I have worked for about 4 - 5 years for a major news organization, with tenancies towards domination of marketplace and advertising pushes over editorial content. I shall not name the organization -- I'm not trying to spread allegations without evidence.
I have been increasingly annoyed with the content of our newspaper, especially since I keep sending more and more family overseas, literally. I have two cousins in Iraq at this moment, I'm sure another will join up soon. We're a large family, I'm a veteran and I was the oldest of the cousins in my generation on my father's side -- there are approximately fifteen of us included in this generation.
After I was discharged from the USAF I moved back to Indiana, where I got a job working at a new idea -- Internet Service Providers. We proceeded to build a pretty large infrastructure, started with about 100 customers in the region, ended before 2001 with over 250,000 people in the region as subscribers. I had been an employee of UUNet previously to that, which eventually lead to a bankruptcy and entire savings being swindled away. I decided no more internet, time to spread information, off to the press. When you think about it freedom of information coincides with freedom of the press.
I'm tired of seeing the same things come across our newspapers. Fluff stories which mean absolutely nothing in the grand scheme. Disinformation, softball questions, bogus investigations and most of all lack of desire for editorial integrity. When my news organization would print stories which had an obvious slant, which needed addressing because of it's inherent disconnect with that of the community which was their subscribers.
Essentially, they were only interested in the business section -- they had no interest in labor needs or social stories. They would only cover stories with any depth that showed benefit for the war, and the Administration currently at the helm. I stood by while statements were made in print: for example "Women who don't report rapes quickly, most likely are lying about the rape". When requested for a counter-point, the editor refused, when pushed further they dedicated a small counter-argument totally ignoring the statement and it's offensive nature.
I've sat by while reading journalists refer to Michelle Malkin as a journalist and columnist, giving credit to her words as if they were even near relevant to any conversation. Dedicating entire stories to Michelle Malkin and her actions.
Then I noticed with the recent plan from Congress with regards to Agent Orange and veterans from the Vietnam Era, the plan which would just give them the benefits if they haven't recieved them by now. I believe, honestly, if a veteran is hurt they deserve care forever, so I'm biased. If that veteran was in Vietnam then, and is unhealthy from that service in any way, they should receive benefits. Our paper called this plan radical, however that same day our web poll showed 70% of our readers that responded said the plan was the right course of action. Our readers respond saying it's a good idea, yet our journalists consider it awfully 'radical'. I just don't get it.
I'm told by our editor on the same foot, that we don't have politics in our paper -- when I think of a quote, I can't remember the source I do know it's from a valid military strategist who's teachings are still taught today.
'War is the ultimate weapon of politics'.
We'll report stories about the war, the soldiers, the casualties, yet we won't discuss why we're there. We won't discuss anything that's against the overall power agenda of the Administration. I honestly do not believe that it's done intentionally by some sort of secret agenda, however I've not been present in a lot of meetings. I reported directly to the CTO, two steps below the CEO -- it's not like I wasn't a valid requirement, in fact as you'll see shortly, desperately needed.
This last week I heard a collegue who worked in Editorial speak about an Advertising Rep. who gave her direct phone number to a customer. That customer called Editorial to determine if the story was still being written about them. They wanted to know if we were still covering them before they paid for advertising. My colleague told the customer that was inappropriate, I'm not sure how often this happens, but in my opinion it's just the cherry on the sundae.
I had resigned with a 7 page letter, citing examples of things which have made me decide to quit, both editorial content and business decisions that were being made. Lots of money was being wasted on ego, which in turn lead to the sleezy practices that I was seeing. I told my boss, that I did not want to "F---" him over, however I did want to quit without notice. I agreed to give him 30days, to which they could hire someone in to replace me, or promote from within and train up to speed. Today was the twenty-first day since my resignation, and not a single conversation about what they wanted to do. In fact, my boss didn't even speak to me face to face during that twenty days, unless I approached him -- I remember numerous times, he'd walk by my door and call me a few minutes later; perhaps he just forgot he wanted to talk to me and seeing me reminded him.
