I have followed you for a while. A major congratulations to your growing success.
While I do enjoy the uber-personal diary voice of some of your writing and it does have a place in the larger picture of reporting, I do get tired of several things.
1. If you are indeed a serious news outlet then Ii mght suggest moderating some of the more salacious attacks on the people you disagree with. News is news. It is based on facts. Editorials should, theoretically be a separate part of a news organization.
2. That you are being attacked by people and/or organizations is news. Spending whole series of articles on your current ratings by some ratings organization, and celebrating how well you are doing after a while just becomes bragging.
3. What draws me to your outlet is your perspective as lawyers ( I do not know the professions of all your staff) to be able to hear the news from the context of the law is helpful. I seek reporting from those who are historians, economists, constitutional scholars, long time government (former) employees and long time reporters who have worked in the field locally, nationally and internationally. For me, as a consumer I need the facts first, context second and bias third.
In this age of a variety of kinds of outlets from traditional paper or TV to cable to the Internet I am very aware of my job as a consumer to acknowledge the strong bias many newer kinds of outlets use. The more well known and more sought out your outlet becomes -- serving an ever widening customer base -- I would wish that the focus on the factual aspect of reporting would become your priority as well. As I said before editorials have a specific place and serve a vital role in all outlets.
We are in a deeply concerning tumultuous time. I am very concerned about the next four years. My guess, for what it's worth, is that it will be less dramatic and more chaotic than I imagine. Bu, nonetheless, seeing events in the context of a specific picture -- in your case the law ( see list above) is always my personal goal.
My feedback is worth no more or less than anyone's. I would hope to be helpful. I will have no idea how to extend the conversation. I turn my comments into the internet ether. For what it's worth.
Ben, his brothers and Co-Founder Michael Popock have set their sails in the right direction from the onset without me or you. Suggest you take notice of that fact. MTN is growing because of the leadership these gentlemen exhibit 24/7.
If at any point in time you feel your needs are not being met I suggest you go elsewhere. Do so, btw, with all deliberate speed.
I very much agree with your points, Jo, as I have been surprised at the level of salacious attacks in written materials as well as responses; at the level of self-promo. Less helpful than the author discourse and reader dialogue in other valued Substack authors I follow. I want MTN to roar to success without the negative.
I have been reading MTN for a while. I have not seen any salacious attacks. There is, of course, opinion. Have you looked at Fox ever? They not only attack, but they lie continually. I have not seen deliberate lies on MTN, just opinion. There is a difference between opinion and lies.
Ok.
A few points.
First
I have followed you for a while. A major congratulations to your growing success.
While I do enjoy the uber-personal diary voice of some of your writing and it does have a place in the larger picture of reporting, I do get tired of several things.
1. If you are indeed a serious news outlet then Ii mght suggest moderating some of the more salacious attacks on the people you disagree with. News is news. It is based on facts. Editorials should, theoretically be a separate part of a news organization.
2. That you are being attacked by people and/or organizations is news. Spending whole series of articles on your current ratings by some ratings organization, and celebrating how well you are doing after a while just becomes bragging.
3. What draws me to your outlet is your perspective as lawyers ( I do not know the professions of all your staff) to be able to hear the news from the context of the law is helpful. I seek reporting from those who are historians, economists, constitutional scholars, long time government (former) employees and long time reporters who have worked in the field locally, nationally and internationally. For me, as a consumer I need the facts first, context second and bias third.
In this age of a variety of kinds of outlets from traditional paper or TV to cable to the Internet I am very aware of my job as a consumer to acknowledge the strong bias many newer kinds of outlets use. The more well known and more sought out your outlet becomes -- serving an ever widening customer base -- I would wish that the focus on the factual aspect of reporting would become your priority as well. As I said before editorials have a specific place and serve a vital role in all outlets.
We are in a deeply concerning tumultuous time. I am very concerned about the next four years. My guess, for what it's worth, is that it will be less dramatic and more chaotic than I imagine. Bu, nonetheless, seeing events in the context of a specific picture -- in your case the law ( see list above) is always my personal goal.
My feedback is worth no more or less than anyone's. I would hope to be helpful. I will have no idea how to extend the conversation. I turn my comments into the internet ether. For what it's worth.
Jo Trafford
Portland Maine
Ben, his brothers and Co-Founder Michael Popock have set their sails in the right direction from the onset without me or you. Suggest you take notice of that fact. MTN is growing because of the leadership these gentlemen exhibit 24/7.
If at any point in time you feel your needs are not being met I suggest you go elsewhere. Do so, btw, with all deliberate speed.
I very much agree with your points, Jo, as I have been surprised at the level of salacious attacks in written materials as well as responses; at the level of self-promo. Less helpful than the author discourse and reader dialogue in other valued Substack authors I follow. I want MTN to roar to success without the negative.
I have been reading MTN for a while. I have not seen any salacious attacks. There is, of course, opinion. Have you looked at Fox ever? They not only attack, but they lie continually. I have not seen deliberate lies on MTN, just opinion. There is a difference between opinion and lies.
I said nothing about lying.