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Brenda J. Linert

Sharing history of our Star-Spangled Banner

We published a news item last week about the dedication of a flag retirement pit in Champion’s Clarence Darrow Park. The project had been undertaken by Trumbull County resident and Eagle Scout candidate Blaine Helmuth, 18, to create a place where torn or tattered American flags could be respectfully retired. The photo reminded me that in just a few days, on Wednesday, we will mark Flag Day, and of course, just a few weeks after that will be the midsummer holiday marking America’s 241st anniversary of independence. Unfortunately, many misconceptions exist about the origin of our ...

Welcome to summer; don’t travel far for fun

As I’m writing this, the sun is shining outside, the grass is green and the sky is very blue. For certain, summer has finally arrived. If you’re a regular Tribune Chronicle reader, you probably already have seen the 36-page Guide to Summer 2017 we published May 26. The special section, which we’ve done annually for at least the 20-plus years I’ve worked at the Tribune Chronicle (albeit in different formats), is one of those sections you’ll want to keep handy on your coffee table for the next couple of months because it lists countless upcoming events, concerts, festivals, ...

Analyzing demographics of newspaper readers

I read an interesting survey this week about newspaper readership. It was the annual analysis conducted by Nielsen Scarborough, and this year it included interviews with more than 204,000 American adults about their media usage habits, consumption patterns and purchasing habits. While the report is widely used primarily by advertising media planners and for advertising sales efforts, I always find this information interesting simply because it demonstrates how readers and potential readers of the Tribune Chronicle and other newspapers nationwide are getting their news. There is a ...

Fake news shared widely via social media

I’ve been writing a lot about fake news lately, and I see no signs of the growing concerns and accusations going away any time soon. While we in the mainstream media receive our share of fake news accusations, there is a significant difference between honest errors that unfortunately occur in everyday reporting or editing and the intentional spread of rumor or innuendo without verification or validation. This week as I was scanning the Associated Press wire, I came across a very interesting story titled, “NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week.” Like most of ...

Truth always important in reporting, life

Keenly aware of the “fake news” criticisms the media frequently receives these days, I owe my readers an explanation. I received an email Monday from a daily reader who was not shy in his criticism. I had written in my column last Sunday that the Tribune Chronicle would not publish anymore letters or other opinion pieces about Tuesday’s primary election because we cut them off a few days in advance. We have used that rule for years because we strive to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to write letters on election topics. As I explained last week, cutting off the letters ...

Local elections covered best by local newspapers

Judging by recent calls and correspondence, I’m guessing if you live in the Mathews School District, you have an opinion about the district’s fifth attempt to pass a new school construction bond issue. Likewise, Bazetta voters feel strongly — one way or the other — about the township’s fifth attempt to pass a new operating levy. You also might have something to say about Bazetta Trustee Ted Webb’s public comment that if this levy fails, voters will see it again in November. We wrote about that in a story published Monday. Tuesday, of course, is your opportunity to speak ...