The reader made some interesting points, so I decided to publish it as a post of its own and not in the comment section of my earlier post.
Randy, it is my sad duty to inform you that in your old age you are becoming somewhat delusional. The people of Joplin are content with the Joplin Globe and it is probably always going to remain that way. Is it a newspaper that is worthy of that kind of respect? Undoubtedly not, but that is the way it is, nonetheless.
You have been giving it away for too long, People are going to keep telling you what a good job you are doing if they like it and keep reading you even if you don't. It's a blog, not a newspaper. People are not going to spend good money on blogs.
You can't set up any kind of payment structure on your blog because you would lose all of your traffic. The people in Joplin are happy to read the Turner Report as long as they don't have to spend a dime for it.
You are also delusional in this idea that you are somehow making a difference. You hammered on CJ Huff and the board of education for months, yet two of CJ Huff's candidates were elected. That gives me the idea that people may be reading you, but your message is not getting across. You have written umpteen times about Wallace-Bajalli and no one has really cared. They are still here and they are going to continue to be here.
What exactly have you accomplished?
Not a thing.
You are a mild annoyance to the Joplin Globe, a pest, but an easily manageable one for CJ Huff and it would surprise me if David Wallace even knows you exist.
A few years ago, we had a credible challenger to the Globe, the Joplin Daily. It only lasted a year or so and it provided actual news stories. It is gone and did not leave much of a trace. The Joplin Globe remains. You don't have the resources of the company that published the Joplin Daily. You might as well call it a day and stop fooling yourself.
Your constant attacks on the people who have the power in Joplin have prevented you from ever having the chance to attract the money you need to succeed. Challenging Mark Rohr, C. J. Huff, the Joplin Progress Committee and others who have spent their lives accomplishing something while you continue to howl into the wind is an exercise in futility.
I have a feeling that in a few months this idea of expanding the Turner Report will fade away and maybe every once in a while someone will remember that for awhile you were a big pain in the neck standing in the way of Joplin's progress. Some people may remember you with fondness. I would guess that most people simply won't remember you at all.
In conclusion, people are not going to pay for something that you are giving away for free. And if you stop giving it away for free, they are still not going to pay. The Turner Report is a hobby, nothing more, nothing less. It is fitting that you were a teacher, so I will end this way, in Joplin, those who can do, those who can't write the Turner Report.
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That was not an easy one to get through, but I have heard this before and as much as I disagree with it, it is an interesting take.
That being said, I still have faith that the Turner Report will be able to expand and continue to turn into something much, much more than it is now. I don't look on it as just as alternative to the Joplin Globe, but as a viable news source. People have asked me about the cost of the voluntary subscriptions. They cost $10 for three months and again, they are voluntary. The Turner Report, Inside Joplin, and my other blogs will never limit the number of articles you can read. Anyone who is uncomfortable using PayPal or a credit card can send checks to Randy Turner, 2306 E. 8th, Apt. G, Joplin, MO. 64801. Thank you.
10 comments:
Mr. Turner, the Turner Report is not only going to be a success, but you and John Hacker in 5:41 and Spirit of Hope told the story of the Joplin Tornado far better than anything I have seen in any other book. The Scars book you wrote with the kids was also wonderful. Joplin is lucky to have you and the Joplin School District is much the worse for not having you. Proud to be a Turner Report subscriber
It made a huge difference to a lot of people. I found out, as did others, a lot of important issues. City council, and the school board will be changing for the better. Thorns and trouble makers were not re-elected. These are the citizens servants and maybe now they will realize. Huff needs to be in check and hopefully he will realize we are watching. People realize Rohr ....well they can read for themselves.
I have subscribed to the Turner Report and all other teachers in the Joplin School District should be doing the same. Randy Turner has given us hope at a time when we desperately needed it. He spoke what the rest of us could not for fear of losing our jobs and thanks to him we see some sunlight at the end of the tunnel. I challenge all teachers and school employees to back him up. You get twice the value for your $10 because every $10 you give for him is $10 you are using to battle C. J. Huff. Long live the Turner Report!
Keep being honest and awesome, Turner!
If your publication wasn't important and making a difference, no one would have written you ten paragraphs telling you it wasn't important and making a difference.
Hahaha, Randy is standing in the way of Joplin's progress? The ignorant people who live in that awful place and who don't pay attention to what's happening are standing in the way of progress! The people who reelected Woolston and voted against curbside recycling are standing in the way of progress in Joplin. And they're ultimately going to win. Everyone with education, skills, potential, experience will move away to a better place, just like I did, and Joplin can fade away and die. Any day now.
Interesting comment. Well put, couldn't have said it better!
Anonymity sure seems to give the disgruntled a lot of courage. I admire you for putting your name on your work, Mr. Turner and for responding so maturely to such a pessimistic comment.
It wasn't totally unreasonable until the last cheap-shot sentence which discredits any value in the authors statements in my opinion. You're successful as long as you're doing what you want. Even if you don't get rich or become nationally recognized for writing you're still doing what seems to be very important to you.
I hope this news publication continues. This election was only first of many to come and was immersed in the middle of Rohr claiming good ole boy presence in city government. This created a voter mentality that if your name has been associated with past public service, especially in the long term, you need replaced. The whole fresh face concept has taken hold and in some respect is just a reaction for the sake of it. I believe this will pass. There are new council members and we will see if they have taken heed of the more prevailing underlying public sentiment that is still in place of the city squandering resources and becoming dictatorial on who and what gets developed. That is why all three of the other issues failed. The recycle failure is a reaction to most people getting tired of the city spending millions upon millions for pipe dreams and then asking us all to chip in three bucks a month and still have to throw away glass. That one of the underlying sentiments. Both charter changes failed which is also an expression of discontent with the city leaders. It is obvious that the voters understood that to have a director of all our public works with no certification or degree was nothing more than a wish Rohr had to put his hand picked person in there who didn't happen to have any qualifications and as such turned it down big time. Some new council members were probably in favor of this simply because it was Rohrs idea. The will have to change there tune some as events occur. The failure of the pay increase for council members is the same frustrated reaction of the voters. Let's face it, any other time, it would likely have passed. But in these times with one councilman getting a single donation of 10,000 bucks, and at the same time harping about the council needing to get on the stick and figure out how to spend a couple billion real fast, the public decided that council members likely can afford the gas expense to drive to city hall once a week. So, there are indications that the public is still on the watch regardless of the individuals that happen to get elected.
I agree wholeheartedly!!! Stop being an ex-gruntendly employee & find a new job & move on w/your life like most functioning adults!!!
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