As the popular television series
”
The Simpsons
”
begins its 15th season, I am reminded of a past episode: Homer
decides to make his own web page, but when the hits don’t come he
decides to use his web site
– calling himself Mr. X – to spread gossip about the Springfield
townfolk. After winning the Pulitzer Prize, all his sources dry up
so he decides to make things up.
As the popular television series “The Simpsons” begins its 15th season, I am reminded of a past episode: Homer decides to make his own web page, but when the hits don’t come he decides to use his web site – calling himself Mr. X – to spread gossip about the Springfield townfolk. After winning the Pulitzer Prize, all his sources dry up so he decides to make things up. He gets into trouble when his story saying that “they’re controlling our minds with flu shots” turns out to be true.
It seems perhaps that “Mr. X” journalism is at work at the Free Lance. Local elected officials feel it necessary to write letters to the Free Lance editor to correct “absolutely false” reporting.
The Citizens Voice & Hotline appears to be a forum for nameless individuals to make accusations without the Free Lance exercising a journalistic responsibility to check out the story.
Homer, a.k.a “Mr. X,” not only got into trouble for making things up, he also became a pariah among the Springfield townfolk.
Tom O’Connor,
Hollister
