Post Register On The Attack
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Rex Rammell has been taking a lot of heat recently by the people running the local Post Register Newspaper. He has appeared in 100% of the past 3 weekly “Cheers and Jeers” sections of the Post Register – taking “Jeers” (of coarse) each time. Cheers and Jeers is an opinions section that appears weekly in the Post Register and holds up or puts down people depending on whether those running the paper likes them or not.
The Post Register’s ‘Cheers and Jeers’ section lists it’s editorial board members as Roger Plothow, publisher; J. Robb Brady (Related to owner Jerry Brady?), publisher emeritus; Marty Trillhaase, Opinions Page editor; and Monte LaOrange, executive editor. Get on these guy’s bad side, and you’re in for a smear campaign that makes the nastiest of politicians look like Mother Teresa.
Rex Rammell is their most recent target.
Rex is a local Southeast Idahoan known in the area for his confrontations with the government and his unlicensed Elk Ranch. He is now running for the US Senate seat.
Several times in the past two weeks the Post Register has highlighted that Rex owes $140,000 to George and Ruth Hansen and is behind in paying – possibly a valid point worthy of mention, but they seem to have a goal to get it in to as many articles as possible.
Their three weeks of jeers in the ‘Cheers and Jeers’ section target everything from not filling out the political questionnaire they wanted, to expressing frustration for how he shared his side of the Elk Ranch story with another newspaper.
There are things I don’t like about Rex Rammell as a candidate, and I probably won’t be voting for him come November. But you have to wonder how the kingpins at the Post Register choose their “favored” candidates, and why they unload on some candidates while hold back on others.
When you have a media monster like the Post Register after you, you’re in for a wild ride. They don’t like this guy and it shows.
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Comments
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0 
0 The paper takes turns nailing all the conservatives. Rex was just “next in line”.
When have you ever seen them give equal bashing to the Democrats? It just doesn’t happen.
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0 0 Nemesis,
Where does it say the media has to fairly say anything?
Freedom of speech gives them the right to report what they want, how they want, with as slanted of a story as they want without any legal accountability. Nearly every media outlet is guilty of it including newspapers and television.
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0 0 Paula, you’re probably right that the media is generally more biased than we want them to be, because they have humans at their helm.
I used to write news for a local TV station, back in the 80s. I took great pains to be as fair and balanced as I could be, but even with my care, I’m sure some people felt their viewpoint was less represented than others’.
I think it’s because the PR is trying to be all things to all people (and I’ve seen them jeer Democrats, too) that it comes off so namby pamby to me.
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0 0 I’ve found the PR to be pretty fair. People tend to see what they choose to see. Its bashing if it’s against their political group or religious preference. It’s justified when it’s not. Does that sound strikingly familiar with this blog? I’ve compared some of their stories with those on national news sites and they really do match up. The opinion pages are opinions, the rest seems to be the news to me.
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0 0 The Post Register is the megaphone for Democrats in Southeast Idaho.
I agree with Nemesis, I’ve saw them bash a Democrat once. Only once. And that was a soft finger wag. Compare that to the machine guns they unleash on their non-democrat counterparts.
And don’t write off Rex too quickly. He’s been building support. Maybe that’s why the PR is after him.
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0 0 If you consider that they compare with national news sites, maybe those darn dems have something going for them afterall. 
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0 0 It looks like the Post Register might be in a bit of trouble. I just found this article online:
Idaho Falls Newspaper Continues to Decline
————————————————————-
November 6th, 2007
It is fascinating to watch emerging signs that the Idaho Falls newspaper is floundering more than ever. Three such signs have surfaced in the past few days.
Subscribers to the paper have noticed an annoying addition to the front page. Brightly colored stickers advertising various businesses have been placed near the top edge of the front page, actually obscuring the name of the paper. Apparently business names are more important than the identity of the newspaper. (Or is it that the revenue thus generated supersedes the mortification of it all?)
Next, the newspaper billing process has gone from a postcard, to a full sheet enclosed in an envelope with a return envelope - to a postcard. Trimming expenses seems to be a top priority for these folks. The postcard gives the subscriber far fewer options, such as including a tip for the paper carrier, or contributing to the ill-conceived Newspaper in Education program (which traps gullible individuals into buying newspapers for classrooms, a ploy which at least ups newspaper circulation numbers).
