Springfield says Branson Unimportant
They say actions speak louder than words and Springfield is screaming with both stating. “Branson is Unimportant.”
Branson is growing and has contributed greatly to the regional economy, but you wouldn’t know it from the actions Springfield business owners have made to alienate Branson.’
Two major hits leave Branson without adequate medical care and the closing of the Springfield News-Leaders axing of the Branson Bureau which leaves Branson without media coverage.
The two actions are the removal of local air emergency medical air support from the Taney County Airport and the elimination of the Branson Bureau by the Springfield News-leader.
When Branson celebrated the hard work after a multi-year effort to establish a convention center with a two-day celebration SNL sent Didi Tang who watched a ribbon cutting for 10 minutes, took a couple notes, grabbed a soundbite before drafting an us-and-them report (we were the them).
Are Branson business owners mad, the 2,000 area subscribers upset? I’ll say this, everyone feels the gap in media coverage but the discussion hasn’t been around the void instead Branson’s brass is asking, “What can we do to re-engage Springfield ?”
How can we be better community citizens?
If you think about it, Branson is good for Springfield. We bring millions of visitors who have to travel through Springfield and subsequently spend million of dollars while en-route. Can we give more support for the arts - the Cardinals - What?
Posted: September 17th, 2007 under Branson, Springfield, Travel, Journalism, Missouri Politics.
Comments: 3
Comments
Comment from Eric
Time: September 18, 2007, 10:06 pm
It seems that it is you that has the “us vs them” mentality. Interpreting the actions of Cox and Gannett as a statement from Springfield.
Cox and Gannett are independent of the City of Springfield and everyone in Springfield …
And how does Gannett’s decision involving a Branson Bureau mean that Springfield is screaming “Branson Is Unimportant”.
Gannett doesn’t even have a local call center in Springfield. So how can anyone think the decision of that particular company has anything to do with what is best for Springfield or any other southwest Missouri community. Anything they do is to maximize value to shareholders of Gannett.
The helicopter over in Branson West isn’t adequate? Wasn’t that placed by a hospital with ties to Springfield?
Comment from Darin
Time: September 18, 2007, 11:33 pm
Thanks for dropping by Eric.
I understand having the first Branson Bureau as a landmark your employer is very proud of.
They should be.
I realize Cox and Gannett are different companies and have many more examples of where and how - leading to why many Branson residents and business’s are interested in strengthening the ties between our region.
Gannett, one of the most widely read newspaper publishing companies in the world has a slumped stock. I believe it’s temporary. and
Cutting the Branson Bureau isn’t gaining readers in this growing part of the region…
Miximizing value to the shareholders is the result of offering a valuable product that consumers want to use.
Branson carries a lot of the financial weight for Missouri.
We’re the ants of the Missouri economy and at times it seems like we’re treated like regular ants.
Comment from Eric
Time: September 19, 2007, 12:58 am
Well … my employer dropped the Branson Bureau nearly 10 years ago.
I don’t think it had anything to do with saying “Branson isn’t important” it had more to do with Qurom Broadcasting(the ownership at the time) cutting personnel costs.
That being said … all Gannett(not my employer) is worried about is cutting cots to maximize profits. That’s why they moved local customer service to Tulsa, and that is why they have removed the Branson Bureau.
But this doesn’t amount to Springfield saying “Branson isn’t important”. Maybe Gannett or Cox is saying that, but not Springfield. I imagine, that Springfield(however you want to define that) is really more indifferent to Branson. But, I guess that is another topic.
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