Whence the Vindicator

When I was in college back in the day (defined as 1968-1972), the Youngstown Vindicator was probably the best newspaper in the state…better than the Plain Dealer, better than the Dispatch.  It was so good that when I transferred from YSU to Ohio State in 1970, I had the Vindicator mailed to me on a daily basis.  It was a paper of record, fair and balanced, with an impeccable reputation.

Unfortunately, the Vindicator has suffered the effects of social media, satellite television and an infinite variety of talk news shows in a 24/7 news cycle the same as other newspapers nationwide.  Long gone are the days of “Breaking News” and “Extra Editions”.  Its single edition is delivered to my house every morning by contracted delivery people rather than paperboys.  The news is primarily local.  Obits are the center of the universe.  Clubs and organizations are front and center.  The paper first reduced the number of columns then the size of the paper itself.  Now I read the digital issue. 

Sadly, the Vindicator is selling its main building downtown to the Youngstown Business Incubator for $5 million and $1.6 million in renovations.  It is an art deco masterpiece…my favorite downtown building.  The paper is moving across the street to its printing facility where the public has been informed there is sufficient office space.  The circumstance surrounding this transaction is a topic for another essay.

Todd Franko wrote an editorial column this past Sunday about the reaction of folks to the announcement the Vindicator is selling its main building.  After pointing to the obvious issues of shrinking advertising dollars in a highly competitive market, he commented on the gloating of tech savvy media types (also a topic for another essay) applauding the demise of traditional media.  He commented on the constant undercutting of traditional media within the social media community.  Ah…for the good old days, a mantra for those of us getting older.

He then focused on the fund raising activities associated with the Vindicator, which are spectacular.  The Vindicator deserves kudos for the outstanding work and support it provides for charitable organizations and projects too numerous to mention.  Bravo.

But that is where Mr. Franko and I diverge.  At the end of the day, the primary job of any news organization is to report the news accurately and fairly.  Both my wife and I have been involved in various news stories over the years.  We always thought it was peculiar that what was reported in the paper had no resemblance to what was happening in reality.  What was reported was wrong; void of themes, issues and context that surrounded events. 

The Vindicator also veered off the fair and balanced pathway offering an editorial policy rooted in political bias coupled with sophomoric writing.  Here’s a little secret.  The Republican bashing done in the Vindicator these past few weeks tends to drive away Republicans and a fair amount of independents from reading the paper. 

A perfect example just across this past Sunday’s editorial page was another editorial by someone who is not Todd Franko blaming the potholes on Republicans.  Really?  Was it a joke?  Was it satire?  No!!! Potholes are a perennial problem caused by weather and inadequate blacktop on the roads.  They don’t have the problem in Europe where roads are built to last.  Township roads are fine.  State roads are fine.  It’s the county roads that have the problem ALL THE TIME.  South Avenue and Glenwood Avenue are always the last main roads to be plowed…and are county roads. Mahoning County is run by Democrats 100%.  Does the other writer who is not Todd Franko think that those in charge of the roads locally just might have a smidgen of blame?

Corruption is always a problem in the Valley.  I find it strange that while railing against Republicans for not running candidates, the Vindicator has accumulated a long list of office holders it has endorsed who ended up in jail while simultaneously shunning and diminishing Republicans who aren’t or weren’t as flashy as their Democratic opponents.

I agree that social media has played a role in the demise of print media.  But I also suggest that traditional media puts out a shoddy and biased product resulting in a loss of credibility that permeates the consciousness of consumers slowly but surely.   That applies be it the Vindicator, the New York Times or CNN.  People aren’t stupid.  These entities are only as good as their credibility which is in short supply. Sooner or later, people just stop paying attention.  

I hope the Vindicator is here for a long time and remains locally owned.  It is a pillar of our community and should be a source of pride.  I hope that the Vindicator steps up its game with accurate, insightful, and fair reporting.  It has a ways to go just to reach the center of political thought.