City Club of Tacoma

"City Club of Tacoma’s May 1, 2019 panel discussing “The Future of Local Press” misses the boat on several levels: Panelists discussing journalism as a ‘product’ makes it into a commodity and demeans the reader and citizens of Tacoma (who are not operating at the highest level of citizenship, granted) yet not speaking to the depth of the need - deep dives into local challenges - like the tribes, or the LNG plant circumventing processes, or local prosecutor missteps until AFTER being outed. City Club doesn’t seem to even take the step of talking to the panelists prior, to ensure they know how to be hear in the microphones. Editor of the News Tribune seems unwilling and unable to get his message heard, not unlike his challenges getting readership to his rag. UPS, really doesn’t do introspection well either, using an acoustically abominable space for talks such as this. What architect didn’t design acoustic properties into this room? What AV system does it use that creates such echo and garbling at certain pitches (more male voices than female)? The ‘product’ of a newspaper is going the way of the buggy whip after automobiles, or the Swiss timepiece or handmade watch after the quartz crystal. However! Investigative journalism will ALWAYS be needed. But few of the questions or panelists can speak to upsetting the applecarts of the big donors to the University or City Club or the advertisers. Free speech was lost back when a newspaper first became cheeped when delivered to your door under subscription than going down to the store and buying one yourself. It is worse now with “free” content and the readers are now the ‘product’! The moderator asking the panel how we could ask for or accept an angel type investor to “swoop in” and save journalism, is akin to the Trump followers thinking he’s a billionaire outsider who’s swooped in saving them from “big government’” etc. When NPR and Seattle news perpetrates old biases like regularly not mentioning South Sound traffic but giving Northern traffic conditions, or blasting “if it bleeds, it leads,” stories about Tacoma, but not the deeper community issues, this “Local Press” becomes part of the good ole’ boys network and tired patriarchy. The young servers and the food catering were both excellent!"

"Though topics of speakers not always to my liking they are current and varied. Speakers are always of quality and with expertise."