I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
[COMMENTARY] Last night at 12:35 a.m. former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was released from jail after 99 days inside. His scandalous tenure as Mayor brought him into the national spotlight with years’ worth of sensational stories of salacious text messages that described a dramatic affair supplemented by rumors of a wild party.
But now that he’s out of public office and no longer using taxpayer money one would think the circus would would be over. He’s been charged with perjury, cut a plea deal, and served his time but it’s important to remember that he’s not the mayor anymore. At this point such heavy, detailed coverage has just turned into a cheap sensationalized celebrity-gossip style fluff that drives ratings.
It was a departure worthy of the hottest Hollywood megastar. Two helicopters hovered overhead, waiting to witness Kilpatrick leaving the jail. No less than 12 television trucks were present, and a crowd of about 20 reporters, photographers and camera crews jockeyed for position outside the glass doors of the jail.
Front page, Detroit Free Press, Feb 3. edition (courtesy Newseum.org)
The Detroit Free Press has an entire page dedicated to sensationalized stories, pictures and links. One link invites people to “read the texts messages” and see “the text message scandal in pictures.” Is this the National Enquirer or a major city newspaper?
This is a shame. There are so many things in the city that need reporting and yet it takes 20 reporters, 12 news trucks and two helicopters to cover a man getting out of jail. When people die, houses blow up, schools go without heat and lights, where’s the media mob then?
This is not to say Kilpatrick is innocent. He went to jail for a reason — two counts of obstruction of justice. It all started because he was trying to hide an extramarital affair that was no one’s business anyway. What was the public’s business is the $12.8 million of taxpayer money he spent trying to cover it up.
But now it’s over. The money’s spent, the time has been served. It’s time we stop drooling over gossip and start doing some real reporting on the state of the city and how to fix it.
As members of the media maybe it’s time we sit back and ask ourselves: What is the role of news media? How does the media serve the public?
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter