberal) or that FOX news doesn't pull stories that don't slant their way (conservative).

A well educated person knows the scoop and will search for the info from all sides to formulate an opinion.

Sometimes i like just reading the club newsletter as long as they don't slip in a pack of kool-aid!


Good point, Russ Boston. I usually Google things to get all kinds of angles on a certain subject. Speaking of the media, I post on Findlaw a lot and they have a Findlaw's Writ which various legal nabobs write articles on but it is usually very liberal in outlook as are many law schools throughout the country. It is usually very anti-Bush, pro women's choice on abortion, and against religion's entanglement with various aspects of US life.

[The Great Fumar]

gfmucci is absolutely right , It is a very informative paper ,,However when the Staff all graduate from High School ,,, I'm not nearly as optimistic about its content...........
Literate fumar :read: :read: :read:

[chuckster]

Jan...........you remind me of Ann Coulter........Throw out a statement or two close to reality to see who will challenge your remarks.

[duffertom]

Yikes - Ann Coulter telling something that resembles the truth? Not likely.

[Talk Host]

Jan...........you remind me of Ann Coulter........Throw out a statement or two close to reality to see who will challenge your remarks.


The exact words in my post were spoken to me by one of the top executives in the Villages Media group. Sorry to disappoint you.

[chuckster]

club newsletter??? doubt that term was used.

[Talk Host]

club newsletter??? doubt that term was used.


Too bad you were not there to hear it.

[chuckster]

Our continued point-counterpoint should get me to the century mark in posts re: editorial policies. Oh that's right, we seemed to have strayed from the topic, sorry.

[gfmucci]

However folks want to over-analyze it, it's a newspaper, it reports the news as it sees fit as any newspaper does, and I enjoy the darned thing. Holy smokes.

[redwitch]

I've yet to read a newspaper that doesn't slant what's happening to suit its own agenda. I used to read three papers (one liberal, one conservative and one because it is my local paper) to try to get the complete picture of a story and to find out current events. Now, I read the Sun, the SF Chronicle online and various news websites. We all take what we want from the news.

I enjoy the Sun for what it's worth. I appreciate knowing what is happening in TV regarding clubs, etc. I'm constantly amazed that the major story is about a TVer with big stories on the sides. Most of the editorial page gives me the absolute urge to throw up (especially Ann Coulter and her cronies). It is generally a feel-good, happy newspaper that does print some real news. For me, it serves its purpose quite well -- to sell the joy of TV.

[gfmucci]

I guess everyone has to throw up over something. For me its deep sea fishing.

[redwitch]

GF, eat some sourdough bread if you can find it while fishing. Here, I think the Chicago hard rolls will work. They absorb the acid and help with motion sickness. Course, you could just skip the deep-sea fishing much like I've learned to skip the editorial page of the Sun. ;) ;D

[Bucco]

TALKHOST...your post is interesting. I am very interested in which post has the EXACT WORDS from an executive ?????
Can you put them in quotes as best you remember ??

Thanks

[RCT]

The Villages Daily Sun was the first newspaper EVER that covered my struggle for survivors' rights information accessible though libraries over the Internet in a Neighborhood feature around May 28, 2007. I had tried to get the media involved from 1992 onward but got absolutely nowhere.

The reporter-- Mr. Gary Corsair-- also did a very good job with the information I gave him and the information he found in his research in that May 28, 2007 article.

And, it is not like I did not have any impact with my pestering of librarians for this information's availability. Received 24 nominations into Marquis Who Who publications from 1992 through about 2003 and am listed in several (14) Marquis Who's Who volumes like Marquis Who's Who in America, Marquis Who Who in the World, etc. You get nominated for these Marquis Who's Who volumes by making a difference in some field on another.

I sort of enjoy reading Ann Coulter. She is often witty even if I also find her remarks arrogant, mean-spirited, stupid, and often just written to get a reaction from others. I often do not think she actually believes 50% of what she writes.
Survivors of what!?!?!?!?

[Russ_Boston]

The reporter-- Mr. Gary Corsair-- also did a very good job with the information I gave him and the information he found in his research in that May 28, 2007 article.



