Saturday, July 4, 2009

Jim Hopkins talks about shutting down his blog

Jim Hopkins posted some thoughts on closing down Gannett Blog. I think anonymous, vitriolic comments posted on his blog started getting to him. But he says he planned to shut down his blog after 2 or 3 years all along. Read his statement here.

Hat tip: Fading to Black
.
.
.

8 comments:

John Altevogt said...

Yet another argument for registration. There can always be a mechanism to allow for significant contributions to come from sources whose jobs maybe imperiled, but anonymity to protect cowards is ridiculous. Why should decent bloggers trying to engage in civil dialog have to mix with morons who can't even formulate a logical argument?

Post modernity has become the age of the ignorant and ill-mannered. Time to turn the corner and put the sixties generation and all of the lunacy it spawned behind us. Fortunately, Osama bin Obama will be making an argument for just that on a daily basis.

Anonymous said...

Only required to the title of the post.


"Who cares"

Another wannabee journalist goes away.

John Altevogt said...

The reason we would care is because unlike most newspapers in recent years, he contributed something of value to society.

Anonymous said...

***The reason we would care is because unlike most newspapers in recent years, he contributed something of value to society.***


Exactly what did he contribute?

Jim said...

In the beginning, I erred on the side of giving my critics an open forum. It felt like an abuse of my privilege to block or remove criticism directed at me.

But that all changed in April, when I flew to Washington to confront Gannett CEO Craig Dubow about the whereabouts of $40,000 in Gannett Foundation money. Public documents suggested he had steered the money -- originally meant to help non-profits in communities where Gannett does business -- to a private scholarship fund honoring Dubow and his wife, Denise, at a small public university in North Carolina.

On the stage, before the board of directors, the top brass and about 300 management onlookers, plus many more watching on closed-circuit TV, he finally admitted the truth. It was a pain in the butt to go to such lengths, but I exposed him for what he had been.

To 6:08 pm: My contribution was to show the power of citizen journalism, and to reveal what I believe was the true character and leadership of a man who is now directing the lay off of 1,400 or more newspaper workers.

Anonymous said...

Exactly what did he contribute?




OUCH! Now you know.

Anonymous said...

6:08 here. Thanks, Jim, I wasn't aware of this. And thanks for your civil reply. I wish we saw more civility like yours on McClatchy Watch.

Anonymous said...

I wish we saw more civility like yours on McClatchy Watch.




He says after trying to being a smart ass only to have it handed to him.