[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]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

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]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

... 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: ???* .* 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]

Originally Posted by Lil Dancer

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."

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!

Originally Posted by 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!

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

[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.