Change

Dear Readers,

Last week, while driving to work, I was listening to talk radio. The radio personality reported about some article that appeared on the front page of the Post-Dispatch and listeners were calling in to complain about the reporting.  Given the difficult times people in our fair city are going through, I began to wonder more than ever, “Why does negativity sell?”

       As I sat down to write this letter, I reviewed the top news stories of the Post-Dispatch’s Sunday edition and saw the following headlines:  “This is a very scary time for us;” ”E-mail record contradicts Blunt claims,” and “Auto industry wants slice of federal bailout!”  If that doesn’t look like doom and gloom, I don’t know what does!

       It really doesn’t matter which St. Louis publication you pick up, the information is likely to be slanted in one direction or another. Is it passé to provide readers with balanced information?  Isn’t there any source for news in St. Louis that believes in the reader’s ability to gather the facts and make up their own minds?  Yes! I can proudly say that the Vital VOICE does just that…we know our readers prefer to do just that!

       In the almost nine years we have been publishing the Vital VOICE, I need less than one hand to count the times any reader felt our news was not fair and balanced.  So, why is it so hard to grow when you provide people with the type of information they want?  

       I believe our time is now.  The mantra for this year revolved around “CHANGE.” Isn’t it time we begin to demand less sensational news reporting?  Isn’t it time we demand fair and balanced reporting that allows us, the readers, to make up our own minds? Perhaps it is time to encourage the businesses you frequent to advertise in a publication that provides the information you desire.  “Positive news” can sell.  Let’s really stand for that “CHANGE!”

Till next issue,

Pam Schneider