Hot News!
• TIF and The Banks: Tax Dollar Boondoggle?
• The 60th Anniversary of the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict
Contact Us
v mail, fax: (214) 481-6464
e mail: click here
Events
 May 17, 9:30am - 12:30pm The 2008 Day of Dialogue Series- Education and the Common Good: Six Dialogues on Six Critical Issues: Health Care, Economic Development, Education, Immigration, Campaign Finance Reform and Foriegn Policy. Join us at the First Unitiarin Church, 536 Linton Street. All Are Welcome at these free events, reservations requested. |
Monday, May 19th, 6-7pm Cincinnati Progressive United’s 1st planning meeting, Bond Hill Branch Library, 1740 Langdon Farm Rd. at Jordan Crossing
|
June 28, 9am - 5pm Nonviolent Peacemaking Workshop, Presented by the Michigan Peace Team, Peaslee Neighborhood Center, call 579-8547 to sign up |
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Connect the Dots: The Enquirer, The Freedom Center, 3CDC’s OTR, and the Streetcar
Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Photo courtesy of here.
Does The Enquirer exhibit an editorial bias designed to advance their own business interests, particularly as they pertain to things like The Freedom Center, the Streetcar proposal, and 3CDC’s redevelopment in Over-The-Rhine? No matter one’s political position on these topics, what does it mean if Cincinnati’s major daily paper inserts itself into the business of the City to push for development for the purpose of self-profit? Is that the kind of thing we expect from so-called professional journalists? What does The Enquirer have to say, if anything, in response to such allegations?
For those who have been watching, apparent conflicts of interest regarding The Enquirer are nothing new. In fact, we first wrote about The Enquirer’s relationship with and coverage of 3CDC near the beginning of 2006.
Since we recently discovered The Freedom Center’s web relationship with The Enquirer via a domain entitled ShopAtCincinnati.com, one must wonder at the name of the domain itself. And when one considers how so many Streetcar advocates point to permanent rails as a boost to business development, one can’t help buy wonder if “ShopAtCincinnati.com” is a domain that will somehow capitalize on the overall development.
This, combined with The Enquirer’s connections to the parties involved—from The Freedom Center at The Banks development all the way to 3CDC’s Over-The-Rhine—well, it just starts to look like the paper has its hands into something besides reporting news.
So, in an attempt to seek complete clarification, I have just sent the following to Tom Callinan, Hollis Towns, and Margaret Buchanan:
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to seek clarification about the relationship The Enquirer has with various downtown entities and projects, specifically how these relationships may not only influence news stories, but also how they may indicate business relationships for profit.
For example, The Enquirer appears to own a domain entitled “ShopAtCincinnati.com.” The Freedom Center utilizes this domain when seeking to link volunteers with agencies seeking help through an online interface. And the overall Freedom Center web page appears hosted on The Enquirer’s servers.
As has already been discussed, Margaret Buchanan sits on the board of 3CDC.
The new Streetcar proposal seeks to connect the area including The Freedom Center to 3CDC’s Over-The-Rhine development. Proponents say permanent rail lines attract business. The idea of new business seems to fit with a domain entitled “ShopAtCincinnati.com.”
Some may deduce, therefore, that The Enquirer, as a business entity, is seeking to influence news in a manner beneficial to its own profit.
1. How does The Enquirer respond to such allegations?
2. Since “ShopAtCincinnati.com” does not have an active home page, what is the purpose of that domain?
Thanks for your prompt response to these questions. I may have follow ups.
Respectfully,
The Dean of Cincinnati
• Share This Article!
Listen to this article
|  |
Register
Anonymous comments are allowed, but you can log in above to stamp your name and to avoid typing the anti-spam code.
If you are not familiar with our rules for leaving comments, click here!
01 May 2008 at 08:22 pm | #
This seems like a bit of a stretch considering the Enquirer hasn’t been overly positive or negative regarding the streetcar proposal. Sure there have been a couple of out and out positive articles, but there have been equally as many out and out negative articles relating to the streetcar proposal.
With that said, it will be interesting to hear their response.
02 May 2008 at 09:35 am | #
Your query doesn’t make much sense, especially the day after Bronson had a long rant against the streetcar on the Enquirer editorial page. Heck, some 3CDC board members are organizing against rail too.
02 May 2008 at 07:58 pm | #
No, it still stands. I know there is some concern about the Streetcar taking money from both the Banks and 3CDC. So whichever way The Enquirer goes, one can’t help but wonder if the position is motivated by their own business interests outside the scope of news.
02 May 2008 at 09:01 pm | #
I keep thinking about this. In my view, The Enquirer is so compromised they cannot take a trusted position.
If they are for or against the proposal, they seem to have interests served by either side. Maybe they will side with 3CDC, not wanting money to get redirected from their development to Streetcars. Or, maybe they have some marketing strategy to profit from potential new business.
I know it may seem like I’m playing to both sides here, but The Enquirer is the entity that has inserted itself into this issue.