TAL - I have enjoyed many of Gary's articles in the SUN. I have chated with him via e-mail several times. Seems like a nice man, hope to meet him some day.

[Taltarzac]

TAL - I have enjoyed many of Gary's articles in the SUN. I have chated with him via e-mail several times. Seems like a nice man, hope to meet him some day.


He is a very nice man or seems to be in person. We met by accident as he seems to have been walking around our Village looking for some story of interest. He bumped into my mother while she was doing yard work who told her about my 4 degrees and all the time I seem to spend on the computer.

[Taltarzac]

Survivors of what!?!?!?!?


I meant survivors of domestic abuse, child sexual abuse, rape, kidnapping, school shootings, work place shootings, etc. These as well as family members and friends of murder victims could use the Internet to get at practical information about the criminal justice system and other aspects of these incidents.

I wrote a bunch of rape victim assistance centers e-mails back in 1999 and 2000 in FL asking what they would like to see in our libraries. They pointed me to the FL Victim Services Directory http://myfloridalegal.com/directory which I have been trying to get linked to as many libraries in FL as possible since 2000. I had started with the print version of this Directory but the agency that manages the FL Victim Services Directory suggested I try to get the online version connected instead.

The May 28, 2007 article in The Villages Daily Sun by Mr. Gary Corsair was about my efforts towards this task and that I had had one victory locally with the Lake County Library System on getting this link http://www.lakeline.lib.fl.us/internet_directory/category.aspx?IDDirectoryCategory=24 and that I was working on getting these links at Sumter and Marion County's Library Systems as well. I have been making suggestions for this link to both Library Administrations but so far have not had any success in Sumter and Marion County. http://sumtercountyfl.gov/libraries/links.htm http://www.marioncountyfl.org/library/li_home.htm.

Some librarians in FL have even told me that they would consider getting this link but they needed more people than just one person-- me-- making these suggestions.

It took me 4 years and a lawsuit and blacklist from volunteering threat from the Palm Harbor Library General Counsel (letter dated March 2, 2004) to get a link for this Directory at Palm Harbor Library http://www.palmharborlibrary.org/links/florida.htm. Palm Harbor is where I lived for 9 years before TV. Finally saw a link that worked and stayed active around March 15, 2004 at Palm Harbor Library. I had even donated 1400 hours as a volunteer to Palm Harbor's 2 public libraries from 2000 through 2003. East Lake Community Library also in Palm Harbor got something that would alert Internet users to this Directory on about June 15, 2004. http://www.eastlakelibrary.org/ELCL/links.htm

[gfmucci]

GF, eat some sourdough bread if you can find it while fishing. Here, I think the Chicago hard rolls will work. They absorb the acid and help with motion sickness. Course, you could just skip the deep-sea fishing much like I've learned to skip the editorial page of the Sun. ;) ;D
Red...yes in deedy I skip deep sea fishing. It's so ironic...I move to a place on the Gulf Coast that is one of the fishing capitals of Florida, with swimming and boating all around and I do none of it. Besides, taking sourdough bread to avoid my seasickness is like you taking Barack Obama (or Hillary) to avoid nausea from Ann Coulter. Would that be worth it? ;D ;D ;D

[redwitch]

There's a difference -- the bread really does help. I'm very prone to motion sickness. Mine is so bad that I can't play at lot of computer games because the 3D effects actually get me sick. Lots of food, especially carbs, on cruise ships are there for a reason -- they help with motion sickness. So, I'll stand by try the Chicago hard rolls for motion sickness on a boat.

Neither Hillary nor Barack could help me stomach someone who spouts as much hatred as Coulter does. Heck, not even Adlai Stevenson could and he's my political hero.

[Taltarzac]

There's a difference -- the bread really does help. I'm very prone to motion sickness. Mine is so bad that I can't play at lot of computer games because the 3D effects actually get me sick. Lots of food, especially carbs, on cruise ships are there for a reason -- they help with motion sickness. So, I'll stand by try the Chicago hard rolls for motion sickness on a boat.

Neither Hillary nor Barack could help me stomach someone who spouts as much hatred as Coulter does. Heck, not even Adlai Stevenson could and he's my political hero.


