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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Should Municipalities Be Required To Advertise On Blogs Now?

As I'm sure many of you will agree, far too many people have dumped their subscription to the Daily Times and have instead become dependent on Salisbury News to deliver local news and information for FREE.

There are many notices that are advertised in the Daily Times, probably what's keeping them afloat these days. Permits, Meetings, you name it. Considering many are no longer purchasing the newspaper, isn't the old law antiquated as far as letting the public know who's doing what and when?

If Salisbury News offered this service for FREE to local Municipalities, or even a minimal fee to cover the cost, I believe it should be considered by Rick Pollitt and Jim Ireton.

What do you think?

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's public information isn't it? More access to citizens is better, right? It's a no brainer

Anonymous said...

No. Believe it or not, there are thousands of people that do not have a computer. I feel for them. Many do not have the means to purchase one, or, feel that have the knowledge to operate one. The sad part is that technology has hurt many a person in different way.

Anonymous said...

Joe, with all due respect, what do you consitute as "Far too Many" Do you have the Numbers? How do you know this. if your going to discount other blogs for putting up wrong info, you should be able to back yours up, not a hate message, just a thought.

Anonymous said...

No offense to this site, but that is a very bad idea. The reason is that the notices are intended to reach as many as possible and for the print pedia to serve as the repository for that information (ie people always know where to look). Yes, change can be good. However, consider the newcomer who does not know where to look on line, they can always pick up a local paper and get what tey need. Blogs are too unpredictable in that they are, by nature, more editorial with no reasonable way to police whether they are distributing the information received. In addition, many are issue oriented which means that if the issue is resolved, the blog goes away. What is to keep an opposing group from posting misleading blogs? Who will know which one is official?

It can also be very difficult to find local blogs as even the best search engines do not yield a complete list and if they do, who can spend the time to look through 1.7 million results? Finally, Public Notice is crucial to ensuring due process. Perhaps we can and should start to move in the direction of using the web, but until it evolves to provide stable outlets that are easily identified as official postings, mandating the use of blogs to circulate such notices has too many unknowns (again, nothing personal towards this site).

Anonymous said...

It the DT goes out, they're going to have to figure it out. The Shore Guide isn't exactly going to work, since it only comes out once a week.

Anonymous said...

In my opinion, the answer to that is absolutely. Every mainstream form of communication should be accesible. This will allow the municipalities to get their message
out to the public sector.

Anonymous said...

Yes, it is something that should be considered. But whom to choose? All the blogs?

Anonymous said...

I don't think it should be required or even taken serious. There are more obvious opinions on this and other blogs than in the newspapers (even though I know you would probably disagree with me Joe).
I love his blog for some of the news but mainly the opinions and gossip. However, I don't look to it for serious news.
So, no. I disagree with that proposal. Just keep doing what you do best. I love the entertainment.

Anonymous said...

No. Anyone can post anything on blogs.

mommaneedswine said...

The legal ads for estates and foreclosures, etc are required to be printed in a widely circulated newspaper. These rules are all from the annotated code of Maryland. The state would have to change the legislation.

Anonymous said...

The only rquired advertisements for a government agency, that I know of, is to advertise requests for bids on projects and any other such state or federally required adds. So, I think most adds for local advertisements should be free or a nominal fee charged that would not overburden the agency doing the adds. Best that an attorney answer your question, actually.

Two Sentz said...

Good God no! I would hate to have to post irrelvant crap I didn't want to post. My blog, my content. Joe, why are you pushing socialism on me? LOL!

Anonymous said...

Why couldn't it just be handled as a "press-release" where all of the blogs, papers, and other forms of media could gain access to it. That way, it could be available to all in whatever format is easiest for them.

CC said...

According to Michie's Code of Maryland ...

A myriad of Maryland laws requires that notice for all manner of events -- public hearings, tax sales, bond relase, elections, and many more — be published or advertised in a newspaper of general circulation in the county.

Some laws require, in the absence of a newspaper, dissemination of information using "other means of mass communication."

(Records also tell us that our state's founders declared that all Government of right originates from the People, is founded in compact only, and instituted solely for the good of the whole; and they have, at all times, the inalienable right to alter, reform or abolish their Form of Government in such manner as they may deem expedient.)

Anonymous said...

Public notices should be published and/or posted in a variety of places so that as many citizens as possible are reached. We need an independent local newspaper that doesn't charge an arm and a leg for legal ads!

Anonymous said...

I see another of mine got the axe.
oh well.
another reason why it will never be required.

Anonymous said...

Yes it should be published on prominent blogs such as sbynews. "In addition to" news papers and such....
there's absolutely no reason to not have every possible means of distribution....

Anonymous said...

why so you can cost the tax payer more, while you get rich. HELL NO.