What else would you expect from propagandists?
There are no investigative journalists, only spokesmen for the corroboratory.
The MisStatesman is a rag of a paper and to lose Popkey to the political arena isn’t a step down, but a side step into more lies and propaganda for the political arena.
We are sold a worthless bag of shyte and told to grow our own roses. Meanwhile these sycophants continue their depraved deceptions, selling snake oil to the masses.

Wow. Propagandists, sycophants and people with agendas to create stories. Pretty tough audience here. What a negative, cynical view of the world. I worked with editors and reporters at seven newspaper over 25 years. With the exception of a very few, they were dedicated, had no agendas other than to report their assigned beats. They worked long, long hours for little pay while, at the same time, being lambasted from people, many who really did have agendas. I agree that the quality of print journalism has suffered. There’s lots of reasons for that. We live in a society that is more interested in news outlets that already meet their preconceived notions than they are at getting all sides of a story; that entertain, titillate and coddle rather than inform. Media have contributed with news outlets (Fox News, MSNBC, Huffington Post, Daily Beast) that do have agendas because that’s what the viewers/readers seem to want. Look how much better Fox and MSNBC do than CNN or PBS.
Newspapers that formerly could not compete with TV and radio for immediacy now have the same ability to go “live” and, hence, the longer, better written and edited and more in-depth stories have, for the most part, gone by the wayside. Editors no longer have the luxury of time to carefully edit stories for accuracy and balance. Online advertising (Craigslist, etc.) have sliced newspaper ad revenue and reduced newsroom budgets. Newsroom layoffs result in fewer reporters and less specialized beat reporting. Newspapers have gotten smaller and there’s more reliance on consolidated wire services. Having worked with hundreds of newspaper reporters and editors, I have not found them to be people with agendas or sycophants. Far too many have left the business for less stress, better pay and more peace, not having to endure personal attacks on their character and motivation.

EDITOR NOTE–Gene, thanks for your perspective. Nice to hear from someone who knows the scoop.

Saddens, but does not surprise me, for a “news person” it must be difficult to work for a newspaper or local news station these days, since the resources for news gathering seem to be so very limited and so little appreciated. I suppose because the demand for rigor is so wan. Sad indeed. I hope that Mr. Popkey can accommodate whatever standards he has left, it really does seem as if he is doing an about face from news analysis to information manipulation for gain; but, I am not in his shoes.

My memory may be fading, but other than than “Wide Stance” (which I thought was gross journalism ) I can’t recall any other expose’s for the point of “for exposing so many inside stories about Idaho politicos”….

And why are there so many people saying he is a traitor?
Is for his political press agenda (Gene Fadness says doesn’t happen) or just for going from news to govt?

Seems standard fare- work in the media then get a govt job as PIO… that list is long and boring.

EDITOR NOTE–He did good and lengthy research on the U of I Water building scandal on Front Street and there were other “insider” pieces on statehouse intrigue which he broke. The GUARDIAN mourns the loss of 30 yrs of institutional memory to “the other side,” but certainly don’t see any traitor. The truth is that government can spend more to manipulate public opinion than media can pay to offer truthful facts.

I’m sure the thought is. If you can’t beat them Join them.