By Adam Floyd
Editor | ValdostaToday.com
Don’t ignore the good news.
There’s a saying about news media that you may be familiar with: “If it bleeds, it leads.”
The phrase is born out of an indisputable fact of news reporting: If the story is shocking, graphic or negative, people are more likely to read it, view it and click it.
The fact usually leaves the impression news outlets only cover negative stories, and a quick glance at any recent collection of area headlines will support that impression.
In the past two weeks, ValdostaToday.com has shared reports of a grocery store manager who robbed his own store and shot at police, a robber who was caught by a K-9 and suspects arrested for Flakka possesion.
The headlines make life in the Azalea City look bleak, but we also shared other stories: the opening of a new grocery store, a charity event to raise money for local cancer patients, VSU being named among America’s best schools, a donation to local literacy efforts and more.
There are good things happening in Valdosta and in South Georgia and in North Florida, and we should not ignore them.
News media outlets have an obligation to report what is happening. When a drug arrest is made, it is important that we know. But when a high school teacher is named vice president of a tech association, we need to know that, too. If we take one and not the other, then we are getting an incomplete view of our community.
This morning, I was disheartened to learn about KKK flyers being distributed in a Valdosta subdivision over the past few months. After WCTV broke the story, I knew every office water cooler in town would be surrounded by whispers and chatter of the KKK in Valdosta.
Now, we needed to know those flyers were distributed; we need to know when individuals are trying to sow discord. But we also need to know the good stuff, so we can confidently say to anyone who asks, “Our town is not that story.”
Given the small scope of the KKK flyer incident, I believe it is safe to blame it on the actions of a few malcontents creeping through Valdosta neighborhoods under the cover of darkness.
In stark contrast, hundreds of Valdostans gathered yesterday, in the light, for a celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A few KKK flyers.
Hundreds gathered in support of equality.
If we take one and not the other, then we do not know what Valdosta is about.
