by Matt Marquardt –
Your local newspaper, the Globe Gazette, seems to have checked out… and it may never return. It is going through the motions, each day, every day, like an aged marathoner who should have retired years ago.
The evidence is there to support this theory.
First and foremost, you have stacks of Mason City Shoppers showing up in local dumpsters on May 1, printed that very day, in the dumpster that very day. Startling if you are the Globe’s parent company Lee Enterprises, struggling to emerge from a mountain of debt, and enraging if you are an advertiser in that publication. Wonder if Lee CEO Mary Junck knows about that.
Where is the Globe’s leadership? The only time you see its publisher, Howard Query, is when he is posing as the Band Fest Grand Marshall, lapping up the spotlight for no good reason. Or you might see him in his apron at his bar-b-que bash with sauce on his chin. The word I have received is that he is behind many of the Globe’s editorials, as he is known to sit in with the editorial board when they are written. You never see his name on anything though. Guess the heat would be too much to bear.
Speaking of Mr. Query, does he realize that two of his full-time employees are immersed in opening a bar? According to their Kickstarter.com page where they are asking for donations for said bar, they say “We brew every chance we get; it’s kind of taken over our lives. Every free moment we get we’re reading brewing books, talking with other home brewers, daydreaming about brewing and making plans to open a kick-ass brewery (every once in a while we find some time to drink our beer too).”
Not what I would want to hear from my employees, I can tell you that. I would rather hear how they are thinking of new ways to save our company from shutting its doors.
Then there is the Globe’s resident political reporter / opinion man John Skipper, seen numerous times at City Hall in the Mayor’s office with the door shut. That ought to tell you something. You can also find him many times before and after Cerro Gordo County Supervisor’s meetings yucking it up with those fellows; busy forgetting about the massive raises they have voted for themselves over recent years. Just today an NIT reader sent an op-ed here questioning a recent Skipper article where he allegedly fudged the number of supporters at a Christie Vilsack campaign stop.
As is Mr. Skipper’s trend now to respond to most anything NIT does, perhaps he cares to sit with Mr. Query and the Globe Editorial Board and craft a response to the public as to when lunchtime is over.
If Matt and NIT has done one thing to keep the “old media” in check and on their toes, then he’s done his job. There are many sides to many stories, but where else could you vent about them? On many of the stories the Globe does, they have blocked public comment. While there’s a lot of bashing and name calling on here, there’s still a place to type, no matter what the story is — and that’s a good thing. Since when is asking questions of public officials and standing up for the citizens of North Iowa a bad thing? Anyway, I enjoy 95% of what I read here and will keep coming back.
Matt Hey have you ever thought that those papers, where put there by worthless carriers. I live next to one of those so called carriers! I come here hoping to one day read a news story, Not look at another version of facebook mugshots! Where everyone is slandering each other. Just remember when you point the finger , you have four pointing right back at ya. Just saying. Come on!!
Fact: the globe is dying. and the truth hurts.
Where exactly do you get the right to make such allegations towards people(i.e. Scruffy etc.)? I read one person state their opinion on something you wrote and you immediately go into accusations of jealousy and drug use? I have a question for you. Are you actually an adult? I thought we outgrew petty arguing when we were children but I guess that’s not the case. If you’ve worked in the media for this long you should already know that not everyone will agree with you and those that disagree with you will more than likely voice their opinion on the matter. Get over it. If you don’t want people to voice their opinion, don’t let anyone comment. For all your talk of bringing “real news” to the people, you sure do a good job of stating your opinion as fact and blocking anyone who disagrees with you. And yes, I’m not using my real name. You’d be stupid to give your real name to anyone you don’t know.
@ Moose – I fully concur… but Matt won’t give you the responsible answer you are looking for. And if you push the issue too much you will get grounded by him from playing on his playground and you may even see the words “You Have Been Blocked” appear on your screen for a while.
It’s a mini rebellion against Matt.
Although I subscribe to the Globe, I agree that they print what they want and don’t always print what the citizens want to hear. It seems to me there is a slant to their stories that is decidedly in favor of the elected officials. I have written to the Globe numerous times and have had my letters printed. I have also had some letters discarded because of the subject matter. The most recent one concerned the removal of Pam Myhre as lead person on the garbage plant. All I asked was where was the Globe when this happened and why they didn’t report on it. Skipper decided (i think) it wasn’t worth printing. I wonder why?
It is a shame how the influence of Mason City elect/certain business owners keeps negative articles about them out of the paper..and gets a certain few Grand Marshall titles.
Return mason City to it’c citizens. Band Fest included.
boycott bandfest.
I watched first hand how a local major business owner influenced the Globe into not printing a story that would have left this owner in a negative light..his quote, ” if you print that, I will pull my advertising”…it never ran.
