Feagler, redux

My post on Feagler’s speaking engagement at CSU has had a few comments, and I’d be remiss if I said they’ve been in Feagler’s favor. I’ve spewed some venom against our dear Dick in the past, but I’m actually looking forward to his lecture.

In all fairness, I think that Dick Feagler has a lot to offer as a speaker. I think that the title of his lecture says it all: as a columnist and writer, he is a gatekeeper for local media. The news really is what he says it is. He’s an old-timer, yes, and he can bloviate with the best of them, but he has value. The fact that he is, in a small part, a media gatekeeper, means that it’s important to hear what he says. Even if I disagree with him.

I’m going to try to go and see him, if work allows, because I want to hear what he says. Honestly, I think it could be good. His views on blogging aside, Feagler has a valuable perspective–he’s seen a lot and can has time on his side. I want to see if the curmudgeon act is just that–an act. The man doesn’t always write about how the good old days are better, and he does, on occasion, write powerful stuff. Just because I disagree with his views on blogging, or find his lack of research on the subject to be more than a little disturbing, he’s a good writer. I want to hear what he has to say, and perhaps respond to his views.

This is what I think blogging has to offer to the “old media”, and vice versa. As the face of media continues to change and merge, we’re going to have more discussions. The ideas that old media is wrong, or that the new media is impetuous and inexperienced will fall away as we have more conversations between the two. I want to see what Feagler has to offer to the new journalists and writers coming out of Cleveland. I hope I won’t be disappointed.