I Cancelled My Newspaper Today

[freesqueeze]

The only daily that I can have delivered at my house is the Dallas Republican News (some call it the Dallas Morning News, but I know better.) I have read this paper since childhood when my family got that one in the morning and the Dallas Times Herald in the afternoon. The Morning News ran the Times Herald out of business years ago and all we are left with is this one daily that has endorsed only Republicans for President for my entire life.

This morning I called and cancelled. I had them stop it right away and send me the $18 left on my account. When they asked why I was canceling, I had three reasons.

1. Editorial GOP propaganda has finally worn me out.
2. The editorial giving Bush passing grades on his economic policies proved that this paper does not speak to me (or anyone else I know.)
3. The recent hiring of Mark Davis, an amateur journalist and local radio GOP cheerleader, as an opinion columnist.

If I find this rag in my yard tomorrow morning, I'll report them for littering.

[disgruntled_goat]

1. as a former reporter

1. good on ye.
2. the paper prolly had lots of other cancellations too. it may take a few days for the paperboy to assimilate all the changes in the route.

[Gloria]

2. I'm about to do the same thing with our Gannett rag here...

I HATE the Las Cruces Sun-News

[freesqueeze]

5. The Circulation Number

Is usually inside the front page under the masthead.

Your recycle bin will appreciate it.

[featherman]

3. I told my wife I am cancelling my long-time subscription to USA Today

It had rolled over for Bush badly and had been unreadable for months anyway...at least the front section.
I'm taking a long vacation from politics and political thinking after over forty years of fighting for truth, peace, and freedom.
The crucifixion of Clinton and the 2000 election robbery was bad enough but this really is the last straw.
I cannot believe what my country has become. God help the world and all of humanity.

[freesqueeze]

4. I'm Staying Involved (Please Don't Give Up)

I'll just use alternate media sources. If I ever get to miss the Dallas Republican News, I can always go to the GOP web site and review the latest talking points (or just endure 2 minutes of AM radio.)

I'd like to think that the election had nothing to do with my decision but I have been considering this for some time and did nothing, but today I was strongly motivated to make that call.

[justa]

22. Stay involved now more than ever.

People like you "taking a long vacation from politics" is the last thing we need right now. Over forty years of experience is need now more than ever. To stop is to let them win.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[athena]

7. Subscribe to the Nation and the Progressive

if you don't already. I promise you, you will be addicted.

It'll make you feel so much better about the world to see that investigative journalism isn't extinct. Especially if you live in a red state, it'll help you feel less isolated. Last but not least, they need subscriptions.

I've been subscribing for the last three months or so, and now I can't stand to read any other news. Even the NYT is intolerable.

Give yourself a gift, and support independent, investigative journalism.

[freesqueeze]

8. Magazines Are a Poor Substitute

But you miss my point. I am an independent liberal. I don't want to read any publication that carries water for any political party.

You are right though; the monthly is the only source for true investigative journalism. When did the newspapers give up actual journalism? The DMN didn't seem to go out and get any story just paraphrasing of talking points from various interest groups.

It used to be three angles on all stories yours, mine, and the truth. Now there are only the views of opposing interest groups and the truth be damned.

It probably has a lot to do with budget cuts but it has made the DMN intolerable. Oh well, maybe they can get a partisan Republican to subscribe to make up for my cancellation.

[liveoaktx]

9. I'm with you- I quit buying the Star-Telegram (where wingnut Davis

came from) after this last editorial endorsing Bush BASED ON HIS RECORD AS GOVERNOR. Sheesh, they had to reach way back before he was president to find something they liked. Anyway, they don't speak for me. The DMN hasn't spoken for me for years, either-but I still like the Dallas Observer!

[freesqueeze]

10. Star Telegram Would Be Much Better! (please come to Dallas)

I know they show some conservative stripes now and then but at least you can't say that they haven't endorsed a Democrat for President for the last 100 years. And they are willing to have a few progressive journalists on staff (Molly Ivins and Bob Ray Sanders.) The Ed Staff at the Dallas Republican news have a political spectrum that ranges from far right all the way to far far far right.

Also there is no message board at the DMN that compares to this. The closest they come is the blog where only writers on staff can give their opinions.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

DMN truly fears the free and open exchange of ideas.