There are a lot of citizens in North Iowa who do not wish to know the truth. They are comfortable believing that everything their community leaders do is for the greater good. I wasn’t raised to be nieve and I believe there are two sides to every story. I have seen first hand that greed and corruption is alive and running rampant in our area. If you choose to ignore it that is your choice but if you care about forward progression you might want to become better acquainted and educated with what is going on around you.
I read news online from multiple sources so that I can make my own inferences on what the truth is. There are certain media outlets that will portray information only in a way that best suits their own opinion. I read NIT because I can find out where other useful information was withheld and I can piece the entire story together.
Since NIT came along I come here first everyday, and hardly ever go to read the globe because i cant trust it. So i agree with you lmao. And i think the bloggers who attack Matt just want to bring NIT down but it is clearly not working. Everyone is talking about NIT and reading it. Good to be able to have this new voice here.
Matt: I do like to read NIT. I like the concept and the straight talk. I have never read anything from the globe, nor do I get channel 3 tv. As for Peter children, he must be older and wiser than you as he has taken our advise a few months ago and toned down his badmouthing, name calling, ect. he has taken our advise and has tried to stick with the facts as he sees them. his articles are much better because of this, and has earned more respect from me because of it also. I would assume that others appreciate the change in his articles also. grow up, dont get all pissy about me telling you this. we all learn as we get older. just try it and you will get more respect from your haters. Kill em with kindness jeff
Jeff, no offense taken, and your advice was written in a civil way and not as an attack. Appreciate your thoughts and presence here on NIT.
I agree “50” Peter has toned down his rhetoric and I find him more fair and interesting. Matt you have won ,be more magnanimous and not so vindictive, it will serve you better in the long run. You are right about the Globe, it is a shadow of its former self.Sites like this are the future, as long as you control the attacks on dissidents. The majority of the people on this site agree with what you and Peter say BUT the minority have other ideas and would like to express them. If you berate the minority your site will not grow to what it could become. IF you accept alternate views ,you don’t have to agree with them ,without attacking them MAYBE this site will become what I hope it can be.
The people who keep coming here to rail on NIT must have something to hide, otherwise why would they mind what Matt writes. I wonder if any of these go to the globe site and knock John Skipper we all know he is not truthful or insightful. Have any of you people ever read a globe editorial, you think thats based on facts get real and as far as a member of the media being friends with city hall employees I would rather have facts and the truth reported by the media source I count on. You can be friends with who-ever you want but it should not get in the way of the truth and your job.
For more than 30 years I worked for newspapers inside and outside this country…as everthing from a sports editor and managing editor to publisher. At every venue I worked in everyone, including those in the “ivory tower”, did their share of the work, writing, etc., etc. I received many writing and photography excellence awards and the newspapers I worked on received many of the same awards regionally and nationally.
No one on the staffs considered themselves anything but newsmen, regardless of title, and worked as such.
The Globe is by far one of the “worst” publication I’ve run across. It lacks coverage outside of its attending local meetings, covering police reports, handouts from local institutions, etc. A monkey with a note pad could do it better.
What’s the problem. Howard Query! His background is two years photography study. A journalist he is not. His job is to protect his advertisers and he goes so far as to keep “unkind” stories of those entities and their favorite people from print.
Saw a sign in the back window of an auto today which probably sums it all up.
“A free press is not required to print the truth…nor to print the news.”
“Adjust your thinking accordingly!”
Unfortunately that sign applies to the Globe AND this site too!!!
I agree 100% the globe and John Skipper is out of touch with north iowa. I am also happy we have NIT here its obvious by the number of comments that people are tuning into this site for their news. Matt you must have some people worried in the area with all the negative comments directed at you. Keep up the good work and dont let the people who want to bash you win they are scared that what people have been saying for years in this community is finally getting out in media form.
Thank you. What you see below, personal attacks against me, lies, etc, are from people NIT either directly competes against, or from people with a personal vendetta against me. They hate NIT’s success and really hate that NIT is my creation. We do the best we can here at NIT to bring interesting material and viewpoints to the public for their dissemination. Yes at times it is “unrefined” and “raw” … that’s what makes it unique. NIT is not beholden to a corporate czar or CEO in a far away city, state or country; it comes from Mason City. It gives people the voice the other media will never give them. NIT answers to the public. When they stop reading, NIT comes down.
Matt: not all people here that write something bad about you are your compitetion. I for one do not know you, nor compete against you. MY comments tward you are in hopes that you will change your attitude. and try to act more professional. being more professional doesnt mean that you have caved in. name calling, whinning, bitching are not the way to win people over on here or anywhere. While I do like what you say you stand for above. try to eliminate any reason for others to find fault with you. dont make it so easy for them to criticize you. any child can say “NA NA NA NAA NAAAA NA” so Matt what do you have to say about the person that says “we love you matt” STRAIGHT MAN TALKING HERE!!!!!!
