Below is the view from Mr Neil Andrew. Thanks Neil. Right on. You coulden't have said it any better.
Dear Visionaries:
Having recently read the article posted at http://garysdish.blogspot.com regarding the incorporation of Gay and Lesbian Community print media news into the Shepard Express I have a few thoughts that I think would be best expressed on this issue.
I hold to the position that I am in direct opposition to any involvement on the part of the Lesbian and Gay community to attempt to create a monthly forum in the Shepherd Express because doing so would, in my opinion, divide the community along loyalty lines much like it did, in those historic days, when Milwaukee received the majority of its GLBTIQ news from two competing papers. People either read and supported one or the other, but in very few cases, did they support both effectively enough to keep them in print.
In addition to the fact that as history shows our city cannot seem to sustain or support multiple newspapers there is a secondary issue present that I fear is being forgotten by each and every one of you. To put it simple the Shepherd Express is principally a heterosexual newspaper whose primary purpose is to focus its storylines on the needs and interests of the vast majority of its readers who are also primarily heterosexual in their lifestyles and viewpoints.
This fact should, if it has not already done so, raise concerns in the hearts and minds of all of you as there exists a likelihood that the Shepherd Express would ever become the only clearly visible voice of GLBTIQ news in the Metropolitan Milwaukee is theoretically likely as support for the existing paper would be impacted negatively. Given this and the additional fact that there simply is no “set in stone” guarantee that the Shepherd Express would not at some point eventually relent to any pressure from those in our society who, because of homophobia, would seek to totally eradicate our visibility in media I feel that on this issue you are not acting in the best interests of the community you claim to represent.
The Visioning Project and all of its members, without exception, should be ashamed of themselves for not speaking out in defense of the rights and liberties enshrined in the Constitution. Our democratic republic was after all founded by visionaries who in many cases gave their lives to preserve the voice of the minority opinion which fashioned the very fabric on which our flag is flown today.
Silencing our voices in the name of protecting the profitable interests of the private sector fails to service the need for a public independent news outlet that consistently promotes our diverse culture as opposed to allowing ourselves to be morphed into nothing more than a segment of society worthy of an occasional honorable mention in a print section permitting us to express our simple views.
For this reason, I encourage everyone who is opposed to this initiative to act now, and in good conscience contact the Shepherd Express as listed below:
Ms. Lisa Kaiser, Editor - in - Chief
207 E. Buffalo St. Ste. 410
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone Number : 414-276-2222
Website: http://www.shepherd-express.com
Respectfully,
The Rev. Neil Andrew, O.M.S.
1 comment:
Thanks for your e-mails and posting on the newspaper issues. As I was unable to attend the Vision Project meetings in Sept. & Oct. when this was primarily discussed, I encourage you to attend the Dec. 21st meeting when people more knowledgeable will be present.
At this time however, I would encourage you to consider the following:
>It is quite obvious that you missed the point of Mr Andrew's email and my blog. Here is my response and a clarification.
Reaching out to the Shepherd Express was a non-exclusive arrangement and LGBT organizations are encouraged to submit to multiple news outlets.
>As you should know in business when an idea is tossed out many businesses will ask or demand that a Non-Competition agreement be signed by those business people we are seeking an alliance with. This is so that they will not steal our idea. Unless you know it or not this happens all the time to those who don't protect themselves from unscrupulous businessmen.
1.Personally I read dozens of periodicals each month, and would appreciate more coverage of our community each each. While previously living in Chicago and the Twin Cities I read multiple LGBT publications and did not feel loyalty to a single one.
> Chicago and the Twin Cities are entirely different markets from Milwaukee. If you know anything about Marketing (which I suspect you don't) you would know that Milwaukee is a very hard market when it comes to doing business. Because it is such a hard market, Milwaukee is regularly chosen as a Test Market. It is sells here it will sell almost everywhere else.
2.This is not a constitutional issue. As you hopefully know, that document is a compact between the government and its citizens. Since the federal government (nor any level of government) is involved in this situation, the first amendment does not apply.
>You must have flunked American History. One of the key components of our Constitution is freedom of speech. That is one of the reasons our forefathers came to the new world in the first place. Censorship in any form is fought in our courts on a daily basis. The problem I and others have is that a heterosexual newspaper may censor our news or worse refuse to print it.
As stated above, I have no intention of having this conversation over e-mail.
>Boy that is strange seeing as you do almost everything by email. Do I detect a bit of hypocrisy here?
I did however want to let you know where I was coming from.
Joel
>You've been living here how long? Don't try to come across as an expert unless you know what you are talking about.
Expert Definition, An Ex is a used-to-was and a Spurt is a drip under pressure.
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