Post by Miss Thang on Feb 11, 2010 13:19:47 GMT -5
Mr. Torp,
In 2010, it is disappointing to see the Ku Klux Klan continue to successfully manipulate the news media. While I completely understand the television logic for producing and promoting such sensational, ratings-driven journalism during a sweeps month, I am struggling to find the relevance of your story, “Local town will host a KKK Rally.”
Nahunta, GA will in no way “host” these individuals, almost all of which are from this organization’s headquarters in Bainbridge, GA. Nahunta will simply be the site on which they choose to descend. While it was admirable that your sound bytes were selected to express our town’s dissatisfaction with this organization’s choice of venue, it is puzzling why this particular story was even newsworthy in the first place on February 10 when the rally was scheduled for February 20. As a former television journalist myself, I understand you may shoulder the blame for this entirely, Mr. Torp, and I apologize if so. It may be more appropriately directed at your News Director & Assignment Editor.
It seems to me that if the story accomplished anything, it was to further promote the event so that KKK members throughout the WAWS demographic area could make their plans in advance to attend. Our citizens were already painfully aware of this upcoming event. We did not need a reminder on the 10 o’clock news.
I hope this was not your first impression of Nahunta. Please consider visiting us under different circumstances. For example, our community recently learned of the upcoming construction of a wood pellet power plant on our county’s eastern end, Magnolia BioPower. This will create dozens of jobs and millions of dollars of economic impact, not to mention the fact that the same company donated 75-acres of adjacent property to the facility for our local Development Authority to create a “green” industrial park. Perhaps coverage on your network could help our job-starved county to generate the positive publicity necessary to convince your viewers that our town is a one where they could potentially live, work and prosper – not one where KKK rallies are a common occurrence. Please call Jeanie Boland, Executive Director the Brantley County Development Authority at (912) 462-6275 to learn more about our exciting new industry.
I serve on that Development Authority’s Board of Directors, and I also provide our website visitors with coverage of their local news. I would absolutely welcome the opportunity to show you around our small town if you are ever in need of news. Click here to visit our company’s website and learn more about our company and community: www3.btconline.net/index.html
Admittedly, I wrote this email out of frustration because these KKK rally organizers have already earned too much attention. They may profess to be a non-violent group, but I question their common sense. I, too, am for jobs and against sexual predators and illegal immigration. However, I would never associate myself with an organization infamous for atrocities against humanity. There are better ways to spread the message. The images from their website that were shown during your story simply punctuate the fact that they ignorantly cling to a sordid past of hoods and burning crosses.
I strongly believe there are better stories in Brantley County for WAWS to pursue. They may not be as juicy in the 10PM promo slot, but sometimes local news stations fail to give their viewers’ credit for their intelligence. Hold the powerful accountable. Give voice to the voiceless. And promote the events that are worthy of promotion, rather than giving a traditionally violent organization more mileage than it deserves out of unfairly targeting our small town.
I appreciate your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
--
Robby Thomas
Marketing/IPTV Director
Brantley Telephone Company
(912) 462-0185
robby_thomas@btconline.net
www.btconline.net
In 2010, it is disappointing to see the Ku Klux Klan continue to successfully manipulate the news media. While I completely understand the television logic for producing and promoting such sensational, ratings-driven journalism during a sweeps month, I am struggling to find the relevance of your story, “Local town will host a KKK Rally.”
Nahunta, GA will in no way “host” these individuals, almost all of which are from this organization’s headquarters in Bainbridge, GA. Nahunta will simply be the site on which they choose to descend. While it was admirable that your sound bytes were selected to express our town’s dissatisfaction with this organization’s choice of venue, it is puzzling why this particular story was even newsworthy in the first place on February 10 when the rally was scheduled for February 20. As a former television journalist myself, I understand you may shoulder the blame for this entirely, Mr. Torp, and I apologize if so. It may be more appropriately directed at your News Director & Assignment Editor.
It seems to me that if the story accomplished anything, it was to further promote the event so that KKK members throughout the WAWS demographic area could make their plans in advance to attend. Our citizens were already painfully aware of this upcoming event. We did not need a reminder on the 10 o’clock news.
I hope this was not your first impression of Nahunta. Please consider visiting us under different circumstances. For example, our community recently learned of the upcoming construction of a wood pellet power plant on our county’s eastern end, Magnolia BioPower. This will create dozens of jobs and millions of dollars of economic impact, not to mention the fact that the same company donated 75-acres of adjacent property to the facility for our local Development Authority to create a “green” industrial park. Perhaps coverage on your network could help our job-starved county to generate the positive publicity necessary to convince your viewers that our town is a one where they could potentially live, work and prosper – not one where KKK rallies are a common occurrence. Please call Jeanie Boland, Executive Director the Brantley County Development Authority at (912) 462-6275 to learn more about our exciting new industry.
I serve on that Development Authority’s Board of Directors, and I also provide our website visitors with coverage of their local news. I would absolutely welcome the opportunity to show you around our small town if you are ever in need of news. Click here to visit our company’s website and learn more about our company and community: www3.btconline.net/index.html
Admittedly, I wrote this email out of frustration because these KKK rally organizers have already earned too much attention. They may profess to be a non-violent group, but I question their common sense. I, too, am for jobs and against sexual predators and illegal immigration. However, I would never associate myself with an organization infamous for atrocities against humanity. There are better ways to spread the message. The images from their website that were shown during your story simply punctuate the fact that they ignorantly cling to a sordid past of hoods and burning crosses.
I strongly believe there are better stories in Brantley County for WAWS to pursue. They may not be as juicy in the 10PM promo slot, but sometimes local news stations fail to give their viewers’ credit for their intelligence. Hold the powerful accountable. Give voice to the voiceless. And promote the events that are worthy of promotion, rather than giving a traditionally violent organization more mileage than it deserves out of unfairly targeting our small town.
I appreciate your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
--
Robby Thomas
Marketing/IPTV Director
Brantley Telephone Company
(912) 462-0185
robby_thomas@btconline.net
www.btconline.net