Tech Trends

By Branson Missouri
First of all, I want to thank you for your corporations contribution to helping Missouri Citizens gain a better understanding of state politics. You’ve cultivated talent that we’ve been able to capitalize on here in Southern Missouri. Your ex-employee, Tony Messenger has done a phenomenal job of reaching out and helping our regional paper express community voices.

The Columbia Tribune’s contribution to Missouri Citizen’s collective knowledge is an invaluable asset to both myself and my peers. Journalists/Bloggers such as Jason Rosenbaum often make headlines in my Southwest Missouri News feed. He provides information about state politics important to the citizens of my community.

In the American tradition, the Press has been charged with keeping us “Free and Self-Governed.” We hope you take that responsibility seriously. We do. We believe you do and though the Internet has proved “a thousand monkeys” dancing on keyboards doesn’t mean a Shakespearean work will automatically emerge - but there are sonnets!
We know you have a place. We’re not trying to discredit you - we’re trying to challenge you and contribute to your knowledge base. It’s an exchange.

At one time, it was a challenge to beat the press. After finding this task relatively simple, we’ve moved onto another goal - to help and facilitate you with information that helps us create a more educated Polis.

The results are astounding.

We created a media assistance tool called Branson Agent .

Having a solid background in tech-marketing we’ve been able to implement sophisticated analytics tools. We’ve found that television stations are the number one consumer of the product. These outlets increase awareness about our area, culture, lifestyle and economy. We’re grateful they take the time to read us and leave them scoops.

We’re not trying to take all the credit, but like to be acknowledged once in a while. Like all humans, we like to know we’re loved.

The greatest barrier to our quest for a better democracy is the mainstream media itself. An open society doesn’t always benefit a corporate press and civil servants are able to slow down information flow - especially when the mainstream isn’t supporting the goal of self-governance and free-flow of information. It’s not always economically beneficial to the “Keeper of the Gate.” When I file a request for video in the courtroom under rule 16 I have to deal with the mainstream press - who determines where and if I get access to the court.

Often, I’m handing the journalist - one who has never been in the Taney County Courthouse - a scoop. Sometimes, they just steal it.

If you spoke to the members of my community, you’d better understand where we’re coming from. Most would admit we’re far more credible than the local newspaper publications.

Recently, we learned two Branson area journalists had economic interests other than the responsibility of informing the public. We’ve felt like a voice crying in the wilderness as citizens are being duped into an intentional misinformation campaign for economic gain.

Quite frankly, it’s scary.

We don’t have the same economic interests to consider - advertisers that we have to appease or risk losing - or political powers to fear.

Some of us spend thousands of dollars at our own expense to gather information to share with the public. We don’t do it because we’re being paid. We do it because we love our country - our families - our community and democracy.

We criticized you rather heavily last week. We did this because you suggested apathy was a good thing. Since you cited your source, “some lawyers” opinion of the Missouri Plan we were able to critique your argument. We hope you read it and learned something. We don’t mean this in a boastful way, but in a brotherly sense. We hope you feel we’re valuable and have something to teach each other.
I’m not an anonymous blogger. I keep an 800 number - email and a decent resume (though we haven’t updated it in some time).

Before the week ends, I’ll be posting the top 10 companies/people I want to work for. If none of them bite - I’ll begin printing my own newspaper.

Is it the paper or the quality of news that makes you more legit?
We’re too legit to quit but offer you one last tidbit before we await your response.

Information is a unique asset, unlike hard goods - the more you share it - the more valuable it becomes, because you know who has it. As a result the more you share it, the more valuable it becomes.

If you question our logic, intelligence or data - you know where to come. We’d like to think we contribute something to your organization as well.

Like Hertz, “We’re number two, we try harder”

Regards,

Darin P Codon
Branson Edge