And speaking of circulation numbers, apparently the powers that be at the Idaho Falls newspaper have somehow failed to report their numbers to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, or ABC, a well-known and trusted tracker of newspaper numbers. This is at least the second 6-month period in which the Idaho Falls newspaper has skipped this important task.
Remember that newspapers base advertising rates on their circulation numbers. What does this lapse actually tell advertisers?
Having just built new printing facilities (which event has been used to excuse everything from smaller papers to faulty color printing), one can only suppose the newspaper is feeling the financial pinch.
But it is not a surprise to observers that the paper seems to be experiencing shrinking revenues and shrinking subscriptions. Subscribers have been leaving in droves as a (sometimes) silent protest to blatant bias and poor reporting.
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0 0 Oh Trish and Halli were at it again huh? Please. http://www.blognetnews.com/idaho/feed.php?channel=27&iid=9943&y=2007&m=11&d=06
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0 0 True, six months ago, that was news? Such an unbiased source of material that was, too! 
I stopped subscribing to the paper by delivery, because I always read it online anyway (so I keep my online subscription) and had a difficult time with the recycling. I didn’t do the research (so many capable folks out here in blog land who can do it very well!) but I’m willing to bet that many many newspapers are in the same bind, declining circulation as people turn to TV and go online for their news of the world.
#5, hmm, really says it well. As with anything we read, we bring to it our expectations based upon our viewpoints, and we leave it having compared that article to our biases. And we read/respond to blog posts and forums such as this one, based upon our own mental baggage.
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0 0 Once again, we see the dangers of allowing anonymous posting on this or any other web site. Posters are emboldened to post claims that are false, misleading and just plain wrong.
I don’t know the source of the article re-posting above, but it’s full of bad information and claims that don’t make any sense:
1. The Post Register is fulley audited by the Certified Audits of Circulations (CAC), the same company that audits most of Idaho’s other daily newspapers. That audit over the past two years shows our circulation growing. We changed from ABC in 2005.
2. Yes, there is a battle for revenue and we try to keep costs down. Is there a company out for for which this is not true?
3. The front-page Post-It Note ads are, indeed, a new revenue source for us — very popular and very successful. Once you’ve read the ad and committed to spending money with the advertiser :), you may simply pull it off the page.
It’s a fascinating and a challenging time for all media, but rest assured that your Post Register is up to the challenge and is faring well. If you wonder why we are doing certain things, you’re always welcome to drop me a note at rplothow@postregister.com and I’ll be happy to chat with you.
Regards,
Roger Plothow
Editor and Publisher
Post Registe
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0 0 Thank you Roger Plothow. I personally don’t consider anything that Trish and Halli write to be a reliable, unbiased, fact finding article.
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0 0 Roger,
It’s great to know that you visit the website and have you here participating.
I think the Post Register gets a bad rap sometimes for trying to provide a community service. It’s impossible to make everyone happy.
Thank you for commenting on how the newspaper is doing. You may also want to clear the air on the accusation of the paper targeting individuals.
I do find it surprising that you are opposed to someones right to remain anonymous. I wouldn’t have thought you would have taken that stance where I anticipate you have anonymous sources giving you leads from time to time. But we all have different views here. It’s just great to have you involved in the community.
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0 0 We do not use anonymous sources, with very rare exception. In my 13 years with the PR, I can recall one instance, though there may have been one or two others. I believe most newspapers and other news providers rely far too heavily on anonymous sources, to their detriment.
As for Rammell, remember that the PR’s opinion page does not pretend to be objective. The PR’s editorial board does not think highly of Rammell as a potential US senator and we will probably continue to make our case, just as we’ll continue to allow those who disagree with us to make theirs.
If the story above about the PR’s circulation and alleged “decline” came from Trish and Halli, then I’d just suggest that you consider the source.
Roger Plothow
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0 0 Post register does a excellant job.it has to have a democrat slant ,as we are such a republican commuunity thay you have to show opposing view or nothing would be discussed I think it is same thing about religion they are considered anti ’s well you would have to be to sell papers.eh
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0 0 Roger Plothow,
I’m more of a reader than a writer, but I’ve got to speak up this time.
