July 9, 2009 | Ink By the Byte

“Never pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel” – newspaper adage

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

“A man for the souless age: The numbers man: Robert Strange McNamara”

COMMENT: This editorial paints Robert Strange McNamara as the soulless architect of America’s ills during the Vietnam War. It’s unsparing in its measure of the man. This paragraph makes clear the tone:

Demonstrating once again that the good die young, Robert McNamara died this week at 93. Peacefully. In his sleep. May God have mercy on his soul-surely he had one, despite all appearances-and on us all. We shall try not to think of him on Memorial Days to come.

Ouch.

This editorial writer is obviously speaking with the residual anger of someone for whom that 35-year-old war in Vietnam is still a litmus test of character. And McNamara failed with flying colors, it appears.

The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas

“Gov. Palin can’t escape ‘quitter’ tag” (No link available)

COMMENT: The Morning News says Gov. Palin chose the ‘quitter’ label herself. It wasn’t forced upon her. That label will now follow her around while she escapes the legal scrutiny required of public officials and, instead, cashes in on her celebrity.

The Northwest Arkansas Times

“Smart Strategy: Keeping Fayetteville funky also means buying local”

COMMENT: The Northwest Arkansas Times takes note and commends the efforts afoot to encourage local shopping. Also, the paper applaudes the city’s recent effort to encourage local businesses to bid with the city for services through the Vendor Workshop and Reverse Trade Show that was held this morning.

I like how the editorial writer boils down the essential point of buying locally:

We’re talking, ultimately, about supporting our neighbors in their endeavors to remain our neighbors, keep their kids in our schools and manage to pay the bills. People can’t do that without a steady job.

Very true. An effort worth the effort.

Ink by the Byte is an ‘almost daily’ media criticism and editorial roundup column focused on three newspapers in Northwest Arkansas, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the Morning News of Northwest Arkansas and the Northwest Arkansas Times. All comments reflect the opinion of Christopher Spencer, publisher of Ozarks Unbound.

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• July 11, 2009 | Ink By the Byte at 12:55 pm on July 11, 2009
• July 8, 2009 | Ink By the Byte at 1:41 pm on July 8, 2009
• Saturday, July 25, 2009 | Ink By the Byte at 9:42 pm on July 26, 2009
• Sunday, July 26, 2009 | Ink By the Byte at 10:30 pm on July 26, 2009
• July 3, 2009 | Ink By the Byte at 12:18 pm on July 3, 2009