It’s the media’s job to put a better face on the Valley

It’s the media’s job to put
a better face on the Valley

EDITOR:

The Sept. 13 Vindicator carried two letters to the editor, one from Mayor Jay Williams about setting straight an inaccuracy by the media, and the other, from a Youngstown resident who also voiced her concern about why a media TV station was carrying the arrest of former Judge Cronin. I believe these two articles bring attention to what we have seen as the norm for years in media coverage, but have not understood their results. It may now be the time that the local media is called on the carpet on the subject of how they are portraying events and people in our area. Does anybody feel like I do that something isn’t working here in Youngstown?

Let’s say you’re planning to possibly move your family and your growing business to Youngstown. So you plan a trip here overnight and in the motel you turn on a local news cast. What do you see? Youngstown city council members having a heated disagreement, all captured on TV. In another instance, you hear disagreements over the old Southside Hospital building with law suits and personal jabs at Mr. Cafaro, and every detail plastered all over the news and newspapers.

On another Youngstown newscast you hear about the latest number of homicides while they are broadcasting live, covering another shooting. You see pictures showing the dead lying on a Youngstown street or sidewalk. The news continues with reports of rapes, arson fires and drug deals gone bad, all negative, all about Youngstown crime.

Are we so naive to think that once these stories get in print and on television night after night, month after month, that the very image we are trying to portray of Youngstown and its surrounding areas as being a good place for people to settle and open their business’ won’t work? The media coverage advertises the bad and over-shadows the good side of this city with its wonderful people, strong churches and meaningful life style. Hey Youngstown media, is this stuff news? Is this all in the name of good journalism and free speech? Sorry for the pun but, you’re killing us here!

I wish our local media would put their heads together and portray a more balanced perspective of reality, and what it is to value their neighbors and friends more than money and ratings. I wish they would begin dealing in the currency of what it takes to build a good self image in people and be a positive influence.

In closing, do you remember the debates in Youngstown and Warren whether city employees who work for the city should have to live in the city? The news media employees who write and report the news in Youngstown should also have to reside in Youngstown. This way when their broadcast is over each night they wouldn’t drive out to the suburbs where crime is less and not have to deal with the hopelessness of what their reporting, in part, is creating.

RICH RINKO

Liberty Township

Hot topic in Boardman

EDITOR:

I just retired from the Boardman schools with 37 years of teaching. I am thankful I am not in a hot room the first week in October. Last spring there were days that it was 90 degrees in my room at 7:45 a. m. That was before you added 20 warm bodies. During my years at Stadium my feet would swell and I was worn out on those hot days. The poor children looked like wilted flowers in the afternoon. Many staff and students had sick stomachs and headaches.

Times have changed. Most homes, cars and public buildings have some type of air conditioning. Although I miss the students and staff, I certainly don’t miss my 50-year-old, loud, inefficient box fan.

It’s time to update the Boardman Schools.

PAT ERVIN

New Middletown