by A.F. James MacArthur, Managing Editor,
(REVISED -- be part of the process, em
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A.F. James MacArthur with Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld III. After an interview near police headquarters.
UPDATED: After running this piece, The Baltimore Sun reacts by banning The Baltimore Spectator from their talk forum.
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So a certain editor of a certain news site introduced the idea of a Violence Reduction/Prevention Symposium. An open letter was sent to Mayor Dixon to which we got a response. In attempting to get further discussion going, the author posted the letter on the "local news" discussion forum of the Baltimore Sun's online website.
A healthy discussion with good constructive ideas began to flow. Several retired and active members of law enforcement chimed in with their thoughts on how to combat Baltimore's out of control crime. A few chronic complainers also checked in. Rather then put the complainers in their place and allow a good free flow of thoughts and ideas to continue, The Baltimore Sun staff pulled the plug on the discussion and deleted the entire thread and attached conversations.
Readers, I submit to you, with all of the excellent crime reporting we see at times in the pages of the Baltimore Sun, why then, if there were true concerns for the community, why would a constructive discussion be killed?
Unfortunately we live in a one newspaper town. The Baltimore Sun is the most dominant and largest media presence in Baltimore. As an admitted news junkie, I, and so many others, are forced to rely upon them to stay informed. In a busy city such as Baltimore, no one site, no one reporter, no one venue can possibly cover all that is going on. At least not with any depth and comprehensiveness.
My love hate relationship with our quirky little daily paper shall continue. My questions to the sincerity and motives of their reporting shall also continue. I love newspapers, but is it any wonder their days are numbered and they're dying off faster than fruit flies?
Space does not allow me to go into details. Search online and check out how many news papers have gone bankrupt, slashed staff, ceased from existing, and others barely hanging on. Find out how many have switched to all online formats, thereby no longer being a newsPAPER.
New Media will boldly march on into the future, but we can't do it alone. In a mission of "Truth To The Masses," we need all hands on deck. That includes you Baltimore Sun.
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Peter Hermann and Justin Fenton are two of the primary crime reporters of The Baltimore Sun. Their work has often been cited in pieces seen at The Baltimore Spectator.
From today's Baltimore Sun re: the water main break; "The rupture, which occurred about 4 a.m..."
Now hold it right there. The problem is, this is patently untrue. Every last one of the mainstream media outlets in town reported this as the time. Although I was there around 2:30AM and it was already happening, and I reported this hours before everyone else, rather than citing me as an eye witness, on scene source, they would rather continue to spout inaccurate information. (see my video report for proof their time is way off)
Am I the only one bothered by deliberate repetitions of incorrect information? My issue with this is, to me I've caught them. How many other times are numerous erroneous facts repeated over and over and we all buy into it not knowing any better? Were I not already on the scene when they were all sleeping, I would be buying into this error too.
My point is, if they're wrong and careless with accuracy on the small things, such as the time of an event, can they be trusted on the larger more weighty matters.
Want to know why they're doing this? Because on this issue, I was right, and they are wrong and it pains them to back me up or use me a source, a mere blogger. Never mind truth and accuracy, let's just be elitist towards others trying to bring "truth to the masses."
And to those who would argue this to be trivial, think about a court of law. Do you think if a witnesses time was way off and contrary to other evidence it would hold up very well? In the court of public opinion, I want to know how well do you regard our local Baltimore mainstream media in terms of accuracy.
-A.F. James MacArthur
MESSAGE TO ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT/INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES
To all those who willfully, deliberately and routinely violate the civil rights of law abiding American Citizens; Yes, you're powerful. Sure, you're everywhere. But this is still America, and the Constitution of the United States Of America still reigns supreme as the law of the land. The Baltimore Spectator will vigorously and aggressively defend against any and all attempts at spying and suppression. Let it be known to all that we are already aware of the regular monitoring and shadowing attempts. There is nothing to hide, but cross the line and there will be hell to pay.
In the end, efforts to impinge upon the freedoms of the people will ultimately fail. Some of us may get taken out in the ongoing battle for true and lasting freedom, but as I've said many times before, and will say till the day I die or get taken out by you goons, THERE ARE MORE OF US, THAN THERE ARE OF YOU.
A.F. James MacArthur -- American patriot & lover of liberty.
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