I know they lost my money earlier this year. The shill reporting on local politics, the bias on local issues (I felt like I was getting a Penn Square Partners newsletter), the lack of reporting on statewide issues that affect all of us , and the awful delivery person I had just became too much. (plus the sports section is virtually non existent.)

I did glance at a New Era front page headline the other night as I passed the stand at the grocery store that I thought was sure to generate debate here and lo and behold, it's nowhere to be found on lancasteronline.

It's probably hard to investigate things when your bosses are the culprits. lol

Speaking of things like the convention center, here is some great reporting about another such deal. It shows the difference in reporting when the paper is not part of the shennanigans. Granted it's more an editorial piece, but I think you'll get the idea. Hopefully you'll be outraged that while we worry about possible misuse of our tax dollars in the convention center fiasco, we have already been fleeced in this deal involving state tax dollars for a Pittsburgh "project".

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...e/s_483325.html
(I know this post has nothing to do with the amish tragedy, but I know all I need to know about it. I pray they have peace and as they request, I have moved on and I hope Lancaster Newspapers does the same.)

harv1
12-11-2006
"The best work being done by investigative journalists is being done by weekly newspapers. A story like the Blodgett case would be given four or five pages and the misinformation being spread by Gift of Life would be addressed. The reader would KNOW if Blodgett had signed his donor card. The reader would KNOW just what the ratio of transplanted versus scientific study organs they were removing in all instances. We'd KNOW what their entire back story was and it would go far to explain how such a mess could have happened. Mrs. Blodgett's side of the story would be much more than the just 'she said' few sentences that have been printed.

The extended coverage of the Nickel Mines tragedy is almost a slam dunk for the paper. And yet, have they EVER informed the public as to whether there was any truth to the rumor that the murderer had previously stalked Amish women or entered their homes surrepticiously? The paper printed those rumors and then just let it drop.

The deaths and conditions at the county prison would be investigated instead of using those deaths as a soapbox to continue to cut up the commissioners who oppose the convention center. Is there a possible personal connecdtion with the warden and an inmate's family outside of the prison that would have allowed the murderer of six people walk free to do so instead of sending him to a more secure prison after he battered staff members? Where is the followup story on the innocent man who was beaten almost to death in the general population? Who is this Vincent Guarini anyway? A lot of bad things seem to be happening on his watch. And if he's a fine guy, fine. Maybe some investigative work could be done on why the prison hasn't been expanded to accomodate a growing general population? But that might mean that the monies going to the empty floor plan of the convention center could be better used elsewhere OR maybe all that square footage won't be a casino... maybe it will be prison space when the center fails.

The newspaper does not have an investigative journalist. Period. It's what is missing from the pages. The newspaper does few follow ups that reveal much of anything or any indepth reporting that exposes the reasons behind the stories. That's a shame for the readers. So many newspaper story writers are products of journo schools and can construct a who what where when why how much how many story... It takes a broader education than that to know what questions to ask and what angles to follow."
harv1 - I agree with you 100 percent. How can one expect a profit making entity - beholden to its advertisers - to do investigative journalism.

Outside of RH who also has a "day job" there is no investigative journalism in Lancaster. As for Guarini he is a toad from Norristown who found a home in the sleazy politics of Lancaster County. But there is much more to the story if someone wanted to do the digging.

It's time for LNP to hire Ron Harper or (gasp!) Becky Holzinger for true investigative reporting. Those two go where no one else will. (no offense intended Ron and Becky).

Rebecca Holzinger as investigative reporter? Now there's a stretch.