Diana Woodall Managing the public perception of H’burg, or how the DNR does NOT reflect us don’t know don’t remember the second time slot a group of about 25, very diverse in terms of age, gender and ethnic background, somewhat diverse also in terms of color, national origin, and sexual orientation. Many spoke of how friends/family/colleagues from outside this area or out of state get the impression of our area as very intolerant, bigoted, and narrow-minded, from reading the Daily News Record. What can we do? We can’t start our own paper, but the DNR doesn’t have a balanced editorial page and often doesn’t cover events of the more diverse and open parts of the community. They help perpetuate the tension between JMU and the town, etc. Even some real estate agents are unhappy with the paper because people don’t want to move to an area that appears to be so bigotted, and it was pointed out that even conservatives want to be able to sell their houses/real estate.
Brainstorm: 1.get funding to creat an insert for the paper once month or so. Have good news–things like profile a newcomer to the area. Or how JMU students stay in and contribute to the community.
2.Present the DNR with a list of people who no longer subscribe to the paper but would be willing to do so if the DNR shows more balance on its editorial page and more discretion in printing letters to the editor. along with this I would add, names of businesses who would be willing to advertise in the paper if it changes its tone.
3. Keep writing letters to the editor and op-ed peices, but then don’t look back–don’t read the reactions! Sorry I don’t have this info Sorry, I don’t have this info
Convener: Carlos Aleman Scribe: Diana Woodall
Attendees: A group of about 25, very diverse in terms of age, gender and ethnic background, somewhat diverse also in terms of color, national origin, and sexual orientation.
Many spoke of how friends/family/colleagues from outside this area or out of state get the impression of our area as very intolerant, bigoted, and narrow-minded, from reading the Daily News Record.
What can we do? We can’t start our own paper, but the DNR doesn’t have a balanced editorial page and often doesn’t cover events of the more diverse and open parts of the community. They help perpetuate the tension between JMU and the town, etc. Even some real estate agents are unhappy with the paper because people don’t want to move to an area that appears to be so bigotted, and it was pointed out that even conservatives want to be able to sell their houses/real estate.
Brainstorm:
1.Get funding to creat an insert for the paper once month or so. Have good news–things like profile a newcomer to the area. Or how JMU students stay in and contribute to the community.
2.Present the DNR with a list of people who no longer subscribe to the paper but would be willing to do so if the DNR shows more balance on its editorial page and more discretion in printing letters to the editor. along with this I would add, names of businesses who would be willing to advertise in the paper if it changes its tone.
3. Keep writing letters to the editor and op-ed peices, but then don’t look back–don’t read the reactions!
