This blog just marked its third anniversary, which I’ve decided to observe by sharing some of my experiences as a hyperlocal blogger –- experiences that have prompted me to reach out to the larger journalism community for support and to hire an attorney to look out for my rights.
I’ve decided to bring you in on these developments because you’re part of this experiment, too. An integral part, as it turns out.
I’ve alluded to some offline conflict in the past, but I’ve never made clear the full extent of the push back to which this blog has been subjected.
My reason for doing so now is to put the bullies on notice that I will no longer keep their attempts at intimidation quiet — and to encourage others to take a similar stand.
Let me first make very clear that the pressure I’ve experienced has not come from local government administrators, who have been consistently professional and fair in their dealings with the DGreport, but from a small group of elected/appointed leaders and their supporters. This is an important distinction that I believe speaks to a political agenda and a desire to control the local discourse.
The campaign against the DGreport –- and I chose that word with care –- goes back two years to when I was contacted by an official who accused my blog’s “anonymous attack gang” of tearing apart the community. A few months later, the IReadItInDG attacks were disseminated via e-mail. And from that point forward there has been no let up in the attempts to pressure the DGreport into becoming the sort of online news source that few read and even fewer comment upon.
From the start, my anonymity policy has been a major point of contention and, in all fairness, it’s reasonable for different people to have different views on the subject. My view is that I won’t make a promise I can’t keep just to curry favor with my detractors. Anyone can create an e-mail account in any name to “verify” their identity and most blogs that claim to require “real names” only verify that the e-mail account is real.
However, I took the concerns about anonymity to heart and moved to a fully moderated blog, cracking down on comments that fall outside my stated policy. (This job is more difficult than it appears, as the vast majority of comments fall into the gray area. I continue to wrestle with this to the best of my ability and make my apologies when I inevitably — and regrettably — slip up.)
But when the move to moderation had no impact on the amount of push back, I began to grasp that the anonymity issue was a smokescreen.
The real agenda, it appears, was to determine who was making comments and to shut down as much “negative” opinion as possible. Comments, after all, make a blog interesting and transform the DGreport into a community of readers. Shut down the comments and you’ve choked off the blog’s oxygen.
I came to this conclusion when I saw my most vociferous critics apply a completely different standard to other online news sources, repeatedly referencing and linking to sites that allow un-moderated anonymity, commenting on some of those sites themselves, becoming Facebook “fans” of such sites, and even putting up posts on sites that allow anonymous comments. Note that to my knowledge, none has ever linked to or otherwise positively referenced the DGreport publicly.
I also noticed that some members of the group were looking to lob their own incendiary comments on my blog from behind the presumed protection of hidemyass.com.
Finally, about six months ago, I started to hear from readers who were being pressured to stop commenting on the DGreport. Some of these readers had commented anonymously, causing concern over whether their identities had been compromised. I believe this was an attempt to call my integrity into question, as one long-time commenter did last year when he/she claimed, in another very public forum, that I had “outed” him/her.
In subsequent months, the rhetoric against me and this blog – delivered via e-mail and Twitter – has ratcheted up considerably. Now, my credibility as a journalist is being called into question.
Why such concerted effort to shut down a blog that welcomes divergent views and attempts to inform the public about a variety of local issues, share good news, encourage support of our local businesses and engage the community?
I believe the answer lies with April 5, 2011. That’s the date of the next local election and I suspect the troops are already mustering for a fight. Unlike local newspapers, with their unwieldy archives, the DGreport serves as a readily accessible record of the past three years of local government. It also allows you, the readers, to weigh in with your views.
The decision to share this information – and it’s just the proverbial tip of the iceberg – wasn’t made lightly. I came of age at a time when journalists were never part of the story and I hesitate to break that rule now.
However, I believe the political pressure brought to bear against the DGreport has much wider implications for continued free speech and a free press, as the responsibility for news coverage increasingly passes from large news organizations to lone bloggers who are much more susceptible to that sort of pressure.