Today I walked in and went straight to Human Resources, I told the lady that I wanted to remove authorization for direct deposit, and quit. She told me I should come back Monday and talk to the HR VP. Come back on Christmas Eve please, and quit then, it'll be easier. I told her that wouldn't work, because I was quitting today, and she told me to goto my boss. After that conversation, I walked into my office where he followed me standing in the doorway yelling about how I couldn't pack up my personal affects. He told me there was work to do, and what I was doing right now was personal. I told him Virginia is a right to work state, which means I can be fired without notice, therefore I can quit whenever I want and they can't stop me -- I'm not under contract.
I walked into my office deeper putting papers of mine into a box I had setup on a chair. He started screaming a little bit louder, and rushed towards me when my back was turned. In the corner of my eye I saw his face extremely red, and definately reminded me of aggression, at the moment he rushed into my office he slammed my door. Crash... shatter... bam. My wall, which was composed of almost entirely a window had been shattered. He had come rushing towards me so fast and so hard that when he slammed the door, he shattered my wall all over my computer.
I asked him to back up off me a couple times or I would call the police, and after another colleague stormed into the room screaming and crying he finally broke off me and left my office. I've honestly never experienced a bumrush at a job before, but this one I've been bumrushed twice, seperate people. I packed up my belongings, went to HR and told the helpful lady that I didn't break the window and asked if there was something I should do to maintain innocence in destroying the property. My boss left, realizing I'm sure the gravity of the situation. The goto guy regarding anything technological in the building of any advanced nature just walked out.
He told me he was more upset because it was completely out of his control, he's losing his best employee, arguably one of the most important to day to day operations. I walked out, I felt sick everyday I went to work for a long time. I had moderately become depressed, when you spend so many hours supporting a product that you revile, it begins to eat at you. Yes I should and could have quit a long time ago, but comfort is a factor that all must take into account.
In my opinion, advertising customers should never contact journalists as a requirement to make a sale -- all sales reps should know that because of the nature of the business involved with newspapers. I am writing this diary so someone in America knows, people are standing up quietly -- there are people in the press who care about integrity and honesty, and I am one of them. I am trying to affect change by revolting from the establishment. It will be very hard for them to find someone with the skillset I had, who would be willing to take such low pay, strictly for the principle of supporting the organization we print for.
I have a new job it is not like this was a highschool walk-out session, it was my attempt to tell them we're not happy.
I'm canceling my television service as well while keeping Internet, it is much cheaper and intelligent, until all of my family members return from Iraq if ever. I blame the television for spreading us lies and continuing to spread the bullshit to protect this President's family name and profit their coffers. I figure if my kin can sacrifice their lives for this war, I can shut off my television at the least to sacrifice a mild form of entertainment -- if enough of people cancel our tv, perhaps we can enact more change.
Hit the machine where the money goes, and everyone knows if you follow the money in politics it tends to flow towards television. Why pay for that? We're paying to be sold as products to corporations who want us to buy their stuff. Spend our hard earned money on crappy toys that kill our kids made in China, while some people around this country can't get a damned job outside of service to save their lives.
Its almost like Neo, he decided to unplug himself from the Matrix and open his eyes; I imagine it'd be as simple as calling the cable man and saying:
'no more 80-200$ bill so you can lie to me and sell me to other people. no thanks indeed after all we have no jon stewart.'
note: I write code and build networks, not neccessarily write sorry if my grammar is terrible. My lady tells me I should try to use more punctuation so I'm trying new things hah; as I said I'm sorry.
UPDATE:
I just noticed this diary made it to recommended. Honestly, I expected no response at all. I don't want to get too verbose, I'll plan a supplemental diary for a future date before Christmas, about the topic of removing television from your life as a communication medium, while still being informed.