Politics Unusual

Denver Media Offering Politicos Free PR Outlet


By Howard Rothman, 2-24-06

If there's one thing I’ve been telling people we need around here, it's more respectable-looking pseudo-media where politicians (among others) can dump a truckload of hooey that appears to most observers to be official, serious, unbiased, old-fashioned, editorially sanctioned news. That's why I was so happy to learn that YourHub.com, the Denver area’s earnest New Media offspring of stodgy Old Media titans Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post, is enthusiastically filling that void. In south metro communities, at least, several politicians — including the House Minority Leader and a couple of wannabes who hope to be ensconced in the Colorado Capitol after next fall's election — have discovered that they can post whatever they like in "news stories" and "columns" which carry no costs like a traditional advertisement and have a degree of implied authenticity that elevates them beyond anything a paid ad could dream to achieve. We can only hope that more local politicians discover this avenue for unadorned propaganda before the campaign season becomes hopelessly mired in attempts to seriously debate the real issues.

Perhaps I’m being too hard on YourHub.com. They do profess the most egalitarian of intentions.

But first I saw an article carrying the byline of someone named Debbie Brown. It told, with a very nice picture, the very nice story of one Spencer Swalm, "owner of Redstone Benefit Systems and Republican candidate for Colorado House District 37." The piece extolled Swalm's business acumen — without hesitating to note just how useful it will be, should he be elected in November. It was a very nice press release.

Then I saw two articles about Joe Rice by someone named Jen Walmer. Rice is a former mayor of Glendale who shipped off to Iraq not long ago, which was truly a noble thing, and is now back and running for the Colorado House of Representatives from District 38, which is also truly a noble thing. One of these stories told the tale of the lieutenant colonel spreading cheer among Iraqi children. The other noted that he was planning a Welcome Home/Campaign Kickoff Party hosted by Colorado Veterans for America. Both very noble press releases.

Finally, I noticed House Minority Leader Joe Stengel had posted a really venomous broadside against Colorado Democrats who "voted against private property rights by supporting a bill to allow local governments to override zoning regulations with master plans." The layout, complete with Stengel's official mugshot, made this look just like any legitimate editorial column you might find in the pages of the Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post. Now Stengel is term-limited, but this "column" happened to appear the very day after word leaked out that he had billed the state $24,000 last year for work performed while the legislature was out of session. Stengel has vociferously defended his position, but shortly thereafter state Dems requested written support for the work he did "on behalf of the Colorado General Assembly in 2005." Somehow, Stengel's angry missive failed to note that he is currently at war with the opposing party. But hey... you don't mention that in a press release, do you?

So I ask: Where would these folks, and we — the voters — be without these illuminating YourHub.com contributions? My only hope is that more politicians in the area catch on and start getting their free ads here as well.

Clarification: Jim Nolan, director of communications for the Denver Newspaper Agency, writes: "YourHub is not, as your article implied, a joint product of the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post. In fact, it is produced by the editorial staff of the News and distributed by the Denver Newspaper Agency through both The Post and the News. The News is soley responsible for YourHub's editorial content."



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