How can you say you don’t use anonymous sources? In the cheers and jeers section you printed:
Every serious journalist has one thing going for him or her - a promise to protect sources… Anonymous sources can be overused, but sometimes they’re vital - and even on-the-record stories often can be traced to a confidential tipster.
It doesn’t sound like you’re being completely honest.
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0 0 ” with very rare exception.” he said.
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0 0 “Every serious journalist…”
“on-the-record stories often can be traced…”
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0 0 Rex Rammell is a veterinarin and should be ashamed over the elk fiasco. He should be protecting animals, not profiting from their pain and suffering.
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0 0 I could never vote for someone who openly breaks the law and still owes so much in court ordered fines. He hasn’t got any business running IMO.
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0 0 The most interesting insight in this thread is the learning that Roger Plothow is listening. Kudos to you Joe, and Joe before you. My recent experience with the PR left me a sour taste. After a short phone interview (two minutes or less), the paper ran a story (frontpage) that misrepresented and sensationalized my comments. I asked for a retraction but did not receive any follow-up. My opinion of the PR philosophy?….If it makes bucks, run with it.
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0 0 By the way, did you notice? I’m not anonymous.
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0 0 Tom, I think people trust the Post Register less and less these days.
I’ve heard of others with your same concerns. They sensationalize stories, and seem to put a slant on just about everything. They’re probably just trying to create controversy to gain readership, but it really hurts their reputation as a reliable news source.
Local television stations are a much more reliable place to get the news without the political slant. The best in my opinion is Local News 8.
Interestingly enough, channel 8 used to be owned by Ricky Brady (Jerry Brady’s wife) until they sold it off a while ago. If the Post Register would take a queue from how their sister tv station has run things, they probably wouldn’t have the bad reputation or be struggling like they are.
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0 0 Tom #23, the Post Company was the owner of KIFI, and Jerry’s wife Rickie ran it after he moved over to run the PR. The Post Company sold the station a few years back, (and Rickie stopped being the general manager) so KIFI is no longer the ’sister’ station.
I have said before, I think all media sensationalizes things, ‘teases’ things to keep your attention, and I prefer written stories to verbal stories, if only for the depth that is possible. (When I used to write the 10pm news locally, it was rare for a big story to get more than 1-2 minutes of time per broadcast.)
And I really don’t see the PR struggling, or if they are, it’s no worse than any local newspaper across the country. If you speak to the local tv stations they will tell you that due to cable and satellite and the internet, THEY are the ones that are struggling these days.
As was said before, we ourselves get out of the media what we expect, after filtering their content through our personal mental baggage. None of the local stations or the papers are free from accusations of bias. The best we can do is find one that seems to be the most fair, (as you appear to have done) and try to stay informed from a variety of sources.
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0 0 Amen to that Nemesis. People seem to take great joy in knocking others down.
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0 0 Nemesis, was your response to Tom or to me?
If you were trying to imply we are the same person, I’m sorry you are mistaken.
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0 0 Shoot! My bad. I looked for the comment # and then read the doggone name in the text instead of the byline. At my age, senility and general feeblemindedness sets in when I’m trying to use my noggin!
My comment #24 was directed at Richard’s comment #23, which addressed something that Tom said.
Thanks, Richard #26, for setting me straight!
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0 0 The PR does seem controversial. I don’t ever see other news stations with the magnitude of controversy that surrounds the Post-Register in their reporting.
I dropped my print subscription with them a few years back: one- because I just didn’t think I got much out of it, and two - because I can find just about everything I need news wise online these days.
I used to look over the freebies they’d leave at my door once in a while, now I just toss them.
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0 0 So, GlassWall, if the Post Register just wrote about politicians that eat butterflies and poop rainbows, you’d be happy? They ought to be as well-behaved as Trash and Holler? C’mon — this is opinion we’re talking about here. Opinion is, by nature, naturally biased. And Cheers and Jeers calls Democrats on the carpet as well. Yes, they call Republicans on the carpet more often but — my gosh — there seem to be a lot more Republicans in office or seeking office around here, you know. That might have something to do with it.
