PT. 2 of 4: PLANET PROVIDES MODEL FOR LOCAL MEDIA RELEVANCE: TENACITY, NO B.S. APPROACH, & USE OF SOURCES
By DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary
Part 2 of 4 Parts
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, AUG. 26, 2014) — Yesterday, THE PLANET shared additional news that preceded, accompanied, and might follow the announcement of Digital First Media‘s decision to sell 51 of its newspaper buildings in seven states. The list includes The Berkshire Eagle building and the land upon which it rests in Pittsfield.
In addition to existing news reports, THE PLANET interviewed a former member of the well-hyped but failed Thunderdome, Digital First’s electronic newsroom launched with much razzle but actualized with little dazzle. Thunderdome continued a losing tactic adopted not just by Digital First but also by the vast majority of this country’s corporatized, bottom-line media. The losing strategy, where bean counters and not news persons make the key decisions, consists of squeezing cost out of local media, sending the profits to HQ invariably located “out of town,” and failing to invest in local investigative work. We have seen the results locally, not just at The Eagle but also with every other commercial medium.
To Come: Another Look Inside Digital First, This Time with a Name Named
Our source spoke on condition that his real name not be used. THE PLANET got to meet him surreptitiously, one of those “friend of a friend of a friend” deals that often happen in the fairly close fraternity of journalism. We still have many friends grinding it out in the mainstream media or who escaped with pensions (the lucky ones), buyouts (nearly as lucky), or with their professional lives. The connections they have to others in the profession never cease to amaze, and that is how we found Mr. Olsen.
On Thursday, in the final of what has become a serendipitous four-part look at the condition and fate of daily newspapers and present-day journalism in light of the challenge posed by cyberspace, THE PLANET presents the testimony of yet another Digital First employee, this one who wanted to go on the record with her real name.
That is always the preference of course, though as we noted late last week, when you’re doing investigative work in a hide-bound city such as Pittsfield, where political incest and the bias of nepotism are the name of the game, sources rarely want their names used out of plain, simple fear. They fear loss of a job, position, or a smear of one’s reputation, and that is how The Suits have long kept a relative lid on the exposure corruption and graft.
THE PLANET: A Model for Success in Local Journalism
This website, in its modest way, has illustrated how the Internet, perhaps uniquely among media, can be used to work around those traditional binders and chains that perpetuate fear, not just among potential sources but also the local mainstream media so dependent upon (so it thinks) advertisements.
THE PLANET has succeeded, and wildly, not because of a large investment in monetary capital but because of the tenacity of our work, our take-no-B.S. approach, and the vast number of sources we have in the local community. Our news gathering operation rests upon a triad.
* First, THE PLANET does its share of first-hand digging. That speaks for itself.
* Second, we have what we amusingly call The Secret Squadron, a name that contains a fond nod to the old “Captain Midnight” TV show. The SS includes those we call our spies, gumshoes, secret agents, detectives, Z-operatives, and others who are in a position to share information. These are sources usually in the Dreaded Private Sector whose businesses put them in a position to see, observe, witness, and note the many public actions that are done in, for, and against this community by those in position of power. These include restaurant owners, bartenders, bankers, service workers, corporate employees, and many others.
* Third, we have our more “traditional” sources. These are usually public employees or their friends and loved one whose offices place them in the presence of the decision makers and the decisions that are daily made to affect the lives of Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski. Lately, especially under the current failed mayor, these decisions have been made with the uniform effect of punishing The Little-Guy taxpayers and rewarding a small, inner clique of insiders.
The Bianchi Way
That’s the Mayor Dan Bianchi way. Granted, it has come as a shock to many. Even former close supporters have been stunned at the changes they have seen in Bianchi since he became mayor. That’s one reason why THE PLANET used a satiric Jeckyll-Hyde metaphor to describe Bianchi on a recent episode of the Planet Valenti TV show.
“He has gone from an altar boy to serial killer.” That’s how one former campaign supporter bluntly termed it. Who will this person back in 2015? “Anybody but him.”
Given the fact that Bianchi barely won the election in 2011 (106 votes or a difference of a scant 53 votes in the official tally) coupled with how many of those erstwhile supporters have been disappointed and even disgusted with his performance in office, Bianchi as mayoral timber is toast.
He knows that, you know that, and The Suits know that. That is why TES’ strategy now, according to what we’ve pieced together after some probing, is as cynical as it gets: (a) pretend he’s running, (b) continue to raise money on that false pretext, and (c) when the time comes, use the money to pull strings for his hand-picked successor (the “smart money” on the street says it will be Melissa Mazzeo, though don’t rule out a dark-horse contender) and to sway council races.
Oh yeah, we forgot. Don’t tell anyone of the above plan. Like so many other aspects of TES’ reign as the “transparent” mayor, you’re not supposed to know about it. THE PLANET got it, though, in a triangulated bit of early pre-election chatter. If the plan doesn’t happen the way we have laid it out, you can be sure it was THE PLANET’s spilling the beans that forced a change in tactics.
Tomorrow, Part 3 reveals the secret for success for newspapers in coping with the challenge of cyberspace. On Thursday, in Part 4, THE PLANET shall present the testimony of a former high-ranking Digital First employee, who spills the limas over her experience with the company.