Does not Coulter have her counterparts on the Democrat's side? Some of the tactics used by Michael Moore in his various movies seem to be quite underhanded.

[Russ_Boston]

Sounds like political talk - let's take it the political forum. Please!

You'll notice that I've never posted there - nor have any intentions to do so.

Thanks,
Russ

[redwitch]

Aw, Russ, politics are fun so long as you keep your sense of humor and don't get nasty. But I do read the Sun daily and enjoy a lot of it. (That better? ;))

[Russ_Boston]

Yes but it ALWAYS gets nasty with politics. I have never found anyone who is legitimately in the center. It seems to always be clear cut with Politics, unlike real life where compromises are made every day.

Now I'm getting political - See!

[gfmucci]

Main topic: Enjoyment of the editorial policies of the local paper

Politics:
- social relations involving authority or power
- the study of government
- the profession devoted to governing
-the process by which groups make decisions. It is the authoritative allocation of values. Although the term is generally applied to behavior within governments, politics is observed in all human group interactions, including corporate, academic, and religious institutions.

The Sun does "politics lite". Even Ann Coulter's column is "tongue in cheek with a bite."

It's impossible to discuss the editorial policy of a newspaper (or almost anything for that matter) without the generic defintion of "politics" being involved.

[beady]

Good point Tal, regarding Coulter and Moore.

They use the same tactics and inflamatory language, one is writing books, the other is making movies. Both are expressing their opinions and I applaud their right to do so.

Only difference between them .... they belong to different political persuasions.

[Taltarzac]

Good point Tal, regarding Coulter and Moore.

They use the same tactics and inflamatory language, one is writing books, the other is making movies. Both are expressing their opinions and I applaud their right to do so.

Only difference between them .... they belong to different political persuasions.


True they are of different political persuasions but seem to be two sides of the same coin-- a rather cheap one at that too. :joke:

[Taltarzac725]

How many times have we heard ourselves or others say "all you hear on the news is the bad stuff - why can't they write something positive?"* Most news media make their bucks (and attract their jaded audiences) by either making bad news worse than it is (weather reporting), or slanting positive or neutral events toward the negative.* News consumption is much like movie consumption.* I recently noticed that the professional movie reviewers tend to give the worst ratings to PG-13, PG and and G movies, and the best rating to the R and worse while the occasional movie goers give better ratings to the PGs and Gs.* (check out Yahoo movies.)* Why is this?* Movie reviewers, those who immerse themselves in the trade - are jaded - they require increasingly violent, increasingly sexual, increasingly wierd to engage and excite them.*

News is similar.* Todays local paper (not TV's, Hallelujah!) reported on our annual State of the City event where the Mayor factually highlighted and celebrated the several dozen major successes of the City during the previous year.* Our local papers' account?* The editorial cartoon featured a man handing out "rose colored glasses" as the Mayor was speaking.* This negative spin is all that the majority of residents of the City will know: good news turned sour as viewed through the negative lenses of the local newspaper.* This is the impression most residents keep and nurture.* And isn't this typical.

The Villages Daily Sun is different.* Unlike some other posts on this site, I absolutely find the editorial content of The Villages Daily Sun to be refreshing and welcome.* You can go anywhere for negative spin, exaggeration, and obsession with real or imagined horribles:* gossip mills, New York Times, POA (paranoid over anything), and most local newspapers.* The Sun reports the news - it doesn't obsess, distort, and grovel in it.* It obsesses over the best side of life - the positive, the engaging, the things that cause us to want to wake up in the morning.* To me, their editorial policy compliments the whole purpose of my moving to The Villages - to enjoy life.* I'm certainly looking forward to this non-negative positive immersion.* I won't need rose colored glasses.

I could do without the Oliver North and Ann Coulter diatribes though.

[Bogie Shooter]

Should have left this 2008 thread "at rest"

[Taltarzac725]

Should have left this 2008 thread "at rest"

Is there much difference between the Villages Daily Sun of 2008 and that of 2012??

I do not see that much. It still seems to be a marketing tool of the developers as well as a community bulletin board. I love parts of it though. The writing is much better with fewer typos and factual errors.

[Moderator]

4 year old thread. Please start a new thread for more recent thoughts. This thread will be closed.