I must say that they have a really good sports page, but I lost interest in sports 20 years ago. They put a great deal of time poring over the drug test results of some marginally talented football player but wouldn't think of asking the President why he missed his physical while in the NG.

Pathetic.

[HighJinx]

11. Supporting newspapers

There were plenty of newspapers endorsing Kerry. Please take a look at their comments and subscribe to one or two. The LA Times doesn't endorse for president but they have been relentless on W and we are loyal to it for being an example of the Fourth Estate.

Newspapers are supposed to be hard on government. It's the system of checks and balances, and if we lose journalists, democracy is done.

But you have to pay money to subscribe. Reading the online stuff for free doesn't show up in circulation figures and slipping circulation means slipping advertising support, and bye bye.

[freesqueeze]

15. "Newspapers are supposed to be hard on government"

Wouldn't that be something? The DMN is the Dennis Miller of Newspapers - can't seem to find anything wrong with Republicans.

I agree in theory that the daily paper deserves support. To subscribe to my local paper is equivalent to supporting a powerful propaganda arm of the GOP. If they remain a team member of the GOP then eventually only GOP partisans will read it.

[athena]

13. Fine, but The Nation is a weekly, not a monthly.

40-60 pages of solid investigative journalism every week. I can barely finish reading it in a week.

Also, I don't think that the Nation "carries water" for the Democratic party. It's left-wing, and it endorsed Kerry, but it doesn't hesitate to criticize democrats. That's the difference between right-wing and left-wing publications.

[freesqueeze]

19. You've Convinced Me

I'm looking at The Nation and I it looks like a good read.

I'll give it a shot. Thanks for the recommendation.

[orpupilofnature57]

12. Im reading the news on this web and others,its the only real

information,not for sale.How much of this loss do we owe to the raggs and haggs that go with the flow,and fuck editors the last four years.

[Skittles]

14. Dallas Whoring News

that's the name

[rainbow4321]

31. No joke...ho's to their ad people...

Back when I was a subscriber, they left OUT half of the fucking newspaper sections one Sunday so they would have room for the SUNDAY ADS..apparently the plastic package that they put the newspaper in when they home deliver was not BIG enough for NEWS and the ADS inserts so they opted to give me the ad flyers and NOT the front page, the Metro page, the op-ed section. Pretty much the last straw..I cancelled shortly there after. The free papers that they toss out to our yards once a month go from the lawn to the trashcan..save a tree, Belo Corp., and STOP sending out unwanted newspapers!

[PunkPop]

16. You've inspired me

I've been thinking about canceling the Whoring News for awhile now just haven't been motivated enough.

Plus, I didn't think you could get your money back! Figured once you gave it to them that was it. I could use that money for something worthwhile!

They laid off three of their moderately left to liberal editorial board members and not a single one of their Repubs (except for the cartoonist - a wingnut with remedial drawing skills).

I am going to call tomorrow!

[NVMojo]

17. we did the same thing about a month ago with our local daily

Repuke hugging Chimpy loving newspaper. Why bother funding them at this point? I am sick of so much right now, I needed major space since I am surrounded by these fundie assholes anyways. And I still have my Kerry signs up in my yard. All two of them.

[txdude10]

18. I am going to do the same...

I plan on calling the Dallas Morning News tomorrow to cancel my subscription. I will no longer sustain or enable any corporate or right-wing media with my hard-earned money. Apart from the Nation, is there any another Progressive paper or magazine to which I should subscribe?

[CatholicEdHead]

20. Read parts of both sides

The best way to approach the media is to always read both sides. Yes, that means a right leaning local paper or even skimming Newsmax or World Nut Daily in addition to CommonDreams, Progressive.org, WorkingforChange.com, etc...

[freesqueeze]

21. I agree, read all sides ...

But be careful how your money is being used. It's one thing to read the Klan flyer that gets stuck under your windshield wiper. It's a whole different thing to pay for the effort to distribute that tripe.

I don't mind reading the Dallas Republican News; I just don't want to support it financially.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[freesqueeze]

24. How To Tell If Your Paper Is an Instrument of the GOP

1> Refuses to ever endorse a non-Republican for President.

Don't be fooled by scattered Democratic endorsements at lower offices. This is nothing more than a pretense of objectivity.

