I’m starting to think that someone told him or he read that ‘bloggers are journalists’, and he immediately thought ‘reporter.’ Yeah, all of those bloggers are out there pounding the pavement in their fedoras, with reporter notebooks and the press pass stuck in the hat, just like when he was starting out at the Press. And then some editor told him what he did wrong in his story.

If you start with this as your basic premise, his column makes perfect sense — we’re all trying to be beat reporters, and we can’t be trusted because no one is editing or checking up on what we write.

Jack’s recent post on this at BFD nails it on the head. Blogging is no different than a group of people sitting at the bar/coffee/cafe talking. He sets up the strawman and then blows it away with a cannon.

he is seeing himself and his job become increasingly irrelevant…

there is a saying: “follow, lead, or get out of the way” – feagler is a ego-ridden dinosaur who can’t do any of those

frankly i am not sure why anyone even cares what he writes…

nice blog!

I do understand Mr. Feagler’s status and have read what others have written about his background. I’ve read his column and have been familiar with his work since I moved to Cleveland in 1988 (and, as I always like to emphasize, chose to stay and raise a family, a decision I’ve never regretted; I love Cleveland).

I’ve found more of his columns worthwhile than not worthwhile. I know I’ve written to him or the PD editors at least once or twice over the last few years about one of his columns, here and there.

I don’t watch much tv so I haven’t seen even a glimpse of Feagler and Friends in a long time.

What just completely angers and saddens me is the unequivocal, devoid of humility, taking advantage of his position tone and appearance of this particular column. Not to mention what others have pointed out – hello? First Amendment? Hello? A Wiki isn’t a blog. Hello? It happened to Siegenthaler, not Mr. Feagler, and Mr. Siegenthaler is capable of handling the situation.

So what gives? Was there really nothing else to write about?

How about how, as unpopular as it might sound, what law enforcement calls a “cage” isn’t the same as what a social worker might call a “cage” or the parents trying to manage 11 children (I’m not endorsing the use of cages with kids, I’m just saying that clearly this difference in definitions is causing angst in the case).

Why not write about Pearl Harbor? Why not write about the holiday season?

Why is no one writing about the end of the PD Sunday Magazine??

I don’t know – there seem to be so many more important, relevant, critical issues to discuss than blogs bad, MSM the “best bet.”

Those who’ve met me or read this blog for a while know how sincere I am when I go on a tear like this.

I just want to know why – what really motivated Mr. Feagler to spew such vitriol? (my new least favorite word that I use only when I have to)

This represents the opinion of many people. I’m grateful that you took the time to write such a thoughtfull and factual letter. It’s great to see the responses that have come forth.

Daniella

The prankster felt compelled to resign as he posted his article from work and the cybersleuth tracking him queried the company about the posting. Seigenthaler is said to have urged the prankster’s boss to rehire him although this had not happened by the time of the article.

“Seigenthaler, founder of the First Amendment Center, said that as a longtime advocate of free speech, he found it awkward to be tracking down someone who had exercised that right. “I still believe in free expression,” he said. “What I want is accountability.”

John Ryan, Cleveland AFL-CIO

Did he even bother to find out the difference?? If he did then why is he bashing bloggers when his beef is with Wikipedia?