How did I personally attack you??? I attacked your opinion, your editorial and the way you do business…but please, spell out for me where I made one “personal” attack? I’d also like to know when I started working at the Globe or KIMT, because I don’t compete against NIT.
The only “personal” attack I see in the thread I created was where you decided to spread lies about my drug use…pot calling the kettle black don’t ya think?
My problems with NIT started when I was censored for stating my opinion on your webpage, but watched several other people openly kiss your ass and state there opinions and be allowed to do so. I could give a shit less who you are personally, you just happen to be the man who runs the show at this TMZ knock-off…
Hey buddy, you admitted you were a pot smoker. Who knows if you kicked the habit. Your Facebook pages says Scruffy A. Puff. Seems like you enjoy putting things in your mouth. It’s commonly known that the crowd you run with likes the number “420.” You attack NIT because you are jealous of its success and angry at the hold it has over you. That is why you are here all the time, you can’t resist. I almost feel sorry for you. You have also asked around for my phone number, it is 515-897-1144, use it if you have any courage.
Nice article Matt. It’s to bad it deteriorated into a pissing match about NIT again. If these haters dislike NIT that much why do they bother to read it?? If they think these types of attacks are going to change anyone’s mind who really reads NIT they are sadly mistaken. I believe they are probably council members or family members of council members. They can’t take the heat. I sometimes don’t agree with Peter either but I do respect his opinion. (Both Peter’s) Keep up the good work.
It comes down to cooperation. Matt and the others on the NIT team are working hard for North Iowa. I (Mark) have been in contact with community leaders and management at the Globe Gazette. It is pretty well known I’ve made an effort to cooperate with other media in town, but who steps up to see how things are going? Matt and NIT.
The Globe reads like a MCHS school newspaper. When funding is being asked for, or more tax dollars needed, or a pay raise for everybody, you get to start reading all the touchy feel good articals. They have been hot and heavy for the last 3 months, makes you just want to dig deeper.
Does Deb Niclay work for the Globe or the school?
are we children or are we adults???
if we are adults then lets act our age then.
instead of what everybody else is doing.
you are all there to do a job and get paid to do it so start doing your jobs or be replaces by someone that can do the job. im tired of reading this crap about everybody fighting and what they are doing. get busy and do your jobs!!!!
10-20 hours a day? haha all I ever see you report on is story’s that the globe or kimt have already done or pointless ones like this.
Already reported on huh… but yet your are here, reading NIT. Why? Can you answer that, Adam? Out of the millions upon millions of web pages on the internet, you are here, spending time, perusing our stories, leaving comments. Why? Do you need to read stories twice to comprehend? Or maybe the real reason is that you cannot avoid NIT, you must visit over and over, you are addicted, much like Scruff a Puff is to drugs.
It’s like a train wreck. Or bad car accident… you don’t want to look, but you do…
Guest, is that the reason you have left over 60 comments here on NIT since January, the majority of them negative towards the topic or author? Maybe you just hate NIT because you work for the Glob or KIMT?
I come here for amusement. You are very amusing. And no, I don’t work at the Globe, or KIMT.
nope just liked the page on facebook in case some day you do a story that hasn’t already been reported. Addicted? haha yeah these story’s that you do are so addictive hahahaha. Get a real job
Well Mr. Allthatandabagofchipswithobowloficecream the words that you have said about Scruffy A Puff are slanderous and can be held up in a court of law. If you are not careful Mr. Puff may be running this rag.
Matt is one of the hardest workers I have ever seen. I agree 100 percent about the Globe they can’t tell the whole story or get most stories right. It is not what you know but who you know in the news and politics. I am teaching my children young do not believe everything you read in the paper and do your own homework if you are interested in a story.
Matt. There is such a thing as professionalism and ethics when it comes to journalism. While we don’t seem to see much of it these days, it would be nice if our local reporters (you as well as the Globes) would show a little respect to the readers by demonstrating professional and ethical behavior.
I think it’s great that we have an alternative to the Globe but there have been several times in recent history that you have demonstrated that you are not a professional when it comes to journalism. You need to learn to keep your personal gripes out of the picture. Opinion or not, you represent NIT in all you do and when you behave like you have, it does nothing to earn the respect of the people of North Iowa. If you want your NIT project to really become what it could be, take a few lessons from the Globe…
Dave, the only “advice” you want me to take from the Glob is how to ruin a great business, quite likely because you are jealous of NIT and you hate its success. Sorry Dave but NIT will be just as edgy as ever and continue to grow its audience.
Matt there are ways to get things from people but it is not they way you are going about it. Just report on the things they don’t or won’t because they can’t or they are not allowed too. The way you go about attacking the Globe and KIMT leads me to think you have been fired or turned down for employment there and are trying to get back at them. The Globe is over priced and in today’s world news papers are dropping like fly’s and KIMT mainly reports on Minnesota. On average they run 6 story’s on Mn. and 3 on Ia. and they don’t care what their viewers say they just keep doing the same thing. Both places will be there own demise starting with the paper first.
