Wednesday, May 23, 2012

How small is small?

  I have a problem with news outlets, print and electronic media, who use the words "small town" when they are really speaking of larger towns or cities.
  Some examples are:
          President Obama quoted as saying about Joplin, Missouri "......a small town has overcome....." when in fact Joplin has a population of over 15,150 souls.  Joplin has indeed overcome the hardships it endured when hit by a killer tornado.
          The Portland (Maine) Press Herald carried this article:
Monday, May 7, 2012

Small-town official accused of stealing $53 million

ROCKFORD, Ill. — The former comptroller of a small northern Illinois city pleaded not guilty Monday to charges

     The story wasn't about Rockford, that's where the courthouse is, it was about Dixon, Illinois which has a population of 15,733 so it's still not a small town.  Wealthy maybe but not small.

Reporters, news writers, producers and editors need to understand what a small town is.  The two "small places" mentioned above would have made the "Top ten largest cities" in North Dakota, Wyoming and some other states. 
  Maybe those reporters et al should live for a short time in Medford, Maine or Drake, North Dakota; both towns with populations that hover around 200.  I have lived in Medford and my old friend "Wilbur" is still in Drake, we know what a small town is.
To be fair maybe 15,000 in population is small to a lot of people, but they're not really small.
  Research isn't difficult, I gathered the material presented here in about ten minutes.
  Before we know it the National Cathedral in Washington DC will be referred to as a "quaint country chapel".

May 22, 2012 8:00pm

Man With Zebra, Parrot in Front Seat Charged With DUI



NO the project isn't done yet, but wait please.  "Patience is a virtue", I'm going to beat somebody up if I don't get some patience!

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