—————————————————————————————–
“Got to be a joker he just do what he please.” — The Beatles, “Come Together,” from the Abbey Road album, (1969).
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
Dan Valenti’s journalism is about the tragedy of Pittsfield politics’ 3 decade and counting downward spiral caused by the interrelated, multigenerational Good Old Boy network that has ran Pittsfield so far into the ground that many thousands of people have fled the area faster than a New York minute. Dan Valenti blames Mayor Dan Bianchi for all of Pittsfield’s problems because Dan Bianchi is continuing the GOB’s agenda of driving Pittsfield politics off of the proverbial cliff. Dan Valenti credits his journalistic skills in analyzing the layers of the figurative onion of why Pittsfield continues to struggle, while other communities are able to make progress on their local economies, finances, jobs, public schools, infrastructures, public safety, and the like.
I feel that Pittsfield is a self-defeating town with a negative mentality. For example, if I had a teenage daughter who did well in school and received a scholarship to Harvard University, then Pittsfield would call me a show-off and an elitist. But if I had a teenage daughter who got pregnant, dropped-out of school, and went on welfare, Pittsfield would reward her and she would fit right in. I feel that Pittsfield uses the economic model of perverse incentives, which means that Pittsfield rewards people with social problems that has deleterious impacts on the community. That is why there are so many shootings, drugs, crime, gangs, high school drop-outs, truants, teen pregnancies, joblessness, poverty, welfare, in Pittsfield. I feel that that Pittsfield politics is all about control. Like Dan Valenti writes about, most people in Pittsfield are afraid to speak out against Pittsfield politics because they will be adversely affected, such as being terminated from their job (see Rosanne Frieri), or having their reputation harmed by rumors.
The one thing I understand about politics is that it is always a done deal. Politicians make their policy decisions well before they debate the issues in public. Politics is like a stage where politicians act out a script to justify their agenda. If the average Joe steps on that stage, they face unfair retaliation. To illustrate, I point to the Iraq war. Iraq has the 2nd largest oil reserves next to Saudia Arabia in the World. Our CIA has been involved in Iraq since before we fought the Vietnam War. Our nation was going to invade Iraq and seize their oil before all of the lies the politicians told to the masses.
That is why politics sucks.
Mrs. Mazzeo will not be running for Mayor, say sources close to her. Names I keep hearing are Rick Scapin, Dennis Guyer and Kevin Sherman. Either way you can bet your booty that TES will not run unopposed this time.
I don’t think TES family would let him run. His notoriety has to be taking a toll.
He has probably greased enough palms to get himself moved up the ladder by political appointment like Doyle. He can get a no show job and still work Global from his own desk.
and the new mayor can move the inspectors to a city owned building assuming Bianchi does not sign a ten year lease
He has greased those palms Dusty. He wont run again because he would get clobbered. He will keep his Global Mondello gig and get some crumbs from Steve Grossmans table. Grossman is state treasurer and running for governor.
Why is the City Of Pittsfield retaining a Westfield based law firm to defend its actions in the veteran’s agent firing ? I can understand the potential for conflict of interest in regards to the city solicitor’s office, but are there not competent Berkshire based law firms ? Keep the taxpayers’ money at least in the county.
Why would a legal or rightous termination need a prepared legal defense team in advance ot any action by the terminated person ?
Great question CJ
MassLive has the following headline: Westfield State University trustee who vacationed in Cuba with ex-president Evan Dobelle has resigned. The WSU trustee is James Ruberto…….
Jimmy Ruberto is always unethical!
Now there is a shocker. Hey Westfield State…You will be judged by the company you keep
Why am I NOT surprised!!!
The mayor should recruit and hire an Iraq or Afganistan veteran to fill the “Open” position of Veterans Service Agent for the City of Pittsfield.
Yes great idea. And then vet him through local veterans groups. The last thing we need is a a guy indebted to the mayor and worrying about his job security if he accidentally crosses the mayor or one of his associates, or their friends, or their kids or their friends kids.
Maybe this should be an elected position.
FYI….Jack Downing is NOT a Veteran!
DISAGREE
DISAGREE. The Mayor should hire the best person for the job, no matter their combat status, their war of participation or even if they have been in combat or not. Being a combat Veteran does not make you immediately privy to the myriad of political, local and paperwork red tape that is dealing with the VA.
This position should NEVER be an elected position. Then it becomes a popularity contest, not a meritocracy. It’s more about who you know and who can get you elected then what you know.
Ro was popular with some and unpopular with others and that’s OK. No matter what you do you can’t please everyone and that’s just life. You keep trying but sometimes some people can’t be helped no matter what you do. Equally some people get upset at hearing “No” even if they were not eligible for the program in the first place.
I agree Craig. Before Ms. Frieri was the veteran’s agent, she was a photographer. Somehow she got connected politically and got this job. Mayor Roberto admitted that he made a mistake with “Ro” as you call her. But you vets in Richmond still should be good. Isn’t she also the veterans’agent there?
Gerry Pyle for Vets Agent.
I’m for Gerry Pyle also.
“Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed : everything else is public relations ” George Orwell
I looked up yellow journalism in the encyclopedia and I saw a picture of The Berkshire Eagle banner.
Zing! Watch out. Melle is on a roll today!
Re: Berkshire Eagle Editor(s) have no conscience!
I cannot believe the Berkshire Eagle editorial about the “clean-up” of cancer-causing, toxic waste PCBs in Pittsfield and Southern Berkshire County left behind by General Electric (GE) Company. Many concerned people, including myself, have written to the Eagle over the years explaining why the Consent Decree and the proposed “clean-up” of the Housatonic River in Southern Berkshire County is wrong. But it seems to me that the Eagle doesn’t care about what is right and what is wrong. I strongly believe without a doubt that the Berkshire Eagle Editor(s) have no conscience!
Once again, the Consent Decree was wrong for Pittsfield because it capped most of the PCBs. Caps have a limited lifespan. Caps do not last forever. Moreover, caps must be monitored on a daily basis because they can become defective from day one. Caps last about 20 years or 2 decades. Once the caps do not work properly, the PCBs continue to spread in the air, ground, and water. Once that happens, there needs to be a new “clean-up” and the caps need to be re-capped. The Consent Decree was a short-term solution to Pittsfield’s status as a toxic waste dump for GE. By 2030, there will be a need for a new or revised Consent Decree, or Pittsfield may become a Superfund site. As for the rest of the Housatonic River in Southern Berkshire County, the EPA and GE wants to cap over 90 percent of the PCBs. That sounds absurd to me because water and capping PCBs won’t work for very long. This whole “clean-up” is a total farce and everyone knows it. The Berkshire Eagle is a third-rate rag without a conscience and will never publish the truth about the many thousands of Pittsfield residents who have suffered and died from cancer due to GE’s PCBs.
– Jonathan A. Melle
**********
“Keep up with cleanup”
Berkshire Eagle, Editorial, 8/26/2014
The “Rest of River” cleanup process for the Housatonic River has dragged on for years and will drag on for years more, but it will happen and it is wise to be out front in anticipating possible problems as some local officials are doing. Lenox Town Manager Christopher Ketchen recently joined officials from Pittsfield and the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission on a tour of the General Electric-Environmental Protection Agency PCB removal project on the Hudson River, and he urged Lenox Selectmen to schedule a public information session to inform townspeople of what can be anticipated.
The EPA released a $619 million plan in June for cleaning the river from southern Pittsfield to the Connecticut border which did not receive rave reviews from any faction — a possible indicator that the agency found an effective middle ground. The cleanup will focus on PCB-polluted “hot spots” like Lenox’s Woods Pond, which would be drained, excavated and refilled under the proposal. There are many questions to be answered about the logistics of this process, including how contaminated material will be transported. No one but GE wants a landfill to be established in the area, but absent a landfill, it will be necessary to remove and transport this material from and through environmentally sensitive areas.
It is unreasonable for reasons of cost and potential damage to the river and its banks to sweep the Housatonic clean of PCBs, but the status quo is not acceptable either. In a report from January of last year, EPA scientists reiterated that PCBs are “probable human carcinogens,” in part but not exclusively because of the rare liver cancers detected in animals exposed to the chemical as well PCB workers. The EPA’s peer-reviewed cancer reassessment is in keeping with the conclusions of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the National Toxicology Program and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Plans may change as public hearings are held and GE drags out the process with its objections. Best for all to stay informed.
I’m hoping Gerry Pyle gets the Veterans JOB.
Have to agree with all of what DV says today, especially the parts about how to make money in local journalism and ‘ ” the Bianchi way.” I too was one of those who supported him in ’11, never again.
The community meeting to express concerns about gang-related violence was certainly a crowded conversation. I’ve seldom seen anything positive come out of mass discussions but I hope I may be mistaken this time. After all, one had to be impressed with the resources in place, as described by our city leaders, to address this catastrophe of mayhem, shootings, gangs, kids with guns, and kids in the hospital fighting for their lives because they were shot at close range.
I’m going to address one issue that I see as a problem. It has been a problem for a long time in Pittsfield.. The Chief of Police serves at the pleasure of (of all ridiculous things) Pittsfield’s political machine. He is not secure in his position. In my opinion, he should be, We have a man who attended the U.S. Navel Academy at Annapolis, Md., transferred to Wiliams College where he received his degree. Obviously a bright guy. I’d love to see what he can do if his political shackles were taken off.
Here is what we should do. Set in motion political machinery to schedule a civil service examination for the position of Chief of Police, Pittsfield, Mass. Then the mayor would be sent the top 3 score takers for interviews, background checks, character determination, etc., etc., for a decision on who our independent Chief of Police would be.
I have long thought. Why are we afraid of an independent
Chief?. Even if it turns out to be an out-of-towner.
Chuck Always good ideas
“Transferred” is another way of saying “dropped out”, and any minority with a pulse could get admitted to high-end colleges. Litmus test says: if he’s in Pittsfield government he’s a bum. Drug dealers being shot is hardly a police concern anyway, shut down all housing assistance and most of that population will leave to be someone else’s problem.