Topic: Constitutional Issues
Censorship in College Newspaper An attempt to fight Censorship from the inside, by Amarillo College Ranger paying reporter Hickory Hendrickson.by Hickory Hendrickson
(Libertarian)
Friday, February 22, 2008
For two years now, I have been censored by the Amarillo College Ranger newspaper. The fact that I am a paying member of the Ranger for the Spring 2008 semester and get no story assignments is just one example of what is happening at the Ranger.
Last year was really bad because I needed the stories for my grade in News Reporting and Writing. My professor for the class, Lana Jackson, was very fair. She gave me an A on all the articles I wrote that the Ranger would not print.
The main reason I was singled out for censorship was my apparent ability to see through obvious, corporate sponsor drafted, college "news releases". I would interview the person who was selling whatever it was and use their opinion and find other expert opinions. Isn't that balance news?
One perfect example of censorship for this reason was when I was assigned an article to write about 5 new websites that were (according to the "news release") nearly the most convenient thing ever invented for college students. The "news release" looked just like a promo-add.
My editor realized the dilemma, somewhat, and assigned the story as a review. She has since been trained to not question said "news releases".
My review contained some honest observations about the 5 websites on the list. However, to my great misfortune, one of the sites I said I didn't like was soon to show-up as an important sponsor on the College Website. The review was never published even though the editors had to ask for extra stories from other reporters.
This year the Ranger is not connected to my grades. Even though I don't get assigned any articles, I still submit them to the Ranger Editors and have not had one published yet. In an attempt to fight censorship and let some of my unpublished writing see the light of day, I hope my Nolan Chart readers will bear with me while I publish my writing not printed by the Ranger. Here is the piece I wrote for next weeks issue.
Why did I pay to be able to write news stories for the Amarillo College Ranger?
Oh-yah....because I'll spend good money to fight censorship and incompetence. Two years running I have been excluded from this paper because....well....I'm not exactly sure why.
This year the Ranger is not connected in anyway to my grades. Call me an independent I guess. Last year I forced the issue because I did get a grade for my articles in the Ranger. Professor Jackson was very helpful making sure my voice was heard. She also graded my stories fairly even when they went un-published. Thank You Professor Jackson.
My next article will be a complete expose on Ranger censorship. I seriously doubt it gets published, posted, printed or in any other way sees the light of day.
Regardless of publication in said publication, I will post my article in a timely manner as I should, being a responsible, paying Reporter for the AC Ranger.
In case someone missed it, since it won't be in the paper, here is last weeks submission to the Ranger from yours truly, Hickory J. Hendrickson.
After the Washington Post story next week about the Republic of Lakotah, the Ranger might want to print one of my articles. I'm not absolutely certain the Post is going to write one but I doubt they would have a reporter following Russell Means around the whole week if they weren't planning on printing something about the "Petition For Recognition". I wonder if they know more than the rest of us about what Putin might say. Hummm....
Feel free to use any article found at the link below, anytime. I own the Copyright to all my work so if you print one just let me know and I'll remove mine from the Chart and you can have it.
Now isn't that nice of me. Especially considering the censorship I had to deal with last year. Professor Jackson is cool and smart but a few of the others are real corporate schmoozers. I was able to see through the phony story assignments real quick. "Smart thinking" huh. Inside joke...sorry.
Anyway, here is a link to my column. I write something new every couple days. If your interested in something just for your newspaper let me know. I would really laugh if AC beat the AP to a story.
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2008 Hickory Hendrickson, all rights reserved.
Published: Friday, February 22, 2008
Last modified: Saturday, February 23, 2008
The views expressed in this
article are those of Hickory Hendrickson only and do not represent
the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. Hickory Hendrickson is
solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an
employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
Ever come to think maybe it's because you aren't doing your homework either? What you have been spewing off has been the same 1 sided nonsense you claim they are guilty of. You are trying to be a mouthpiece for the Republic of Lakota. A cheerleader of sorts. You haven't even been the slightest bit subjective. So before you start making claims about your teachers and their allegiances, maybe you should look at yourself. Pretty hypocritical if you ask me. I don't see you being subjective, objective, or anything else that ends with 'jective'. Maybe next time you will post an article that is hard biting. Show some actual knowledge, especially historically with the Lakota. Both before and after the Europeans came. Not just the typical cheerleader 1 sided nonsense you have been saying for quite some time. Being a cheerleader hasn't been helping. Nor has it been useful to most people.
It really is no wonder your articles weren't approved. They aren't articles. They are holier than thou "I think I know more and am better than you" opinionated pieces.
If you think they promote things like freedom of speech, you are dead wrong. Heck, they are so afraid of people finding out the truth, they hide whats on their forums from non-members! Why do that?! It's just plain stupid. What do they have to hide?!
They are just a rogue group is all. Many Lakota don't even like Russell Means. They have no official backing or support. It's a guarantee you will NEVER, EVER see the Republic of Lakota in the U.S.. You can take that to the bank!
And by the way, as Russell Means himself recently said, " This is our last avenue. I'VE got to save my people. They are not only dying, they are being exterminated."
He must not have gotten the memo:
According to the 2000 census, South Dakota's population included some 62,283 American Indians, or 8.3% of the total state population—the 3rd-highest percentage among the 50 states. Many lived on the 5,099,000 acres (2,063,500 hectares) of Indian lands in 1982, but Rapid City also had a large Indian population. Among the state's largest reservations, with their populations as of 2000, are the Pine Ridge (15,521), Rosebud (10,469), and Cheyenne River (8,470) reservations.
<< Notice the majority of Lakota DO NOT live on the reservations. That should say something. I think 'his' people are doing just fine and are by no means facing any sort of extermination. Eat up those statistics for awhile.
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2008 Hickory Hendrickson, all rights reserved.