According to an August 11 article: "The Lancaster Public Library, 125 N. Duke St., has seen a 15 percent increase in patronage from January to June as compared with last year during the same months. It saw between 1,500 and 1,700 people walk through its doors on a typical July day, up from 1,000 per day last July."
WATCHDOG: We are glad the New Era pointed out the ever growing importance of libraries, and especially the immense service the downtown Lancaster Public Library provides to the public. The Duke Street library has as many patrons in a day as many large city libraries that are several times it size. And Lancaster libraries are without the large government subsidies typical elsewhere.
Guess what local item in the State budget did not get funded this year? If you said funds for renovation and expansion of the Duke Street library, you were right.
$170 million plus for a convention center but not a cent for a library that serves about 1500 people from throughout the county each day! Go figure.
(Full disclosure: NewsLanc's publisher has a family member associated with the Duke Street library.
Monday, August 11, 2008
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
The Intell carried an extensive op-ed entitled " A wrongful prosecution" by attorney Ira Wagler suggesting prosecutorial excess on the part Attorney General Tom Corbett's office in regards to the prosecution and conviction of Levi Stoltzfoos.
WATCHDOG: Kudos to the Intell for publishing the column.
As we have seen nationally and on the local level, too often law enforcement officials lose sight of the object of the law and seek convictions, no matter what harm they are doing to the individual and the spirit of the law. The Stoltzfoos conviction and sentencing seems to be such a case.
WATCHDOG: Kudos to the Intell for publishing the column.
As we have seen nationally and on the local level, too often law enforcement officials lose sight of the object of the law and seek convictions, no matter what harm they are doing to the individual and the spirit of the law. The Stoltzfoos conviction and sentencing seems to be such a case.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
SUNDAY NEWS
A Letter to the Editor objecting to the housing of sex offenders in Marietta states "As for you, a politician, why should the people take you at your word, jeopardizing their children for your fetish."
WATCHDOG: Given that the prime psychological meaning of "fetish" is "Any object or nongenital part of the body that causes a habitual erotic response or fixation" (Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 2001), NewsLanc would have excerpted that sentence as being an unsubstantiated and unwarranted accusation. NewsLanc would have permitted the writer's later comment "Defending this type of person is a fetish" because its meaning is clearer.
WATCHDOG: Given that the prime psychological meaning of "fetish" is "Any object or nongenital part of the body that causes a habitual erotic response or fixation" (Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 2001), NewsLanc would have excerpted that sentence as being an unsubstantiated and unwarranted accusation. NewsLanc would have permitted the writer's later comment "Defending this type of person is a fetish" because its meaning is clearer.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
LANCASTER POST
The Post's August 8 front page shows an elderly lady holding up an eviction letter to the camera and the headline cries out "Landis Homes, Serving One Another, to 92 year-old resident: LEAVE!"
WATCHDOG: The article goes on to mention that Margaret Rombach is behind in payments by$67,903.31 as of May 31, and yet gave gifts amounting to $22,000to her daughter over the past two years. Furthermore, by making the gifts, Ms. Rombach forfieted her eligibility for a government subsidy that would have underwritten her monthly fees.
Seems to NewsLanc that someone is trying to improperly enrich themselves at the expense of Landis Homes. How is Landis Homes to provide for the charitable needs of residents if children of the elderly are consuming funds that are needed for the parent's upkeep?
If the Post were to investigate such practices, it would have a far better story.
WATCHDOG: The article goes on to mention that Margaret Rombach is behind in payments by$67,903.31 as of May 31, and yet gave gifts amounting to $22,000to her daughter over the past two years. Furthermore, by making the gifts, Ms. Rombach forfieted her eligibility for a government subsidy that would have underwritten her monthly fees.
Seems to NewsLanc that someone is trying to improperly enrich themselves at the expense of Landis Homes. How is Landis Homes to provide for the charitable needs of residents if children of the elderly are consuming funds that are needed for the parent's upkeep?
If the Post were to investigate such practices, it would have a far better story.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
SUNDAY NEWS
The central article on the front page of the August 3rd edition is headed "Tom Armstrong believes sex offenders have become the 'lepers of our society.' He believes men like the three he invited into his Marietta home can change. His words can't convince those protesting out front. Wednesday, he faces a zoning board. UNDER SEIGE." Below is a photo of a contemplative Armstrong.
WATCHDOG: Articles like this makes us proud of the Sunday News. Carefully and haltingly, it manages to maintain a large degree of independence and integrity.
We hope such praise does not get the editors in trouble.
WATCHDOG: Articles like this makes us proud of the Sunday News. Carefully and haltingly, it manages to maintain a large degree of independence and integrity.
We hope such praise does not get the editors in trouble.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
LANCASTER POST
In its August 1st edition, the Post criticizes the Lancaster Newspapers for publishing game summaries provided to all media by Dave Collins of the Lancaster Barnstormers as "Special to the Intelligencer Journal."
WATCHDOG: We second the Post's award of its "Puff Piece of the Week" award to the Intell "for so shamelessly ripping off the talented Mr. Collins."
WATCHDOG: We second the Post's award of its "Puff Piece of the Week" award to the Intell "for so shamelessly ripping off the talented Mr. Collins."
LANCASTER POST
In its August 1st edition, the Post editorial is headed "Lancaster Newspapers Steals from Itself." In reference to the reproduction of an Intelligencer Journal article in the New Era and vice versa, it states "It is called 'plagiarism,' but let us call it what it really is: stealing."
WATCHDOG: The most recent Webster Unabridged Dictionary defines plagiarism as "The unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work." Since both the Intell and the New Era have common ownership, the dual use of an article is clearly authorized. And unless a byline was given to a reporter for an article previously published and not written by the reporter, there is no misrepresentation.
What the Post charges is stealing, others would view as legitimate economizing.
WATCHDOG: The most recent Webster Unabridged Dictionary defines plagiarism as "The unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work." Since both the Intell and the New Era have common ownership, the dual use of an article is clearly authorized. And unless a byline was given to a reporter for an article previously published and not written by the reporter, there is no misrepresentation.
What the Post charges is stealing, others would view as legitimate economizing.
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