REAL “NEWS” PAPER VS HAVRE DAILY CORRECTOR BLOG

Over a year ago a few of my politically astute friends and I “had a dream”. Our dream was for Havre to have a venue to publish news and local happenings that were being missed by the local birdcage liner as well has having a place where we could intelligently discuss and analyze topics of interest within our local community. The local Havre Daily News doesn’t seem to have the staff, inclination or wherewithal to provide the community with any good old fashioned “investigative” news stories. Not only do allot of things go on in the community that never get any news coverage but oft the news that is covered just isn’t presented with all the facts and accuracy we would hope to see. The Havre Daily Corrector was started a number of months ago after our group gave consideration to various ideas and ultimately decided that writing a blog just may fill the void felt by the local citizens regarding what is happening around our fair City.


On November 1st we e-mailed everyone in our meager collective address books and gleaned a few addresses from local business websites to send an invitation to view and participate in our new blog. Since that time we have had some “growing pains” and have been diligently working to correct problems, increase readership, and make this a place that informed people will visit each day to not only read the blogs, but to participate as well. Surprisingly we have found that there is not a shortage of “tips and ideas” being sent to us on a regular basis but sometimes the “tips” leave out allot of the facts. We recognized this problem and have taken steps to move forward in a more positive manner. We will try to only publish “tips” that we have verified through several contacts or sources but please remember; we are an opinion oriented blog and will continue to publish as such. Those that expect us to do the job of the “real” newspaper will still be disappointed here as you likewise are with the Havre Daily News.

Astonishingly, we have found that many, especially those involved with local businesses, do not want their names associated with any stories pertaining to “blowing the whistle” on some elected official or government office. We understand that Havre has an underlying habit of “killing the messenger” so we are allowing that anonymous tips can still be received via our e-mail which is havredailycorrector@bresnan.net  The Corrector will attempt to verify the tips through other people and publish when we feel there is some truth to the “tips”. If readers would like to participate it is fairly easy to set up an e-mail account using a “handle” such as tipster@yahoo.com or open a Google account and you can select a name to use for your posts as well as open a Gmail account with your alias to send us “tips” and news items you would like to see covered. Your new tipster e-mail account also gives us the opportunity to respond to your e-mail to ask further questions and determine where to dig deeper to get the complete story. The Havre Daily Corrector seeks not only your participation, but advice on how we can improve our blog. Realize that we do not have a vast full-time staff like the Havre Daily News, but only a few part-time bloggers that desire to make a difference.

When we took a look at last week’s HDN coverage we found a total of 22 local news articles spread over 5 days plus sports reporting. That was it. The balance of the 5 days paper filler was made up of advertising, gobs of Associated Press Articles we had already read in the Great Falls Tribune, articles written by clubs and associations such as the Principals Report, Rifle Club press releases, obituaries written by families, Library news written by our local librarian, and other unpaid guest columns, etc, etc. We think the Corrector is giving you as much real news as your paid subscription and all we ask in return is some help in keeping current with the happenings and behind doors shenanigans going on in our fair city.

The Corrector’s “we had a dream” is miniscule in comparison to Dr. Luther’s “I have a dream” which we honor today, but we request your tolerance in our new venture and look forward to hearing from each of you.