#7 - The Sleuth
Each Saturday the Moncton Times and Transcript has a feature in the opinion pages called "The Sleuth". I suspect the writers vary so it is tough to pin this one on one person. For those not familiar with it, "The Sleuth" is essentially a gossip column and calls itself as much. Sometimes it is right, most times it is not. It is however a fairly popular section of the paper. Most people would view it as pretty harmless but here is why you should be concerned.
Media outlets are fed rumours, gossip and innuendo every single day from phone calls, faxes, e-mails or people talking on the street. Responsible media outlets then send reporters out to check the facts and find out what the story is, if there is one. Not so with "The Sleuth". As long as there's a shread of possibility (and often even if there is not) they print it. It is shoddy journalism and we should demand better. The Irving papers has been failing miserably in recent years as they continue to cut the number of journalists and bureaus they have in New Brunswick. Local news content continues to dwindle. "The Sleuth" is a cheap way to try to put in some local content while doing minimal actual journalism. That type of journalism screws up our province and rips us as readers and buyers of the newspapers off.
posted by
Spinks at 4:32 PM -
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20 Comments
I pretty sure I know who the Sleuth is from past dealings, but I won't out him ot her in this comment section.
As for shoddy, no question. I mean, we already have enough tabloid trash to fill up seven superstore aisles, why create more? I don't get it.
5:53 PM
No matter who writes the column, "The Sleuth" is ultimately the publishing masters of the Times and Transcript. Granted, they are a private business and can do as they please. Apparently, their choice is to sink into the sewer. Too bad. they're pretty close to the only game int own so it would be nice to see them do a little more local reporting than they do now.
6:25 PM
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6:30 PM
clap clap clap.....i have been saying that for years spinks......now you deserve a blog about your site spinks.......lol....you sold me......lol..I'll do that for ya.....
6:31 PM
hey Charles:
Don't clap too hard, he's still got six people left. lol
Just joking buddy, for once you are right, this blog is worth blogging about.
6:46 PM
Hiya Spinks,
No arguments so far on the list - although must admit I haven't heard of the Sleuth before... for once I'm willing to take your word for it! :)
Nice work on starting a blog - you're a braver man than I... or maybe you have a line on discount ibuprofen? ;)
Quick question - some of the Blogs in your list have plus signs beside them... what does that mean? Been trying to figure it out and can't seem to find any real similarities between the ones "plussed".
Anyway, have a good one - fun reading.
J
8:39 PM
Don't know J, the pluses have something to do with the NB Blogroll. They appear on PNB and other NB sites as well. Something in the coding I guess. They just appear more prominent here.
I'm sure we'll disagree before #1, J. I'm just impressed I made it through 4 that you agree with. I must be getting soft. :)
9:03 PM
Ha! Well, we'll have to wait and see - waiting with bated breath for #6 :)
Cheers,
J
9:19 PM
You're a great writer, keep up the good work. I'm not sure if you're for Irvings or against them, maybe you could tell us sometime.
10:56 PM
In order to get a plus sign by your name, you have had to have served at least 10 years in the Dorchester pen.
In my case twenty!! lol
11:15 PM
I can see where you're coming from, but every Saturady morning I get my cup of coffee, sit down and flip the paper to the back of section D. The Sleuth is the first thing I read. The fact is, there's a reason it's not in the A section and is on the Opinion pages, it's not news. I would even suggest that it's entertainment for political junkies like myself.
6:49 AM
Sleuth the best one so far. Others are too regional.
10:56 AM
David little is another good one. Despite that you agree with his objectives you deplore his tactics. Impress. Cudos to you.
10:59 AM
The other good one is David Little. Despite that you agree with his objectives you deplore his tactics. Very impressed. Cudos to you.
11:04 AM
The other good one is David little. Despite that you agree with his objectives you deplore his tactics. Very impressed. Cudos to you.
11:07 AM
Sorry for the repetition. I had some problems with posting. New at this.
11:09 AM
Billy-jo, thanks for the kind words. Hopefully you still feel that way with the next 6. I'm neither for or againt the Irvings. They are a private company and can do as they please as long as it's legal and arguably ethical. If they've done well, I'll say so. When they have done bad, I'll call them on it like I have with "The Sleuth."
Monctonite, "The Sleuth" is popular. I've read it, otherwise it would be tough to comment on. A reader should howevere be concerned that the paper is not sending reporters out to actually check out the rumours. By not doing so, they are ripping you off.
Jones, nice to see you get an account and join in the discussion. As way of an explanation, my logic for choosing those who made the list is that they had to have some kind of impact or influence that at least potentially could have a ripple effect on the province and 50% my personal opinion. Robichaud's logic could have had drunk drivers asking MLA's for breaks. Little could mess up the entire revenue system which pays for lots of other things like health and education. Cassidy's logic would have meant open season on girls (and boys) at high schools, and the Sleuth is poor journalism which could spread to other media outlets.
I suspect there will be a fair amount of disagreement over my choices as we work our way to #1 (although I'm hopeful we can get some agreement on #1, it is a doozy) but as I wrote earlier, there aren't two New Brunswickers who could agree on the names or order of the list. This is my list. Even if you disagree, I'm hoping my reasoning will at least make you think beyond what you normally read about these people.
12:54 PM
I'll be honured if I hit the top 3!!!!!!...lol
3:55 PM
honoured
6:57 PM
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9:28 PM
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