New Voice For The City
by Randy Shaw‚
Apr. 07‚ 2004
Welcome to Beyond Chron, the Voice of the Rest. We provide coverage of political and cultural issues often distorted or ignored by the Bay Area's largest newspaper, the San Francisco Chronicle. Beyond Chron presents a critical look at the cutting edge issues of the day. Beyond Chron is published by the San Francisco-based Tenderloin Housing Clinic. Clinic Director Randy Shaw is the paper's editor. Shaw is a longtime San Francisco activist who has published two books on activism, The Activist's Handbook and Reclaiming America. Paul Hogarth is Beyond Chron's managing editor. Hogarth is an activist and attorney who has been both a college journalist and a former elected official in Berkeley.
The Chronicle Has Failed Us
While many have long complained about the Chronicle, the the Hearst-owned daily has become far more strident and politically troubling. Beyond Chron began in April 2004 in response to the Chronicle's one-sided coverage of the Newsom-Gonzalez San Francisco mayoral runoff in 2003. Chronicle reportage was as fair and balanced as Fox News' accounts of the Bush Administration. Its subsequent coverage of Newsom's first term was largely fawning, a sharp departure from its less than favorable treatment of the city's three prior mayors. Unlike Fox News, whose mistruths are exposed on dozens of progressive blogs, the Chronicle's daily bias goes largely unscrutinized.
Despite its declining readership and low industry status, the San Francisco Chronicle's morning coverage still plays a role in framing the days news coverage for other local media, particularly radio and television. We can poke fun at the Chronicle's shortcomings---its front-page obsession with decades-old unsolved murders and its expansion of its obituaries section while cutting current news-- but the paper' remains the Bay Area's most widely read news source.
During its nearly four years, Beyond Chron has provided a resource for progressives to access information, countered mainstream media distortions, and built support for progressive campaigns.
Nationally, progressive blogs like dailykos.com act as truth squads, exposing Bush Administration lies almost as soon as they are spun. Beyond Chron plays a similar role for local, state and national politics.
Beyond Chron will provide breaking stories, and will have the flexibility to get stories out well before the morning Chronicle. Readers who want the latest news can sign up to receive email updates.
We believe that a reliable, progressive daily news source is long overdue. If you agree, please take a minute and send an announcement about beyond chron to your e-mail list. Readers can play a major role in publicizing this site, and any assistance in building our audience is much appreciated.
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