Many times in the past three years I’ve wished for the editors, publishers and corporate attorneys I had backing me up earlier in my career. And I confess that I’ve been intimidated by the recent round of bullying — to the extent that I’ve held off on certain posts and seriously considered shutting down the DGreport.
But after much consideration, I’ve reached a different decision. The DGreport will remain up. It will continue to be a fully moderated blog that seeks to fairly and accurately report and opine on local news and events while inviting contrary perspectives. And it will welcome constructive criticism offered in good faith.
But from this point forward, it will no longer protect political bullies by shielding their efforts from public view.
Congratulations on 3 E.
…and, as a frustrated writer of semi-fiction, I appreciate your allowing my some free pixels to share my musings. Can’t promise your readers feel the same..
I am outraged on your behalf and on mine as a resident of Downers Grove. Heck, as an AMERICAN.
I am disgusted that some elected officials believe that we the people need to be controlled and coddled and spoon fed information so that we remain “docile and content.”
Only now my anger is being replaced by amusement as I remember the movie “Hot Fuzz” and the Neighbourhood Watch Alliance. It’s for the “greater good!”
I would like to add to my above comment:
I am thrilled with the professionalism and quality information and writing I have seen on this blog.
It is clear you are a professional, and I am grateful you are not allowing yourself to be bullied. If you need someone to stand with you, you can count on me.
For any government official reading this, you spell my name S-U-S-A-N C-A-R-R-O-L-L. I read, and I vote, and I think.
Elaine and all,
I refuse to allow “the other blog” to get “clicks” from me. But someone emailed me and my curiousity was piqued, so I had to go there. I was not a happy camper when I read what I read.. not at all.. Legal assistant and paralegal are used synonymously in some circles, and many a legal assistant (read: secretary/admin.) has called themselves a “paralegal.” Some are, most are not. So as a full-fledged, certificate carrying, schooled on the job and in the classroom PARALEGAL I tend to get pretty offended when some 19-year-old who just walked into a law office calls herself a legal assistant or paralegal.. no, honey, you’re not.. .
The SAME HOLDS TRUE IN THIS INSTANCE! Just because someone one writes a BLOG does not a journalist make!! Nope, nope, nope!
We are with you all the way in our house, Elaine. You are articulate, well-versed in local and other issues, nice!, intelligent, eloquent, and A JOURNALIST/REPORTER/BLOG LADY EXTRAORDINAIRE!! And don’t forget it!
We’ve got your backs, EJ! All the way
Chin up! you Rock!
EJ,
I am glad you decided to keep the blog alive. Congrats on 3 years!! I think this blog serves as a sounding board for the community, a place people can go to vent and discuss ideas. The other local blogs just don’t get the hits you do. I read them and enjoy them, but rarely post. Why post if there is nobody there to debate things with you. I know many of our elected officials in town read Dgreport. (they wont admit that) Don’t let anyone bully you around. This town is very cliquey and the next clique is always just an election away!
Elaine,
In an era of blog/news sites that quickly lose their novelty, I both enjoy and appreciate the breadth of local information I get here, and both my wife and I are dedicated (perhaps addicted) readers.
I think the service you provide is invaluable, and the community would lose a tremendous resource were you to shut the DGreport down.
I agree with a previous comment that “we’ve got your backs”
If someone’s a bully the voters have a right to know and a duty to throw them out on their ears.
Happy birthday DGreport!
Elaine, congratulations on 3 years and for keeping free speech at our fingertips. I have learned more about various issues and the history preceeding them. This has challenged me to looks at facts and make better choices as a resident and voter. This is simply the best place to get a wide view on local news (and a laugh or two).
Thank you for the opportunity to contribute; hopefully more will too.
One correction, the inimitable Martin Tully engaged here when a village commissioner, and still does once in a blue moon.
Good for you….but most importantly…Good for us!
here’s to at least another three years.
