When Bloggers Become the Wikipedia of Journalism — A Study In Irresponsibility
By Diego Garcia III | Editor of The Brownsville Beacon
You have to be very careful with what you believe when you read something online. With the relative absence of a legitimate daily newspaper printing relevant Brownsville stories, many people turn to the Brownsville Blogosphere for their information.
Some blogs are written by professional journalists who have written for legitimate newspapers over the years. Others are written by people who have covered Brownsville government and politics for the better part of a generation.
I have always said I am not a professional journalist. The little I know about real journalism I have picked up over the years studying the evolution of print media in the United States. The Brownsville Beacon is a blog dedicated to discussing the goings on in Brownsville. We like to throw in a lively mix of history, government, and opinion in our articles.
We try to cite our sources as best as possible and we try to avoid publishing stories based on hearsay, rumor, and innuendo. Although I do not purport to be a professional journalist, I know publishing a sensationalist story with no proof or no basis of fact is irresponsible.
Recently, The Brownsville Voice published a story where a claim is made about a weekly secret, speakeasy-esque back room poker game that has been making the rounds throughout Cameron County and Brownsville. The publisher of the Voice quotes Erasmo Castro who claims Sylvia Atkinson is a frequent player at these poker games that are hosted at several houses that are rented throughout Brownsville. He further goes on to say other players love to play at Atkinson's table, since she often leaves tens of thousands of dollars on the table, since she is apparently a horrible gambler.
For the record, we here at the Beacon have not been able to corroborate any of these weekly poker game rumors. About as close as we could get was one of our sources confirming a friendly poker game between members of different coaching staffs and a few people who work at the main office having a fascination with online card playing sites; nothing illegal — a far cry from a multi-layered, hexagonal conspiracy involving rented houses, the criminal underworld, and huge sums of money.
The publisher of the Voice further goes on to mention the district attorney turns a blind eye to what is happening at one of Brownsville's bingo establishments. He also throws the police chief and the sheriff in with the district attorney for good measure.
Forgetting for a minute the publisher of the Voice often makes references to his winnings at a local bingo parlor, the article is poorly constructed and only half-formed. The article does not mention what is actually happening at International Bingo. This is a recurring theme in Bobby Wightman's articles — make a general statement about something with no facts or proof, then throw out a general accusation that something sinister is happening somewhere then don't explain what the something sinister is. Wightman also claims to have several sources in several government agencies throughout the city. He claims his followers constantly email him and give him treasure troves of information and intelligence, however none of that information ever gets printed.
His other articles are usually nonsensical ramblings calling for the ouster of some elected official or head of some city agency. I've lost count, but up until now, Wightman has called for the resignation or firing of several city commissioners, the city manager, the city attorney, the BISD attorney, the police chief, the head of the engineering department, some of the powers-that-be at TSC, and as of the other day, every member on the school board.
One should try to be as informative as possible when writing an article that others will read. One should also try to avoid misleading people with the articles they publish.
Printing unsubstantiated claims is very dangerous. Alleging inappropriate and criminal behavior without any proof to back up those claims shows a lack of basic journalistic integrity.
I find it amusing someone who used to make their living trying to prove things in a courtroom has forgotten he can't just say things and expect people to believe they're true. He needs to be able to prove these allegations. That said, that's probably one of the reasons why he is no longer allowed to practice law.
I get Brownsville bloggers can be a surly bunch. I get you have to wade through the satire, and dirty limericks, and wordy opinions, but almost every blogger adds their flavor to Brownsville's journalistic tapestry. Almost every blogger brings something to the table. I will admit, I probably bring less than most of the established bloggers do. I don't pretend to be a Montoya, or a McHale, or a Barton.
I do, however, think The Brownsville Beacon does better, and tries better, than the tin-foil hat wearing, conspiracy theory spewing, tabloid style writing that is going on over at The Brownsville Voice.
I'm sure my comments will be dismissed along with all the other "troll" comments that are made by people who disagree with the publisher of the Voice, but the simple fact is they are doing a disservice to the community when they try and pass off unsubstantiated rumors off as fact.