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0 0 In regards to Mr. Browning’s comment #21,
Please contact me directly if you feel you were treated unfairly by the Post Register. If factual errors were reported, we have a duty and desire to run a correction. You can contact me at mlaorange@postregister.com or by phone at 208-542-6766.
Monte LaOrange
Post Register Executive Editor
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0 0 Ya gotta like that! Thanks Monte….that was nice.
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0 0 Monte, I think most of us can appreciate you coming on here to do a little damage control, but why was Mr. Browning not responded to like this the first time he asked for a correction?
I’m sorry, but it seems like that is the Post Register’s philosophy now a days. Like taking the attitude, “We control newspaper, so we’ll say it however we darn well please.” Until public word gets out, and then there’s scrambling to finally fix the situation once people are looking.
Why not just do the right thing the first time?
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0 0 Kudos to Mr. LaOrange for stopping by and making an effort to fix things! That speaks worlds for the quality of staff at the Post Register.
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0 0 I’ll second Joe Eagle’s post # 33 and #31 by Guest 007. Thanks Monte
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0 0 third
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0 0 Newspaper remind me of piñatas. Everyone love to bash them! It’s been a cultural pastime virtually since the invention of movable type. I’ve heard various people in my lifetime blame newspapers for every ill known to Mankind and even more. Newspaper bashing is just part and parcel of Life in America–or Life in the UK or anyplace newspapers are published.
I think the Post Register does an OUTSTANDING job for a community of this size and nature. I have my issues with the newspaper–who doesn’t? But, when all is said and done, I am very proud of the P-R and feel honored to be able to subscribe to such a wonderful daily newspaper. It’s a gift!
OK, now it’s MY turn to be a piñata. Go ahead, bash away–and, if you hit hard enough, I might just spill out copious amounts of sugar sweet treats.
Cheers, The Volunteer.
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0 0 Ditto!! I would hate to become a lemming we always need both sides of any issue thanks
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0 0 Well I think its hard to work for a news paper. Sometimes sources can give crappy information. I really dislike that and also trying to take pictures at events and get into an argument with another journalist lol. When push comes to shove I get my pictures on the front page lol. I think the newspaper life is kinda fun but it does have some draw backs. People always want a piece of ya for a bad picture or a story dragging them thru the mud. I understand what it takes to run the news paper and pleasing clients who pay for advertising come first because they keep the paper running not really the people purchasing the paper. But do not get me wrong here the people do count because with out them the advertisers wouldnt need the paper its the mob they pay for the readers attract advertisers. I also love the I can do what ever I want badge it says Media on it. I can go anywhere I want and get in free to any event and also cops get out of my way and try not to get in the pictures lol.
Good job post register I like theIdaho state journal better because they publish alot of my photo’s I never take any for the post register. I remember a story I did that involved the LDS church and it was a covert operation to get a picture of them forcing the gospel on some poor students in a hurry to get to class. I got it with a 70-300 lense lol a close up even and it showed names on the tags lol. I love my D300 Nikon.
That wasnt the end of it . Someone called me and told me to stop working on that story or the police and local authorities would eat me for dinner and I still turned in the photo’s and did the story. I dont bend to threats.
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0 0 I don’t think the PR is attacking Rammel as much as questioning his motives for running, especially when Rex is so obviously and deeply in unpaid debts. Questioning a candidate’s financial situation is necessary, because history shows a long list of corrupted politicians before the sunshine laws of campaign and personal finances were passed.
After I read the article about Rex’s purchase of a $100,000 motor home to use for his campaining- a move that seemed extravagent and strange, considering the costs of driving that bus around the state, I grabbed a calculator and did some cost estimates. At 155 days left before the election, the cost of the motor home, with $750 added for some fuel, was about $645 a day. That seems a waste of money, to me, when a car and motel rooms would cost less than half of that.
At that kind of money, how much other advertising can he do? Candidate’s ads are a good way to learn their positions and what they hopee to accomplish if elected. I checked his website, and there was zip for info there.
Will we ever get to read what Mr. Rammell’s political positions are? Or will we just have to wait and hope the bus shows up so we can ask them? Since he will have to cover the entire state, when will I even know when the bus shows up here?
