Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
The Chronicle Sinks to a New Low
Friday, October 5, 2007 : In a transparent effort to boost its Internet readership, the San Francisco Chronicle is actively urging people to send e-mails describing how much they hate homeless people. Stirring up feelings of contempt toward our fellow humans is quite a journalistic endeavor. And what a wonderful way to convey a “love thy neighbor” sensibility! One can endorse police involvement in getting homeless people off sidewalks without denigrating people’s humanity.
But like a right-wing “shock jock,” the Chronicle wants readers to not simply nod in agreement but to go to their computer and fire a zinging e-mail attack. These e-mails help fill up the paper’s news section, and are used to demonstrate to advertisers that the Chronicle has great interactivity with its readers. And with the Chronicle’s Season of Sharing campaign starting next month, the paper feels compelled to spew its maximum venom against the poor now, so it can make nice come Thanksgiving and Christmas.
After 25 years of covering homelessness, the San Francisco Chronicle continues to define the problem as problem street behavior. Forget the billions of dollars in federal housing cuts, and ignore the fact that America has far fewer housing units than necessary to house its population--- the Chronicle sees homelessness as chiefly caused by troubled and/or anti-social individuals who only need “tough love” to get off the streets.
It’s an attractive argument. It gets the government off the hook and places all the blame on homeless persons themselves for not ensuring a roof over their heads.Read More
After 25 years of covering homelessness, the San Francisco Chronicle continues to define the problem as problem street behavior. Forget the billions of dollars in federal housing cuts, and ignore the fact that America has far fewer housing units than necessary to house its population--- the Chronicle sees homelessness as chiefly caused by troubled and/or anti-social individuals who only need “tough love” to get off the streets.
It’s an attractive argument. It gets the government off the hook and places all the blame on homeless persons themselves for not ensuring a roof over their heads.Read More
For more information:
http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?...
Add Your Comments
Comments
(Hide Comments)
Checked out the comments sections at SFGate?
Isn't it curious that comments are rare for the Editorial section, but numerous for "quality-of-life" articles?
Many of the comments are tendentious-- brazenly attacking the city supervisors and lauding mayor Newsom (fits well with the Chronicle worldview don't they?).
I often wonder if half the Chronicle staff is told to fill them out.
Further, one cannot vote down comments, as one can do at youtube-- one can only vote them up or flag them.
Further, they are a chore to read because only a few comments can be read at a time.
Randy Shaw is right to identify how the Chronicle capitalizes on bile.
Isn't it curious that comments are rare for the Editorial section, but numerous for "quality-of-life" articles?
Many of the comments are tendentious-- brazenly attacking the city supervisors and lauding mayor Newsom (fits well with the Chronicle worldview don't they?).
I often wonder if half the Chronicle staff is told to fill them out.
Further, one cannot vote down comments, as one can do at youtube-- one can only vote them up or flag them.
Further, they are a chore to read because only a few comments can be read at a time.
Randy Shaw is right to identify how the Chronicle capitalizes on bile.
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$190.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network