Political Causes

Home Town Newspapers Facing Economic Realities

Liberalism over regional identity

By Stephen L. Wilmeth

                                                                                            

             I have wondered what happened to Andy Murphy.

            ‘Murph’ was our hometown reporter who cruised our practice fields and maintained a vigil on the sidelines during games. He may have been prone to hometown bias, but he’d chew our rears as quickly as our coaches for inadequate performances. He was honest in his assessments, but he wanted us to win. He wanted what was best for local pride.

            We knew what side he was on. His accounts of our successes were always associated with just a tad more superlative.

            That was a long time ago … in the days before the Silver City Daily Press was corralled and stabled with regional counterparts tied to corporate ownership that is not driven by local history. They are now tethered to political leanings that are clearly biased in support of liberal principles.

            I would be disappointed if Andy aligned himself with today’s contrived and directed predisposition ink spots. Rather, I see him standing in a rainstorm signaling to that corporate ownership his support for their actions. What signal would that be?

Their interpretation would likely be his dramatic gesture still supported their number one position, but those of us who knew Andy … would recognize he was using the wrong finger.

Liberal or nothing

I was in a meeting recently and the question of allegiance to the Las Cruces Sun-News came up. It was no surprise to me that the majority of the attendees no longer read the Sun-News. To the person, they related how they could no longer stomach its standard liberal bias.

I must admit I have repeatedly come to the same conclusion, but my wife is adamantly opposed to allowing the subscription to lapse. Her disdain for the reporting is not as strong as her loyalty to our golden retriever, Freddie Mack, and his little side kick, Orphan Annie. Freddie Mack’s genetic urge to retrieve something is satisfied each morning by fetching the paper. He is accompanied, rain or shine, by his little bomber escort, Annie. The joy of their joint mission each morning is worth the price of admission to the local liberal rag.

Reluctantly, I concur … I’ll read the sports.

The state of the Sun-News and its counterparts, though, must be addressed. How can local papers continue to lose readership through constant editorial affront and remain robust? The answer, of course, is they cannot unless they are subsidized by an outside source that has concluded it is more important to maintain polarizing interpretations of causes than to sell newspapers. The matter of economics would otherwise prevail.

The evolution of the process is occurring. Consolidation is a symptom of liberal print media decline. Overhead must be spread and that is alleviated temporarily by acquisitions. Production costs follow a similar trend and more local papers are added to the managed stable. An interesting characteristic of southwestern New Mexico rag production is the frequency of trained management coming through the turnstiles of liberal Denver ink spots. Regionalism be damned!

The unwritten mission statements are also tediously similar. Survey 100 front and op-ed pages of the Sun-News and affiliates and tally the results. Progressive causes will unabashedly tip the scales. The military is cautiously observed. Agriculture is unobserved. Education budgets are defended. Gay rights are heralded. Jazz festivals swamp any suggestion of western swing. Wildfires are blamed on global warming. Energy preferences are not yet invented. Social ills are George Bush’s fault. New Mexico values clash with anything GOP. Private enterprise is dutifully accepted but not applauded. Wilderness defenders outnumber opponents six to one. Steve Pearce is crucified, and … the classifieds continue the endless search for that single magician who can unlock the door to prosperity by selling ads to greedy capitalists.

Alternatives are coming

Indeed, revenue harvest is declining compared to potential readership.

The Sun-News offends too many people who need a degree of current print news to make them feel part of the community. Those discontented readers are still vital to the community’s wellbeing, and they are looking elsewhere for print news.

They are finding news sources that challenge, but don’t offend their senses.

One of those is the New Mexico political blog, The Westerner, produced by Frank DuBois’ in Las Cruces. Its premise is simple. It defends rather than despairs constitutional matters.

DuBois’ readership rolls display a steady positive trend as compared to the Sun-News stable mates. His increases are double digit bumps. Daily issues are read by numbers of folks on Capital Hill and legislators in every state west of the 100^th Meridian.

Such success isn’t limited to electronic media. Another example of the trend in response to the dearth of regional and heritage advocacy is the arrival of unaffiliated news sources like the Glenwood Gazette. The Sun-News would do itself a great favor by evaluating why an overwhelming percentage of locals in that community seek out, read, and … defend its every issue.

The risk of loss of regional identity

Regional heritage is hugely important. From an economic perspective it is a legitimate means to spread risk. From a practical standard, it is insurance to react to real conditions of resource constraints rather than the misinformed adoption the mass standards that threaten our freedom. And, from a cultural standpoint, it maintains the distinct flavor of local customs that elevate the very characteristics that make each place special and unique.

Moreover, those of us out here in the hinterlands are deciding our heritage roots are not the slanderous influences that for too long we have been led to believe. We are starting to take a second look at who we are, and … the image in our mirrors isn’t so bad.

Stephen L. Wilmeth is a rancher from southern New Mexico. “Calling all daily locals … as soon as an alternative arrives with just a hint of fair and balanced reporting, Freddie Mack and Orphan Annie will be retrieving it!”

1.  Thanks for the compliment.
2.  Looks like the Sun-News has gone to the dogs at the Wilmeth place.