Just because you read it on a blog doesn't make it true.
You have to be very careful with what you believe when you read something online. With the relative absence of a legitimate daily newspaper printing relevant Brownsville stories, many people turn to the Brownsville Blogosphere for their information.
Some blogs are written by professional journalists who have written for legitimate newspapers over the years. Others are written by people who have covered Brownsville government and politics for the better part of a generation.
I have always said I am not a professional journalist. The little I know about real journalism I have picked up over the years studying the evolution of print media in the United States. The Brownsville Beacon is a blog dedicated to discussing the goings on in Brownsville. We like to throw in a lively mix of history, government, and opinion in our articles.
We try to cite our sources as best as possible and we try to avoid publishing stories based on hearsay, rumor, and innuendo. Although I do not purport to be a professional journalist, I know publishing a sensationalist story with no proof or no basis of fact is irresponsible.
Recently, The Brownsville Voice published a story where a claim is made about a weekly secret, speakeasy-esque back room poker game that has been making the rounds throughout Cameron County and Brownsville. The publisher of the Voice quotes Erasmo Castro who claims Sylvia Atkinson is a frequent player at these poker games that are hosted at several houses that are rented throughout Brownsville. He further goes on to say other players love to play at Atkinson's table, since she often leaves tens of thousands of dollars on the table, since she is apparently a horrible gambler.
For the record, we here at the Beacon have not been able to corroborate any of these weekly poker game rumors. About as close as we could get was one of our sources confirming a friendly poker game between members of different coaching staffs and a few people who work at the main office having a fascination with online card playing sites; nothing illegal — a far cry from a multi-layered, hexagonal conspiracy involving rented houses, the criminal underworld, and huge sums of money.
The publisher of the Voice further goes on to mention the district attorney turns a blind eye to what is happening at one of Brownsville's bingo establishments. He also throws the police chief and the sheriff in with the district attorney for good measure.
Forgetting for a minute the publisher of the Voice often makes references to his winnings at a local bingo parlor, the article is poorly constructed and only half-formed. The article does not mention what is actually happening at International Bingo. This is a recurring theme in Bobby Wightman's articles — make a general statement about something with no facts or proof, then throw out a general accusation that something sinister is happening somewhere then don't explain what the something sinister is. Wightman also claims to have several sources in several government agencies throughout the city. He claims his followers constantly email him and give him treasure troves of information and intelligence, however none of that information ever gets printed.
His other articles are usually nonsensical ramblings calling for the ouster of some elected official or head of some city agency. I've lost count, but up until now, Wightman has called for the resignation or firing of several city commissioners, the city manager, the city attorney, the BISD attorney, the police chief, the head of the engineering department, some of the powers-that-be at TSC, and as of the other day, every member on the school board.
One should try to be as informative as possible when writing an article that others will read. One should also try to avoid misleading people with the articles they publish.
Printing unsubstantiated claims is very dangerous. Alleging inappropriate and criminal behavior without any proof to back up those claims shows a lack of basic journalistic integrity.
I find it amusing someone who used to make their living trying to prove things in a courtroom has forgotten he can't just say things and expect people to believe they're true. He needs to be able to prove these allegations. That said, that's probably one of the reasons why he is no longer allowed to practice law.
I get Brownsville bloggers can be a surly bunch. I get you have to wade through the satire, and dirty limericks, and wordy opinions, but almost every blogger adds their flavor to Brownsville's journalistic tapestry. Almost every blogger brings something to the table. I will admit, I probably bring less than most of the established bloggers do. I don't pretend to be a Montoya, or a McHale, or a Barton.
I do, however, think The Brownsville Beacon does better, and tries better, than the tin-foil hat wearing, conspiracy theory spewing, tabloid style writing that is going on over at The Brownsville Voice.
I'm sure my comments will be dismissed along with all the other "troll" comments that are made by people who disagree with the publisher of the Voice, but the simple fact is they are doing a disservice to the community when they try and pass off unsubstantiated rumors off as fact.
Just because you read it on a blog doesn't make it true.
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