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The Mount Vernon Inquirer
City of Mount Vernon, NY

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03-08-09
Editorial
Is the local media using bullying tactics to access Mount Vernon news?
     It is a known fact that newspapers, television, radio and now the Internet, is used by the media to influence people and government. The mass media engages in many functions to influence the masses. Politicians, including the President of the United States, make sure their public appearances and statements are absorbed by the media in order to expand their influence. The media is known to even attempt to exercise power over government officials.
     A classic example of what I am writing about revolves around a column that appeared in the Journal News on Sunday, March 8 on the John Boykin matter. The columnist writes: “The first thing Mount Vernon Mayor Clinton Young should do when he comes to work tomorrow morning is call John Boykin into his office, close the door and fire him on the spot.” And near the end of his oracular type column, he writes: “Interestingly, however, just hours after the show, the mayor released a statement, saying he had suspended his 26-year-old aide. No doubt to spite The Journal News for its continuous coverage of the story, the mayor only gave the statement to a local online publication.” He was obviously making reference to the Mount Vernon Inquirer, but childishly, refrains from naming my publication for whatever reason.
     Westchester County has a history of being one of the most corrupt places in all of the 50 states. And the Journal News does an exemplary job in reporting on such negativity, along with exposing corruption as warranted. Consequently, above mentioned columnist has crossed the line as a journalist, and is sending the wrong signal to readers by possibly trying to influence the mayor of Mount Vernon into making decisions, and taking action on the Boykin issue to his liking with his column.
     I am sure that Mayor Young has elected to use the Mount Vernon Inquirer as a way to communicate with the Mount Vernon populace due to the fact the local media has a history of pummeling Mount Vernon with negative press at every given opportunity. To those who read the Journal News, you know they have pursued the Boykin matter relentlessly, possibly irritating the mayor. He did go public on the Boykin matter, but elected to use the Inquirer. It was his call!
      Mount Vernon is unjustly viewed by many, not only in surrounding communities, but across the country, as a lawless, crime ridden city. The truth is that Mount Vernon is comprised of great hardworking citizens, and has a large population of very gifted, intelligent and talented youth, as is evident during the city-wide spelling bee I sponsor every year. That Mount Vernon is as bad as it is portrayed in the local media is simply a myth. The crime that does make headlines in Mount Vernon is concentrated in one small area of Mount Vernon, and not throughout the entire city.
     This editorial is not being written in defense of John Boykin, or even Mayor Young. It is being written to raise awareness about how the media in this country tries to use their influence almost in a bullying way  to force officials and others to initiate action as they see fit. Furthermore, for above mentioned columnist to demand that Mayor Young use his media outlet  to report on the Boykin matter is incomprehensible, since the mayor made an official decision to use the Inquirer as his media outlet to report on the matter – the city’s hometown media source.
     Joe Parisi, Editor