It’s well known that he has a real bone to pick with Jim Risch. I don’t have any feelings either way with his dispute, but I’d like to know if his campaign is only a way to weaken Risch’s chances, or if he’s campaigning out of a genuine desire to serve the people of Idaho.
I think the PR is acting responsibly when it raises questions about all this, and I would be much more comfortable voting for Rammell if I knew he backed up his promises with actual delivery on paying his debts. As it stands now, all I got from his reply in the PR were a bunch of excuses.
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0 0 Well said, Boomer #39.
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0 0 Yes, well said #39. I’ve been musing a lot lately on this topic.
I am wondering just what any of us would know (good or bad) about candidates if not for the media. Luv ‘em or hate ‘em, the media is the only effective way we can learn about people who purport to want to be our leaders.
Sure, we can try to contact candidates in person, write a letter, go to a forum, or peer at a poster. But without the media–both stories & editorials–where would we be?
I’m a Big fan of old newspapers–the ones printed on hand presses with hand set type–printed one sheet at a time.
I love those old newspapers. Anyway, one of the most fun types of articles to read in those old newspapers is commentary on political candidates. Oh, how rich it is!
Those old articles make whatever the P-R may have said about the Elk Guy look like jello. Times are pretty tame now compared to the vemon of the 19th Century!
So, I salute the media in general and the P-R in particular for upholding a time-honored tradition of ripping into political candidates. It’s part & parcel of the media cultural tradition. And love may they live and continue their traditions!
VIVA P-R! Let ‘em have it!
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0 0 Lets just put the Venamous Vet and the Angry Little Gnome in an empty Elk Pen and see who comes out…no weapons allowed. Wait Rex can use his 100k tour bus and the Angry Little Gnome can use all his out of state campaign money from DC/Virginia. Both of the clowns are out for themselves. The Angry Little Gnome didn’t have the cajones to challenge Old Guy Otter for Governor and Rex didn’t have the stones to give the Elk a chance in a penned hunt scam..yep both are true Idahoan’s.
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0 0 Has anyone else noticed most candidates are all bad or have skeletons in thier closets? I am into voting but its real sad when I have to look at all the evils they possess and try and flip a coin on who to vote for. LOL I tell you I made my last mistake in voting I voted for president Bush and wish I had not. But I sure did not want to vote for a coward who ran from the vietnam war. I sure as heck aint voting for Rex even though he hates big government as bad as I do. I wish we could just fire the enitre government leadership and just pick our own candidates and vote for them. But that will nevr happen we are all stuck with whom ever the Big buisness leaders choose for us. Crystal who would you vote for?
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0 0 Quest, I will vote for the man who is going to make my retirement in France more tolerable. Who knows, he might make life in Idaho better too
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J Robb Brady is Jerry’s uncle. He ran the paper, and Jerry’s dad ran KIFI TV 8. Then Jerry’s dad passed away and Jerry came back to Idaho in the mid 80s. By 88 Jerry had become the publisher of the PR, and J Robb stayed on in an emeritus status.
Hey, who else will tell us about these issues, if not our hometown rag? Will Rex Rammell himself take out ads, to tell us about his character flaws? In enough editions, as many times, as it takes for all of us to see it or know someone who did? This man is not “behind in paying”, he’s flat out defaulting on it and being sued for it, right? (All the while saying he pays his debts, yet borrowing more and more money to run for office.)
And that questionnaire that he didn’t return, was he the only one to whom it was sent ? And if not, was he the only one who didn’t send it back? And if not, were the others who also didn’t return it not jeered?
Some people keep pointing out particular tidbits of perceived wrongs, (particularly with regard to partisan politics) without fairly pointing out that others (whom they do support) participated in that same wrong. I guess that’s the right of a blog, to be one sided (after all, blogs aren’t the media which has to fairly say how the others involved did or didn’t do their respective parts) but this post seems a little harsh on a minor blip in the campaign.
I have always contended that the Post Register is too namby pamby, myself, and doesn’t go far enough or dig deep enough, on the majority of their stories.
GlassWall, eh? Hmmm. Open Mike, indeed.