Media Criticism

Many people do not think of Missoula, Montana as a haven of great writing, art and intellectual endeavors. I would wager that most people do not think of Missoula or any other Montana as anything but a Western wasteland. The Missoula Independent offers a window into aspects of life in Missoula and Montana that are unavailable through the mainstream media.

The Independent is a weekly alternative paper that is sent to 630 outlets throughout western Montana. The paper has a circulation of 22,103 in Montana according to the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. I imagine that once people take a look at the online version of the Missoula Independent, this number will skyrocket.

The issues facing Missoula are similar to problems faced in communities throughout the Western states. Missoula stands on the edge of the alternative fuel revolution while dealing with land management problems, conservation debates and other aspects that are overlooked by political elitists on the coasts. One of the voices that are highlighting these problems in the Independent is George Ochenski. His weekly article is called “Ochenski� and turns the reporter’s investigative efforts into compelling reading.

The Missoula Independent is not filled with heavy articles that are meant to bring down voters to the harsh realities of Western development. “Flash in the Pan� is an article for foodies that include informal tips and recipes for fine meals. “Mountain High� is a well-written events calendar for parades, festivals and outdoor get-togethers that highlight the favorite activities of Montana residents. “Writers on the Range� is a syndicated column from the High Country News that highlights artistic endeavors in the Mountain West. I recommend the Missoula Independent for anyone who wants to find out about a region that is often misunderstood.

The inclusion of Burlington’s Seven Days in my alternative media showcase was a way to ease our way into the world of non-commercial news. Many people equate alternative papers, zines and other items that are overlooked by major media outlets with leftist cities like Berkeley, Madison and Burlington. There are plenty of alternative outlets printed in cities outside of the liberal orbit. Metro Spirit is a good example of an alternative news outlet that is not printed in a big city or a partisan bastion.

The city of Augusta, Georgia is best known for hosting The Masters each spring. Metro Spirit is a pleasant little secret enjoyed by a readership of 23,000 and rising according to the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. This newspaper is published by Portico Publications LTD which publishes alternative papers in Charlottesville, Virginia and Columbia, South Carolina. The fact that Metro Spirit belongs to a small media network gives it credibility due to increased resources for investigative journalism.

I came across Metro Spirit on the right week. This past week featured a cover story and ancillary articles on education in the Augusta area. The cover story called “Small Sacrifices, Big Changes� spoke about Immaculate Conception School that is moving into a different neighborhood in Augusta. This school and the Laney Walker neighborhood have been victimized by economic downturns as well as changing demographics. The fact that the school is not closing up shop shows that there are still schools that are committed to educating the next generation of leaders instead of thinking about the bottom line. Tom Grant did a fantastic job highlighting the importance of religion in education as well as the approach taken by Principal Jonathan Pike to ensuring the security of a small, religious-minded school.

Most newspapers would slash up an article on a local school moving before moving to AP press releases and photographs. Metro Spirit delves further into the issue of education with the editor’s article on small schools and an entry in the Metro Beat regarding how test performance influences decisions to close local schools. The in depth nature of these articles as well as the devotion to a single theme taken from multiple perspectives is something no one will see in a major newspaper.

I took most of last week off to finish a massive project for one of my writing projects. This week away from the blog helped me figure out that I have been negligent in my duties as a media critic. I have lamented the stupidity, laziness and acceptance of mediocrity of cable news and major networks without contributing to the solution. The occasional series on alternative media that I have peppered throughout this blog will now be the primary source of material.

Seven Days is a weekly newspaper based out of Burlington, Vermont that offers a high level of quality for an alternative media source. The paper has been operating since 1995 and has achieved a circulation of 32,000 in print as well as countless other readers online. The Association of Alternative Newspapers (AAN) says that Seven Days is distributed to several ski areas in addition to colleges like Middlebury College and the University of Vermont.

The jewel of Seven Days is experienced writer Peter Freyne who wrote an article called Inside Track up until the last month. Freyne has left the paper after decades speaking to leaders and political insiders in Vermont. His irreverent manner (calling Senator Bernie Sanders “Bernardo�) is a good cover for Freyne’s keen eye for local politics. One of the most recent articles by Freyne involved an interview with Sanders regarding the state’s Democratic primary and the general election.

This alternative paper has the usual sections on music (Soundbites) and food (Side Dishes) that are desired by the average reader. My favorite article in the last few editions was an article on the Vermont Democratic Party’s failures to field a candidate for governor even as Progressive Party candidate Anthony Pollina has emerged as the only opposition to Governor John Lynch. This piece is fantastic because it goes into the depths of Vermont politics for the benefit of readers like me who know nothing of the Green Mountain State’s history.

My recent trip to Louisville, Kentucky gave me a chance to check out the city’s alternative newspaper. The Louisville Eccentric Observer (LEO) was far down on the list of things I took away from the trip but it was a pleasant surprise on the long drive back to Milwaukee. The pages of LEO were filled with well-written articles on local politics that were devoid of the partisan slant of other alternative newspapers.

LEO’s cover story on March 12 dealt with the proliferation of pharmaceuticals in Louisville’s water supply. This story has been a foot note in many newspapers and TV broadcasts over the last few weeks as people realize (gasp) that our drinking water is filled with junk. The newspaper went beyond a simple cover story on polluted water with pieces on the threat of atrazine pollution throughout Kentucky and an interview with film maker Irena Salina (”For Love of Water”). The reason that LEO trumps other alternative newspapers like my hometown Shepherd Express is the in-depth reporting on a single topic.

The writers and editors of LEO don’t appear to shut down the magazine once the cover story is written. Features like Representin’ (about the Louisville Metro Council), City Strobe (about local politics) and interesting guest commentaries make the publication a solid replacement for the Courier-Journal. I will continue to critique alternative newspapers in upcoming weeks as I take road trips during the summer travel season. In the meantime, check out the Louisville Eccentric Observer website here.

Milwaukee’s leading alternative newspaper, The Shepherd Express, celebrated its 25th anniversary last week with a peak at its development from day one. The Shepherd Express is similar to free alternative newspapers throughout the country in its commitment to unbiased discussion and a commitment to informing the public instead of dealing with ratings. I think papers like the Express are denigrated by community members and members of the local media due to its location next to the rental magazines in our city’s grocery stores. These critics don’t realize that this accessibility gives alternative media its value.

I have written about the crassness and self-serving demeanor of the Milwaukee press in the past. As stations perfect the sensational story and the non-editorial editorial, I can count on alternative newspapers to give me another perspective on local issues. I subscribe to the Journal-Sentinel, Milwaukee’s major daily newspaper, on the weekends in addition to picking up the Express each week. I use both sources as well as my daily experiences in the city to inform my views on community politics. I can only hope that thousands of others do the same.

Free alternative media provides hope for writers, editors and publishers who are concerned with media consolidation. This statement is nothing new but it needs to be screamed from every place in the blogosphere and the alternative media on a daily basis. The value of alternative newspapers comes from increased practice by concerned citizens. An increasing volume of newspapers, pamphlets and brochures from people throughout the political spectrum increases the quality of mainstream media. You can’t hit a home run without swinging the bat and the alternative media can hit on a greater number of issues with an increased number of outlets.