2> Doonesbury gets moved to the editorial page (when they are willing to print it), but Mallard Filmore stays there right above Peanuts on the comic's page.

3> The only written liberal point of view to appear on the op-ed page are letters to the editor.

4> Strive for an appearance of equality when it is their candidate in the wrong.

Ie: "Both candidates served honorably during the Vietnam War" or giving equal column space to "Deceptions during debates" when it was Mr. Bush who told the more numerous lies.

5> Editorial staffers brag about their friendship with the President.

Reducing what should be a strong voice of doubt into a shameless GOP propaganda tool.

==================================

One week in and I've had no withdrawal pains at all. I have had to start peeling potatoes over a paper towel, but I think it's cleaner this way.

Good Riddance, Dallas Morning News, I don't miss you at all.

Give my regards to the Bush twins.

[ailsagirl]

25. Good for you!!!

That's great-- I discontinued my cable service.

Anything I can do to withhold my money from the bastards

[donachiel]

26. I did the same thing 2 weeks ago with my local newspaper

Still haven't gotten my refund. I got ticked off when the decided that they were going to support Bush.

[freesqueeze]

27. Still Haven't Got My Refund Either

They said 7-10 days and this in only day 8. It wouldn't surprise me if their refund department was understaffed (and overworked, I hope.)

[donachiel]

28. If you owed them, they'd be bugging you.

That's what I hate.

[driver8]

29. cancelling the paper

I'm thinking about cancelling our subscription to the LA Times -- it's the same bullshit everyday. I used to enjoy the editorials but they aren't saying anything new.

Plus, the delivery person throws our paper in our neighbor's yard at least twice a week; the sprinklers come on shortly after...

[rainbow4321]

30. DMN must be desparate.....

cuz at LEAST once a month they toss everyone in my neighborhood a free paper...then I have seen them giving out free copies in the grocery store trying to get people over to their booth to subscribe.
WHY would I want to read day old news when I can get online each morning and get up to the minute UNBIASED news with no Texas-spin to it?? Idiots, give it up!

[freesqueeze]

33. I think they need a sponsor deal

With the GOP

I can see some deal where big GOP contributors cover their Hum Vees with Dallas Morning News stickers.

Maybe Bush could start golfing in a gimme cap with 'Dallas Morning News' embroidered on the front.

How about projecting the Dallas Morning News Logo onto the rose garden while Bush signs a bill that tosses another hundred thousand children off health insurance?

I did notice once early in his first term, when pushed on what he read, Mr. Bush mentioned the Dallas Morning News. By now everyone knows that Bush doesn't read any paper so I guess that comment about the DMN was just a little back scratching from the GOP. How sweet.

[NRaleighLiberal]

32. We are about to cancel the Raleigh News and Observer - our sole....

news source (print) will be the liberal local weekly, the Independent, and Sunday NY Times. I consider DU my main news source (and therapy!)

[freesqueeze]

34. I thing that once the net figures out that

there is such a strong desire for local net services, all the daily fish wraps are in trouble.

Local news is the information hole I face now. There just isn't another source that compares to the metro section in the daily paper. I guess I could watch local TV news but that makes my hair hurt.

[tibbir]

35. I was a life-long Houston Post subscriber

until years ago when the Houston Chronicle bought the paper and then stopped printing it. The Chronicle had always been way to the right of the Post.

To add insult to injury, the Post had issued a year-long subscription to me at a very favorable rate because it was hurting financially. When the Chronicle took over it refused to honor my subscription period - it offered to used my unused subscription dollars against its higher priced paper. I cancelled immediately and haven't looked back since.

[freesqueeze]

36. Where is a Progressive Texan to Turn?

EOM

[PATRICK]

37. Canceled mine too

until they put the truth in their headlines and get the obligatory lies out of the editorials. It isn't their fault so much as I won't let that filth about Bush being an "elected" president into my house, or the cloying myths we still have a democracy and country.

I went in and did a long rant to the sanguine circulation director., not because I was mad at the paper. I like the paper and it is generally liberal. But because the lie rules in America and I am going to stop financing it in as many ways as possible.

[freesqueeze]

38. Got My Refund

Right at day ten it came in the mail. The check was good too.

So if anyone's holding up cancelling because of the funds they've committed to the proliferation of GOP propaganda, call them up and ask for a refund ... it might work.