• Home
  • Legislative Watch List
  • Contact Us
  • Books & References
  • LINKS
  • WEEKLY CARTOONS
  • Never shake a baby, let him do it himself!
  • WCSO Lt. Brian Filipiak Arrested for Drunk Driving
Washtenaw Watchdogs

HELP! I have been Banned from the Ann Arbor News

12/26/2013

4 Comments

 
Picture
The editors of the Ann Arbor News have banned me from commenting on their news articles. This is all because I posted some comments critical of their censorship of commenters and their editorial decisions.

This started with an article that they posted regarding the investigation by Ann Arbor Police of an alleged assault by UM football player, Taylor Lewan, on some Ohio State football fans after the UM/OSU football game [1]. The Ann Arbor News article had very little information in it and made it sound like Taylor Lewan was just in the area of the fight rather than him actually being the assailant. One of the commenters on the article posted a link to the original story [2]. The censors at the AA News removed the link and posted the following comment.

·         “Comments that link to an unverified account of the incident, as well as comments that contain speculation, have been removed per the community rules”

I took exception to that and wrote several comments critical of the editorial policy because the editor was treating the readers as if they could not read an article on the web and make up their own mind about whether or not it was credible. The editor then posted a threatening comment of her own.

·         “Comments about moderation should be posted on the Community Talk blog, not here, and those who are refusing to follow that rule despite being well aware of it will be suspended”

I replied to her comment by pointing out that some of my comments that she had removed were not about the moderation policy but about the lack of information in the article. She then barred me from commenting on any article in perpetuity.

She then had an email exchange with me saying, among other things;

·         When we report information, such as in the Nassif case, we know that our reporters have done their due diligence and we can stand behind what they've reported.  When we aggregate, we are careful only to aggregate from credible, respected, professional news sources. Generally speaking, we don't allow commenters to link to non-professional sources with information we can't independently verify, because we have no idea what sort of reporting methods they have used.

·         You seem to be under the erroneous impression that it's your job to inform our readers. It is not. On our site, you are a commenter, and you are expected to follow the rules like anyone else.

The original source of the Lewan story was not a personal blog but rather a professional sports blog published in partnership with CBS Sports. That is what they are calling an unverified source.

If any of my readers would like to help me get back on the AA New website, please let the editors know that you want to read my comments.

If you have an AA News account you could post a comment wherever you think appropriate saying “Please unblock Douglas Smith at Washtenaw Watchdogs” or you can send an email to the editors or publishers of the AA News.

jeyer@mlive.com

paulagardner@mlive.com

cindyheflin@mlive.com

Or you can email the President of MLive on their contact page;

http://www.mlivemediagroup.com/about/contact-us/email-president-form/

Thank you for any support you can give me to fight the corporate censorship of the local news media.



[1] http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2013/12/police_investigating_whether_t.html#incart_river_default


[2] http://ohiostate.247sports.com/Article/Michigans-Lewan-Accused-Of-Assault-167623


4 Comments
c w kauffman link
12/26/2013 10:55:25 pm

Don't be paranoid. They dislike anyone who reveals the truth about the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The preceeding business venture was the same. Suppress the truth. And, before that the original A2 News printed propaganda and the UM awarded their ace reported a Mike Wallace Fellowship to make sure that he understood UM policies. The legacy of Joseph Goebbles has been preserved. You can see it at the monthly Regents' Meeting.

Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:41:55 -0500
To: laurelchampion@annarbor.com
From: C W Kauffman <......@charter.net>
Subject: FORBIDDEN?

Why as a paid paper subscriber do you prevent me from posting on line comments? Are you still trying to protect MSC road kill? Cheers.

Reply
Christian Youngblood
1/10/2014 04:34:04 am

Have you heard anything about a high ranking member of the sheriff's department that was found passed out behind the wheel of his vehicle at Michigan and Austin, parking lot of an auto dealership Saline Mi. Apparently Saline PD called the State Police out. This occurred on 12/20/2013 , late evening. If not mistaken it was same person who responded out to the airport for a Lt. that was drunk

Reply
D Shand
2/7/2014 02:10:25 am

Paula Gardner is the person that decides what can get published and not in the A2 News. She is a very shaddy individual that is influenced by local goverment officials and buisneiss that she has relationships with. There is a rumor around town she is called the " Joan Rivers" of Ann Arbor. Big Mouth ugly hag is what people of Ann Arbor think of her.....

Reply
oxymoron
4/22/2014 06:16:04 am

Just do whatever one else does make a new account and keep posting. If they IP ban you then use a VPN and post away.

I just keep reposting if it disappears till i get banned

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Doug Smith

    Chief Watchdog

    Archives

    December 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

LEGAL INFO