I pledge to continue to voice my opinion. BUT… I am going to try harder to blog about positive things as well as things that irk me. I would suggest others continue to blog about positive and albeit negative things too!
Too much drama for me.
I think it is irresponsible to lob an accusation toward a group of people – as you do in painting “a small group of elected/appointed leaders” as “bullies” – without specifically naming names.
The problem with your approach is that a cloud of speculation is now cast over all of the elected/appointed leaders. Certainly, this is not fair to the larger group that has not engaged in the ambiguous push-back.
I think you should identify those who have gone beyond normal political tactics in effort to suppress truthful and accurate information. At this point, if you do not name those officials, you have harmed all officials – even those who have not bullied.
Anyway, I certainly appreciate the forum provided here and the time and effort you must put forth to provide it.
Mr. Carter if Elaine revealed the names, she would probably be bullied even worse. and if you suspect someone is a bully they prob. are
The politics in this village would puzzle even the most seasoned political expert. The various cliques that are present and the constant fight for power with in the village.
Keep it up, you do a great job here!
good work elaine. I don’t live in DG and read the blog mostly for Dist 99 news. I do enjoy a spirited debate with all on this site, even Chad!
Elaine,
First, congrats on the anniversary.
Second, it would be interesting to know who the bullies are, but I understand why you aren’t telling.
When it comes to local officicals (Village, Park District, school boards, and County Board), I find three kinds of people who respond to letters and e-mails.
First are offiicials who respond with polite letters either agreeing with me or at least understanding my position on an issue while trying to present their position in a coherant manner.
Second are officials who respond in a smug manner and give me the impression that I’m an idiot for having an opposing view on an issue. I won’t say who at the local level has responded this way, but I have gotten such letters over the years from some of our U.S. Senators, from both parties, including Roland Burris and Peter Fitzgerald.
Third are officials who simply don’t respond.
My assumption is that the bully officials fall into catagories 2 and 3.
It’s too bad that officials see a blog, moderated by a journalsit, as a threat, rather than a means of gauging public opinion on issues of the day.
Mike: Naming names at this juncture would only serve to make the matter more “personal,” something I’m trying to avoid. My problem is with the specific behavior not with the individuals, who have the demonstrated capacity to make good decisions.
Most local public officials are here to serve, not to control. The ones who aren’t will make that abundantly clear come the next election, I have no doubt. Their MO, as I’ve experienced, is to attack and keep attacking.
I’m willing to discuss the matter further offline and invite you — or anyone else with concerns — to e-mail me at dgreport@hotmail.com.
The village should have street signs posted on entrance of this town of “Physical Home of DGREPORT.COM, up and running since 2007″ (I know over the top, try Twitter Earl with all the other goof balls that might give a hoot).
“Sic semper tyrannis”
Congratulations.
An excellent decision. Thank you for helping to make the many discussions here more credible and informed. And thanks your always fair and balanced presentation of ideas.
This forum allows residents who can not attend village type meetings inform and able to voice their opinion that matters most, the regular Joe and Jill resident of Downers Grove. And also keeps us poor former residents inform.
Hi Mike,
There’s names named in posts about D99 that should leave no doubts about who some of the grief-givers are. You could start in the DGreport archives with “D99″ for a search word. Or select “District 99″ from the CATEGORIES list That’s in the left side column down beneath the recent comments.
And it appears EJ has been in for this for some time. Search MY SO-CALLED AGENDA get a taste circa 2007. The Search box is in the right side column.
I read this today: “Be kinder than you need to be because we are all facing a battle.”
Congrats on 3 years! Shame to the grief-givers.
Good choices, EJ. Your work is appreciated.
Sorting through accusations, inuenodos and hyperbole is always difficult. We much prefer to ask direct questions and hope that we all are rewarded by doing so.
For action there is a reaction. Your DGReport has created that reaction. Thanks
Keep up the good work Elaine. The bullies will stay bullies until someone takes a stand. Thanks for your work and for taking a stand!
Congratulations Elaine!