Water Cooler Conversations

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

A recent front page of a local, daily newspaper displayed a three-quarter page chart reflecting the downturn of the stock market since 2007. In the left column of the front page, were short stories of layoffs and general negative news.  Most surprising is that the weather highlight indicated “partly sunny” versus “partly cloudy – unusually upbeat for this newspaper.

Well today I am officially boycotting “Section A” of all newspapers and welcome you to join me in that mission.  The front page and much of the content contained in the first section of many newspapers does not do much to maintain consumer confidence and optimism. Negativity and sensationalism is Section A - nothing more, nothing less.  It is certainly not “fair and balanced” journalism.

So, if you still get the paper and feel like me, here is what you can do with a newspaper’s first section that is consistently overly negative:

1. Don’t read it…don’t ever read it.  You are not missing a thing.
2. If you have a fire place, use it with kindling to start your fires.  Nothing like seeing sensationalized, bad news go up in smoke.
3. Line kitty litter boxes with the Section, or use it to house train your new puppy.  It will be poop on poop.
4. Recycle it and the rest of the newspaper.  At least something good will come out of something bad.
5. Send it back to the Publisher and ask for a discount on your paper since Section A is not really news.

The daily newspapers in our land (and the evening news) batter their subscribers with bad news and delight in the words crisis and disaster.  What they don’t realize is that their industry is in a crisis because of the disaster they are printing in their newspapers’ first Section.

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

There are many reasons why the newspaper industry is dying a slow death in this country.  Primarily, they are not offering value to their readership. What was once considered news is now an array of shock headlines of information most of us learned about prior to the morning paper delivery.  Technology has afforded us instant access to information from across the globe.  Incredibly, the newspaper industry “leadership” is stubborn to change, making them the modern day horse and buggy.

Not far behind are the mainstream television stations and cable networks.  The nightly news has for some time pandered to the negative; reflecting the media’s censorship of what they believe is the news of the day – murders, rapes, robberies, corruption.  Ironically, they try to make it all better by closing the show with a “feel good” story after most everyone has tuned out or turned off the “newscast”.

The media’s defense is that they have a “responsibility” to report the news…that is true…but it has been a long time since they have been responsible.  Here is a revelation for the media - good news is also considered news.  And, believe it or not, our region has a ton of good news.  It is there for the taking.

Since our local political leadership has fallen by the wayside the past few years, perhaps an opportunity to lead the region can be ignited by the local media.  The power to influence is still alive and well…people are praying and hoping for real leadership…real risk taking and real positive change. 

The local media still has tremendous power to influence its readership and viewers.  I would challenge all of them to try something different, even if it would be for one day…don’t report any negative information or spin including the shock headlines.  Leave words like crisis, doom and failure out of the vocabulary for one day or better yet for one week. Imagine the psychological impact – it would be a cool thing.  In fact, I would bet if the local media tried this for a week, they would be hard pressed to go back to the status quo - maybe that is what they fear.

And, if I’m wrong, nothing is lost but a few days of bad news.

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

Recently we were informed of an opportunity with Cleveland’s local newspaper to be promoted as a “World Class” organization.  At first glance I thought this to be a real nice opportunity for ERC to receive some positive press about our organization.  Unfortunately, we found that there was a $7,500 advertising fee involved.  Unreal.

So here we go again.  Our American standard of pride once again bows to the almighty dollar.  Is nothing sacred? 

I am not sure whether to shame the organizations that bite at this program or the newspaper for charging companies $7,500 to be labeled “World Class”.  Incidentally, you receive a full-page ad in the newspaper about your “World Class” organization and some promotions on the internet through their dot com affiliate.  It’s a pretty good deal in terms of advertising dollars as full-page ads are almost double the price in their newspaper.

I have a better idea - have the newspaper provide these types of advertising discounts only to organizations that have actually been recognized as a NorthCoast 99 organization, NEO Success Award organization or any of the other credible business recognitions awarded in Northeast Ohio.  Now, there would be a real deal, for organizations that are truly “World Class” and constantly working to improve.

We have great success stories in this region.  Rather than have companies pay to have their story told, maybe the newspaper might start thinking about actually reporting good news for awhile.  With advertising dollars sinking to new lows and the newspaper consolidating operations (and staff) you think that they would finally get the point that bad news just doesn’t sell anymore.

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

Once in a great while I take a look at the Obituary Section in the newspaper.  I don’t spend much time on these pages.  Not much “good news” there, but there is very little uplifting news in the daily newspapers anyway.  Also, I don’t like thinking about my own mortality, and get a cold chill up my spine when I see someone in their late forties and early fifties “taken” too early - it’s a little too close to “home”.

There is a striking characteristic about the Obituaries.  Most, if not all of the “headlines” for the deceased reflect their career achievements.  Take a close look next time you thumb through the newspaper.  The headlines may read something like, “John Smith, Electrician at XYZ Company or Mary Jones, Owned ABC Company“.  If the only “headline” I ever make is on the Obituary page, I hope it is more meaningful than what I did for a living! 

Unfortunately, like in life, the Obituaries reflect how some people “measure” a person’s worth - by career, money and/or possessions.  In some newspapers, there is even a special section in the Obituaries for “notable” deaths!  I feel sorry for the other individuals memorialized on the page whose death is evidently not as notable as a Hollywood actor or former professional athlete.   Perhaps we have our priorities screwed up America!

How many times do we ask a person who we meet for the first time what they do for a living?  And why do we seem to “respect” a person more if they have more degrees, impressive titles, occupy the “corner office” or earn tons of cash?  Some people even measure a person’s worth by the car they drive - imagine that! 

Does it really matter what someone does for a living (unless it’s illegal), what kind of car they drive, money they have, title they use or clothes they wear?  We all know you “can’t take these things with you” when we go to the “great big ERC in the sky”.  So what’s the big deal?

My guess is that many of the people I read about in the Obituary section of the newspaper would probably like to come back and edit or rewrite their obituaries - especially their “headline”.  Perhaps what we should all do is take a few minutes and write down what we want said about us in the Obituaries some day, including our “headlines”. 

Now that would be some interesting reading!