Don Day isn't happy with the Statesman.
Don Day is also a hypocrite.
Day, who works at KTVB, took to his Idaho Radio News blog Sunday to blast the Statesman. No big news there. This time, he is mad because we have removed a link to his blog from the IdahoStatesman.com blogroll.
"Statesman doesn't want to link to criticism," reads his headline.
Umm, not exactly.
We have no problems with bloggers who criticize the paper, and I'll cite two examples. Boise Guardian's Dave Frazier and conservative blogger Adam Graham are frequent Statesman critics — and they're right on our blogroll. I don't always like what Frazier and Graham say, but at least I know readers can go on their blogs and have an honest give and take. And yes, I've commented on both of their blogs at times.
Here's a little trick Day pulled last week.
He wrote a blog post about the Statesman's pending layoffs and pay cuts. He also wrote a separate post about pending layoffs at KTVB. No problems so far (although you could question what either post has to do with "radio news").
But guess which post was open to comments. Guess which one wasn't. (Don't take my word for it. Scroll down his page to check it out).
That's stacking the deck. Plain and simple. For Day to turn around and accuse us of stifling criticism is hypocritical.
We're extremely open to criticism. Just open the comments to any story or editorial or blog post and see for yourself. That point wasn't lost on one of Day's own Idaho Radio News readers.
"If anyone is interested in hearing from the readers of the paper on this move, go to their website and read the comments under today's story regarding the further cutbacks," wrote one commenter. "I have my doubts anything said here will ever be as critical regarding the paper as is there…. I admire the newspaper for letting them post their opinions there."
After I saw Day's posts last week, I encouraged our online team to remove the link to his blog.
I only wish we'd done it sooner.
Day's rebuttal here.
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Understandable
We no longer do free advertising for people that have been detrimental. One can only turn the other cheek so many times before you get a black eye.
Don Day/IRN a JOKE!
Don Day isn't exactly the beacon of journalistic integrity for the KTVB News Group, much wise his own blog for Idaho Radio News. The truth of the matter is his radio blog does more damage to the radio industry in Boise and around the Valley. Rather than actually help promote or just report the news without his editorial commentary and filtering of opinions of people he doesn't agree with, Mr. Day chooses not to believe in the theory of "I Report/You Decide". He'd rather push his personal agenda by reporting issues he's decides is noteworthy, some of witch has very little to do with radio, television and the media in general. He would rather ban people from posting truthful and honest opinions about Boise's radio market than actually have a true open forum of what is really going on inside the radio industry in Idaho. His tactics have very little to do with journalistic integrity and reporting the news.
I know you were a favorite there, Dizz...
not.
Oh well, we are equal idiots here, ya know.
Don is a tabloid man. He doesn't even contribute to Lost Remote much anymore, even though he doesn't make many controversial blogs there.
KTVB was a tabloid for a year plus and should know to keep out of it by now.
I figured it had to do with the Statesman having a strategic alignment with KIVI and not needing flak directing to Journal in an offhand manner.
PS I enjoyed watching Good Morning Live today...
IT was live.
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Gilligan inhaled
Mom
I'm telling Mom!
I already did and she's mad at you!
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Gilligan inhaled
Good on you Kevin
Like to see more places putting their foot down not only hypocrisy but horrible nastiness.
Something substantial
Kevin, I will tell you the same thing I said to Don. Why don't both of you pick up your marbles, go home, put a band-aid on your "Owweeess" and get to work reporting on how the CCDC is screwing the county!
Don would have to go to Seattle.
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I am FOREIGNOREGONIAN!!! HEAR MY MIGHTY bunch of grumbles
Those @#$%^&* Bloggers!
I have to admit that the Idaho Statesman has shown - and continues to show - a magnanimity to commentators / bloggers / guerrilla marketers that is nothing short of remarkable
Including MY wee cyber rag and various other endeavors like No Pants Day
Unfortunately, there are always going to be those knuckleheads that mistake kindness for weakness, or are just incredibly thick (here!) and need to be ----- slapped (virtually, of course) from time-to-time
Shoe good!
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Granola whimpers upon spying my countenance
Cant believe I am siding with the Statesman..
But Don's site really is terrible if you are looking to it as an actual news-type site. What it is: some bizzare hybrid of tabloid journalism and bitter outsider rambling. What it isn't: news.
OF COURSE he is bitter about the KIVI/Statesman partnership. His bias towards, and thinly veiled vitrol for the entire Journal organization has always been apparent. He is nothing if not a company man. A low level company man, but a very ambitious one. That's admirable, I suppose- but painfully obvious.
What will be really interesting is if/when he is laid off/fired from the Belo org, what he has to say then about his seemingly flawless ex-employer.
Its an entertaining read, but a trashy one for certain.