E099 Mirko Petricevic Local News Media Under Threat

Written By John Webster

Let’s Be Well Together Podcast - Episode 99
Date: December 19, 2023

Participants: John Webster, Noura Saad, John Webster, Cameron Earnshaw, Elise Seifert, Julie Wilson and Sheila Webster
Guest: Mirko Petricevic

Start Times and Segments:

[0:00:35] What’s On Your Mind: New co-host Noura Saad joins for a chat about holiday self-care tips. Many good things happen over the holidays. There are also prospects of challenging situations or states of mind. We found 8 tips to prepare.

[0:08:32] Expanding Minds Interview: [Social  Wellness] Have you ever thought about how local news media can impact on our wellness? How does it help our community, our environment, or economic wellness? Reliable local journalism is essential for democracy to thrive. We explore these thoughts with Mirko Petricovic. He founded Ink-Stained Wretches, a grassroots volunteer advocacy group dedicated to building a culture of appreciation for quality journalism. He previously worked for the Waterloo Region Record for 28 years. Quality journalism is essential for a healthy democracy. It works as a community watchdog on behalf of the public, as a public service. It’s a community builder. Unfortunately, news outlets across Canada are severely weakened from a decade ago. We need to invest in journalism for the health of our communities.

[0:28:08] Adventures of the Starving Artist: Cameron took a break from practicing holiday music to just play, explore and see where the music took him. Some sweet-sounding outer space sounding music emerged.

[0:32:44] Move That Body: An article – “20 of the best exercise tips” by Marelize Wilke on News24 (Nov. 1, 2017). These tips are fantastic.

[0:41:43] Running Popup: John need to turn physical health around. His plan is to focus on the process, without worrying about results. To use the Marathon Talk podcast motto: trust the process.

[0:45:53] Flipside of the Coin: Life keeps remind us that things change fast. We spend much time thinking an planning, then life throws a twist which changes the plans.

Quotes and Take-Aways:

Mirko – We can see that journalism is healthy for society when we take a step back and looking at the bigger picture and the major function for journalism in society.

Mirko – Quality journalism is essential for a healthy democracy.

Mirko – Unfortunately, news outlets across Canada are severely weakened from a decade ago. For the health of our communities, I’m hoping that we can invest in journalism.

Mirko – Journalism works as a community watchdog. It’s a watchdog over anyone who holds power, for example governments, police or business. It’s a public watch on the public’s vulnerability. Journalism keeps an eye on powerful entities in our community on behalf of the pubic. 

Mirko – Journalism is a public service. It’s essential for helping us govern ourselves.

Mirko – Local newsrooms are community builders. We see them celebrate local successes, whether in sports or arts or business. There are good news stories. I see them as a community builder.

Mirko – News outlets can also serve as a way to insulate us from a breakdown in civil society. It balances the misinformation or disinformation we see online.

Mirko – Marty Baron, former executive editor of the Washington Post, said he hasn’t seen a democracy without a free press, nor a free press without a democracy.

Mirko – I believe a free press is baked into the DNA of western democracies, the way our societies evolved. They want to keep an eye on the powerful people in their communities.

Mirko – There’s a symbiotic relationship between a free press and a functioning society.

Mirko – All news outlets have suffered a huge loss in advertising revenue. Historically, advertising paid for the news. A lot of the advertising has been sucked onto online entities, which is doing job targeting the advertising dollars.

Mirko – The number one way to help is to subscribe. Businesses can help by advertising on local medal outlets.

Mirko – You can find free ideas to help support local media at Ink-Stained Wretches “Resources” page: https://www.ink-stainedwretches.org/resources.html.

Bulletin Board Quote brought to you by John: Talk is cheap. Guilty as charged.

Guest Information: Mirko Petricevic is the founder and co-ordinator of Ink-stained Wretches, a grassroots advocacy group working to build a culture of appreciation for quality journalism. Mirko worked at the Waterloo Region Record for 28 years, starting as a photographer, then moving on to work as a reporter and copy editor before deciding to leave the newsroom — because of the precarious nature of the news sector — a decade ago. Since then, he served as director of communications and public affairs for Martin Luther University College in Waterloo and, most recently, as senior communications strategist for one of the local cities.

Connect with Let’s Be Well Together Podcast:
website: https://letsbewelltogether.com
Follow our Instagram account: @lets.be.well.together use hashtag #letsbewelltogetherpodcast
Provide input on Instagram using hashtag #letsbewelltogetherinput
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Lets.Be.Well.Together

Thanks for joining us,
(-(-_(-_-)_-)-)   Your wellness check-in team
John, Sammy, Cameron, Sheila, Elise, Isabelle, Julie and Noura

John Webster
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