One Utah

Welcome to the Jungle, Holly Mullen. The former Salt Lake Tribune columnist who resigned last month rather than submit to censorship has started her own blog “Mullentown.” Mullen left after nine years at the paper and 25 years as a journalist when editor Terry Orme pulled one of her columns about the rescue of a dolphin in China. But in her farewell statement, she admits there were other factors driving her decision. One quote is particularly revealing: “I don’t feel especially comfortable with reporters blogging. Mostly because their best stuff keeps ending up in the blog and fails to get in the paper. And also because ethics seem more than a bit blurry sometimes.” So Holly did the logical thing: she became a blogger. After Holly resigned, I emailed her and told her my story, hoping it would be of some comfort. I’d been in TV news for 30 years. I’d done everything I wanted, lived in and visited fantastic places and covered incredible stories. I was running the news operation at a station in Champaign, Illinois on September 11, 2001. Not only did the country change forever that day- I did. Ultimately, I started my own video business: one more focused on solving society’s troubles not exploiting them, one where corporate overlords in glittering offices thousands of miles away did not tell me what was important in the community where I lived. It took me a few years and there were some depressing moments, I said, but it paid off. Blogging helped me not only get through the painful withdrawal, but exposed me to an entirely new universe of thought, exchange and action. Though she didn’t know me, Holly replied, thanking me for the support. She was thinking about blogging and would let me know what happens. And she did. And she’ll be better for it. The corporatization, conglomeration and corrupting of American news media are to blame for its own demise (readership and viewership continue to decline) and the loss of genuine, quality truth-seekers like Holly. But the vacuum it’s left helped create the blogosphere which is expanding and more vibrant than ever. Having great writers and reporters like Holly increases the viability and credibility of this revolutionary information and communication form. And the taste of freedom ain’t so bad either. Good luck, Holly. I’ll be reading- and I won’t be the only one.

This entry was posted Friday, January 26th, 2007 at 9:17 am and is filed under 4th Estate (Media), This Blog. Both comments and pings are currently closed.