Comments on: Mayoral Debate – Live blogging

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:09:43 +0000

Reminds me of another journalist I admire very much, Cokie Roberts. The sign of a great journalist is not knowing where they stand on an issue, reporting without bias…something strange for Toledo but refreshing nevertheless!

By: LisaRenee

LisaRenee — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:54:28 +0000

Zimmy, thank you and I know my decision to try to keep my opinion out of a majority of the topics covered as well as putting releases up for those who send them to me no matter their political party or ideology, or on both sides of issues makes this blog a bit unusual. That is part of the reason why I think the Jungle is so popular and it is at times a challenge for me to limit my opinions/thoughts with an attempt to focus on playing devil’s advocate if needed.

It makes me a bit hard to define, but then again, that could be said when it comes to me off the blog as well.

By: zimmy

zimmy — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:17:56 +0000

that is interesting because i have always considered you a media outlet rather than a blogger. you take press releases, you report minutes of meetings, you research/fact check, you provide a forum for others’ opinions (and thankfully you insist on civil discourse) – all things i value highly and respect how well you do – but all things i traditionally expect of journalists/media.

on the other hand, you avoid expressing opinions/commentary which, to me, seems to be the basic inherent quality of blogging.

what i consider blogs (insert two names here) get old fast and i only go to them occasionally. i consider stopping here essential to know what is going on in toledo (in the same vane as stopping by the blade or the tfp only better than either) NOT to find out what the left, the middle, or the right thinks about the facts that are reported.

either way, thanks

By: kateb

kateb — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:36:59 +0000

bobmc wrote:

Good job LisaRenee. Great coverage. However, who hired kateb to be the color commentator for the game?

I did

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:32:01 +0000

“a” beer. That would be “one”???

Nerves of steel girl, nerves of steel.

By: LisaRenee

LisaRenee — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:47:52 +0000

Mike, I did drink a beer when I got home.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:50:45 +0000

IMO it is a tribute to GCJ/LisaRenee to have brought this blog to a level of stature that is respected by the media and the community. There is room at the table for all types of media that deliver unbiased information to the public. Hats off to you Madam!

(I am still lol at the thought of my having to multi task as you did last night Lisa, without having a nervous breakdown). Whoa!

By: LisaRenee

LisaRenee — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:49:30 +0000

Zimmy, I’m a local political blogger who was asked to be a part of the panel, I’ve participated in previous debates held by the Toledo Free Press, as far as being the blogger and live blogged the debates but this is the first time I was asked to be a part of the panel. We had a list of questions that were printed out for the three of us, that came from questions of our own, questions from readers of GCJ, questions from readers of the Toledo Free Press and questions from viewers of Fox Toledo, when one of us asked one of the questions, we marked it off, most of the questions could be asked to any candidate, a few were submitted directly for one candidate. I liked the question, so I asked it. Some of my questions/questions from my blog readers were asked by Laura & Michael, we did not assign any questions between the three of us. It was whichever ones from the list we wanted to ask.

I work with the traditional media, it’s been a great partnership and I will continue to do that because it benefits us both and most importantly I think it benefits my readers, but I am and will be a political blogger until such a time I decide I’ve had enough. My mission has not changed at all when you consider I’ve participated in previous debates, I appreciate the support the traditional media has given this blog and me as the blogger, my mission has been from the very beginning to not replace the traditional media but to enhance what information is available. I’ll have a similar role in the next debate that will be held after the primary and I’ll also be involved in the candidate forums that will be held at Tent City, which is also something I did last year.

By: zimmy

zimmy — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:55:54 +0000

the question becomes… where to from here? are you now “the establishment”. other media clearly treat you as one of them now. you’re reading fox viewer questions during the debate. are you media? a journalist? an editor? do you take this asset and grow it or do you pull back and maintain your original “mission”? by the way, this is not criticism but you must be facing these questions.

By: Betsy Rose

Betsy Rose — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:19:29 +0000

Nice job, Lisa. You looked, sounded & presented well!