The Shreveport Bossier Advocate is owned by a mega millionaire in New Orleans.
The Shreveport Bossier Advocate has been funded by over $1.5 million from local residents who received a tax deduction for donating to this paper. Yep, get a tax deduction for giving money to a FOR PROFIT entity.
And now, the Shreveport Bossier Advocate is begging for money to pay the salary of a new reporter to cover Bossier government. The email has the following pitch:
"In Bossier Parish, big questions are being asked every day...but too often they happen without the scrutiny they deserve."
Daa---is local editor Barbara Leader or her supervisors down south ignorant of the strong media coverage of Bossier government entities by the following:
• Wes Marriott--SOBO Wes--his emails are FREE
• Rex Moncrief and Duke Lowry in their radio show/podcast--the founders of the Bossier Term Limit Coalition--their report is FREE
• Bossier Now email newspaper Mon-Friday published by Hal Bundrick
• The Bossier Press Tribune
• FOCUS SB/The Inquisitor
• SETTLETALK published by yours truly which is FREE
The email goes on to say that "if we don't step up, no one else will. Help us keep local government honest, responsive, and transparent".
These above listed publications and reporters have been around for some time. Unlike a new reporter coming to town, they know their way to the Benton Courthouse, the Bossier Parish School Board office, Bossier City Hall, Cyber Innovation Center, etc.
All too often the reporters for the Shreveport Bossier Advocate do not have background knowledge of the back story on political issues, much less know the know the players to provide meaningful reporting, much less in-depth reporting. Thus, much of the news articles in this publication read like warmed over soup or soup with no meat.
Hey, it’s a free world and more press is always welcome. However, subsidizing an out of town mega millionaire owner to publish an online publication requiring a paid subscription is really really pushing the envelope.
Really--should Bossier residents donate to pay the salary of this new reporter, much less buy him lunch?
P.S. The reporter's $50,000 salary is being paid 50% by John George, Advocate owner and half by a national non-profit organization. Thus, George's commitment to local media is funded by other people's money. What a deal for George!