I agree I am so sick of hearing about Minn.!!! When I see kids on the news I get disappointed because they are from Minn. I want to see local kids I might know!!!!!!
A valid assertion but nonetheless untrue.
I worked at the Glob for 6+ years. The day I quit was like being released from prison. It is an awful place to work and I feel sorry for how they treat their employees. I would never in a million years ask for a job there nor at KIMT.
Nice edit Matt… and you say you don’t use any other names to post.
So by its very definition, you are a “disgruntled former employee.”
Call it what you want, it is no secret I am no fan of the Globe. Now I write about them occasionally; I am the only one doing so. They were not held accountable until NIT came along. There will be more so stay tuned.
And who are you accountable too again? Matt?
This has been asked my many people a number of times in different ways.
The public. Apparently anonymous bloggers such as yourself. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to read it, nor does the public… but they do, in droves, and that bothers you, Watcher. I suggest you build your own website and talk about anything you want over there.
I am just another of many who come to this site for strictly entertainment… My checkout magazine budget is at an all time low since you started this site.
I keep telling you I have absolutely nothing to losses or gain by reading or commenting on this site.
It’s just good inquiring minds wanna know entertainment to me.
When you see Matt in a bar, he’s “working”… keeping an eye out for council-critters… 😀
When I tried to “voice my opinion” on your little facebook page because I didn’t agree with your opinions, I was very quickly booted and not allowed to comment anymore…and you attack Mr. Query for not wanting criticism? Give me a break…this “editorial” is a joke and the worst part about it is, your loyal subject will take your opinion as fact…………………
Is this Scruff a Puff, or whatever you called yourself? What does that stand for, “I smoke weed all day?” Does doing drugs make you this angry, or does the success of NIT make you paranoid and really question your daily activities and wonder if rehab would have helped? Glad you are back taking more shots, though. As to your assertions on Mr. Query, he is no better than the anonymous bloggers, who have every opportunity to post their first and last names… he is apparently too frightened to take the heat that comes with it.
So is that how you “research” your stories…just make shit up??? Ask your girlfriend, she knows me about as well as anybody does…haven’t touched that stuff since high school….it was a valiant effort out of you.
I agree, I throw my shopper away too. It’s a waste of money. However, I disagree with you on everything else. This editorial is filled with “I heards” and has very little facts or standards to back it up. Sure Howard Query gets involved in the community, what’s wrong with that? Just because he doesn’t stick a camera in everyone’s face makes him a bad journalist? As for the two brewers, it’s their free time (as you even quoted). The are entrepreneurs and I say Hooray! They want to bring something to Mason that hasn’t been here for a very long time. They make and drink beer, they don’t manufacture meth. Lastly, John Skipper… I don’t necessarily like him as a journalist but for you to ridicule him for being nice friends with employees of the City? Maybe if you tried being friendlier they would actually give you decent information instead of you having to guess at what’s going on. You complaining about the way this city is run would be a lot easier to understand if you had some facts behind it, instead of personal vendettas. How are you any better of a journalist then those in this editorial, when you take time out of your day only to complain about others.
Logan, I have presented numerous facts, in numerous articles. Did you happen to see the photos of the Shoppers in the trash, or did that slip by you? Skipper has befriended City Hall and Supervisors because it makes his job easier. They will tell him anything they want him to know, and he writes that. A huge dis-service to the community.
Glad to see you came up with a new fake name today.
The funniest part about his whole story is the fact that the guy writing it sits at the bars yucking it up more than anyone. Dude your nothing but a nosey rubber necker. maybe you should spend more time working on your news articles rather than printing 2 day old news. Just a thought.
Nice try buddy. I work 10-20 hours every day, and have for the last 18 months. Not much time to “sit at the bars.” Did you forget your name, or do you have something to hide? Maybe you are in the story?
Matt why do you always pull out the “Did you forget your name, or do you have something to hide?” line when you don’t agree with what they have to say?I know he attacked you BUT you allow everyone who wants to be anonymous to be anonymous.I get attacked by anonymous posters too. I’ve said it before and I say it again,a person would have to be nuts to put their real name on here only to get shot at by all the other anonymous posters.You and Peter make your living or gain fame by doing this.A few others do it because,I would guess, they have nothing to lose.Either require everyone to give their real name or quit using that as a put down to posters that don’t agree with you.Just my opinion.
@ Reggie – “Either require everyone to give their real name or quit using that as a put down to posters that don’t agree with you.”
I fully concur, but this is not a free forum, and you know this very well by now.
Matt is letting me play on his playground again… lets see for how long this time.