Two stories need more attention this week, but they don’t belong in the same blog post. We begin with the comedy from True’s 13 May 2012 issue:
Freak of Nomenclature, Property Tax Division
The Rutherford County, Tenn., Property Assessor says he “cannot talk about it,” but rejects allegations that he has been sexually harassing his staff. Two women, aged 54 and 70, say they were fired in retaliation to complaining about the 73-year-old assessor’s advances. After one incident, the woman confronted him, but he shrugged it off. “You don’t know what you said?” she asked him. “No. I have no idea,” he replied. “When I talk to you, I don’t ever think much, I just keep saying it.” A state panel agrees the women were fired in retaliation, and awarded them unemployment benefits. Meanwhile, the assessor has announced he will continue his re-election campaign. His name is Bill Boner. (RC/Murfreesboro Post, Murfreesboro Daily News Journal) …If you think this treatment of the story is bad, you should see the tabloid and blog headlines!
Of course, the tagline begs the question: like what?
—Web newspaper The Daily Caller
and
Virtually all of the “minor media” outlets used his name in the headline.
“Legit” Newspapers Too
Even the Murfreesboro Post got into the act. Managing Editor Michelle Willard told a journalism forum that she had her staff “get all of the cheesy headlines out of their system” working on the story. Their efforts included:
Boner Says Women Faking It
Female Workers Say Boner Intimidated Them
and
Boner Taking It Hard
“We had a lot of fun with it in the last week,” Willard said.
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Just wanna say thank you for having the free service. I would never have thought I could have found a person whom thinks more like me than I do. In reference to these articles [see also next entry], Boner should be broke and maybe set loose on the aggressors in the second. The fact you chose to bring the two together instigated my response. I’m not sure when I chose comedy to “ease the pain” but it works for me and many people I know. Seeing the humor, as opposed to not, your take on life is welcome to me. Others could (and can) take your views as derogatory. I Sir, want to thank you for who you are, and the thought inspiring articles you write.
I wanted to tell you that Mr. Boner WON the election in Rutherford County, TN. Unfortunately, I work in that county.
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I have withheld the name of the commenter, who I confirmed (by looking up her IP address) works for the local school district. A definite case of voters getting the politicians they deserve, I guess. -rc