Defeating corruption in St. Augustine and St. Johns County, Florida was the biggest news story of 2014, the St. Augustine Record's poll reveals(behind paywall, but first ten views free each month).
More than 40% of local newspaper readers in a vote-oncen online survey believe Nancy Shaver Defeating Mayor JOSEPH LESTER BOLES, JR. was biggest story of 2014, by vote of some 40% of readers. Runner-up was the Governor appointing a new Special Prosecutor in Michelle O'Connell's September 2, 2010 shooting at the home of St. Johns County Deputy JEREMY BANKS, with some 20% of readers. That's 60%.
The two top stories are about "We, The People" triumphing over corruption, conflict of interest, bigotry, misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance, waste, fraud, abuse, flummery, dupery, nincompoopery and incompetence in government. One reader comment said that the election of Nancy Shaver was "n unbelievable race for the soul of St. Augustine."
Readers are voting for news about corruption. How cool is that? The data supports one inference: Message to the newspaper business (and it is a business, engaged in manufacturing a product): We need more reporters and fewer fluffers, please. People are rejecting faux "news" that fails the laugh test.
P.S. Record never ran print article. Never answered my e-mail queries. Apparently stopped poll in media res.
P.P.S. Record just ran results online -- over 70% chose Michelle O'Connell and Nancy Shaver, in that order. How cool is that?
Ed Slavin, I certainly appreciate your perseverance in seeking out the truth and bringing it to the public's attention.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kate Merrick, for the courage to be one of the four visual artists who sued the City of St. Augustine and WON. I was honored to be in the courtroom that day and watch you make history. 2015 is going to be a great year, i believe.
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