On Foreign journalists focus on Janesville

Posted on December 10 at 11:45 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

As someone who works for an international news broadcaster that shall remain nameless, as I'm writing in a personal capacity, I wonder how it would be if journalists made such knee jerk decisions relating to their car purchases?

Wouldn't it be illogical and nonsensical if I said: Ooh, Saab (Swedish GM subsidiary) that's a funny foreign name; I don't think General Motors or its subsidiaries are companies I necessarily want to buy my cars from.

Isn't it a good job some customers research the facts, look into vehicle safety records and fuel consumption and engine performance and reliability and don't make knee jerk decisions on the basis of the car company or vehicle name?

I drive a Saab (a GM subsidiary) and I *heart* my Saab and rave about it and recommend them to anyone and everyone who will listen. And I have journalist and technical operations colleagues who drive GMC SUVs, Cadillacs and Hummers (all GM brands/subsidiaries).

In some respects, whether or not GM's woes are a worldwide news story is irrelevant, of more importance to the people of Janesville, and GM, is the fact that GM is selling its products to a global market.

Potential and actual customers are everywhere, including among news broadcaster staff members and their millions of viewers around the world, and one would have thought that in such difficult times it wouldn't be wise to alienate any of them.

Despite that, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a Saab to anyone, on the basis of my experiences of its performance and reliability and excellent customer service at the showroom, and will probably buy one again myself, when the time comes. I know it doesn't necessarily particularly help any individual auto-workers in Janesville, given I'm not quite sure where all the components of my car are made, but I intend to continue making decisions about my car-buying on the basis of facts and logic.

On Foreign journalists focus on Janesville

Posted on December 10 at 11:01 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

I have to correct this:

Unidentified said: "Al Jazeera... weren't they the ones broad casting be-headings?"

This is not true. Al Jazeera has never broadcast any beheadings.

This urban myth should get an entry in Snopes, it gets repeated so often. But it absolutely, categorically is not true.