Today on SP Radio: The Miller article and SP’s role in the local media
On today’s show we’re going to take a look at Smile Politely and its role in the local media landscape. The impetus for this conversation is the recent article we published on Calvin Miller, which drew a lot of local attention and commentary. Many of the accounts in that article have been discredited by the recent release of the police video, but does that mean we should not have published it? We're going to take a look inside the process. And instead of focusing on this one issue though, we are going to open up to a larger conversation about what SP does and how it compares to traditional journalism and other local outlets.
In addition to SP editors Caleb Curtis and Joel Gillespie, we will be joined by Eric Bussell, who is the founder of HalfwayInteresting.com. Eric is also a frequent commenter on Smile Politely, including many about the Miller piece.
Lisen live at 5:30 p.m. on WEFT.org or 90.1 FM.
As of todayish, we have officially had this radio gig for a year. So if you’re reading this, you’re invited to come help us celebrate from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Mike n’ Molly’s. There will be cake.
1 comments
@ John
I missed the radio show and won’t be able to hear it until the podcast, but I’ll put in my two cents here in the meantime.
You write: “Many of the accounts in that article have been discredited by the recent release of the police video, but does that mean we should not have published it?”
There’s a lot to consider, but I think publishing the article was a mistake.
It’s fine to publish anyone’s OPINION on pretty much anything, but publishing anyone’s ACCUSATIONS of police brutality is a different matter.
Someone might argue, “Well Dolinar just wrote down Calvin Miller’s account of the incident,” but it’s transparent that Dolinar wanted the reader to believe that account. That’s making accusations.
Basically, Calvin Miller’s account of events, as reported by Dolinar, turned out to be nonsense.
By extension, the article turned out to be a joke.
Both things were easy to see coming.
When I first read the article, I knew that Smile Politely publishes other pieces from people with very different viewpoints from its author. I knew that the magazine has published articles that are
positive towards the CPD in the past. I also knew that Calvin Miller’s account of events wasn’t something that the magazine was endorsing.
But consider this: casual readers of Smile Politely didn’t necessarily know what I knew - what they saw when the article was published was something that looked highly credible, and it’s easy to see how someone would reach the assumption that the views within were something the magazine endorsed.
Putting it on the cover and making it a featured article also gave it a certain sense of legitimacy, intended or not. The Smile Politely website itself is beautiful - putting any article at all on here makes it look like its for real.
Readers saw something that was written and looked like actual news, even if it wasn’t in the “News” section.
The Miller article was published in “Culture” rather than “News” which is good, and maybe it was fine to publish it as long as it wasn’t officially presented as news. Maybe a disclaimer for pieces this controversial at the top would help? I don’t know.
Still, I don’t think there’s a place for this kind of writing on Smile Politely - no matter how it’s presented - if the magazine is going to be “trustworthy,” which is a word that sticks out to me from the mission statement.
Most Recent SPlog Comments
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
And without bloodshed. Sounds like the Savoy trustees aren’t as narrow-minded as some of their whiny pants constituents. Do you think quack Snell is already planning an asinine counterattack or is he still laying low after those “threats” against his person?
Excellent. I am glad sometimes American dreams are encouraged, rather than stifled.
Dollars to waffles says the study session will conclude that there is parking available in the Hill Street Parking Deck.
I can see requiring them to plug meters where they park, but the license fee thing sure sounds like some established business doesn’t like the competition and has an in with the city gummint staff.
This is pretty much ridiculous. However, I would hope that local businesses that aren’t opposed would step up and allow the Crave Truck in their private parking lots. That won’t solve the licensing issue though… (Insert not-so-subtle reference to Snell being behind the grand conspiracy to kill…
How convenient.
Sick Boy was pretty good with computers.
Most Popular SPlog Articles (60 days)
- Tim Johnson is leaving Congress at the end of term
- Three local bands make national news
- Win a signed poster by Sigur Rós
- Local news headlines for Friday, May 11
- Chambana Moms awaiting dads’ return from store with gallon of milk, pack of smokes
- Local news headlines for Thursday, May 10
- Singer/songwriter Bill Mallonee is in town this weekend.
- Stories & Beer returns Saturday the 14th
- C-U Tweets of the Week
- We bought a new server, along with some whiskey and cigarettes
Most Recent Comments
Local Yocal pretty much nails it here. I suspect there will be merchants who oppose food trucks because they arguably don’t pay their fair share to locate their trucks in high traffic (high rent) areas. The food trucks take away business from rent payers, park in city…
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles
And without bloodshed. Sounds like the Savoy trustees aren’t as narrow-minded as some of their whiny pants constituents. Do you think quack Snell is already planning an asinine counterattack or is he still laying low after those “threats” against his person?
hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.
Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Excellent. I am glad sometimes American dreams are encouraged, rather than stifled.
Facebook
Twitter
Full Site
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!