Disturbing stories about the Toledo Blade stalking a private citizen

Counts as of Dec 6, 2013:

• 7 stories
• 6,260 words

The daily, Toledo newspaper has been hunting videographer artist EconCat88, since at least mid-November 2013.

http://www.youtube.com/user/EconCat88

It's an easy bet that not one Toledo public official nor any of the Toledo orgs mentioned in the Blade stories will speak out against the Blade's bizarre and negative "journalistic" tactics.

The first Blade stalking story was published on November 24, 2013.

But Blade crime reporter, Taylor Dungjen, posted this tweet on November 12, 2013:

https://twitter.com/taylordungjen/status/400338283596480512

Dear Internets,
Do you know who the man behind econcat88 is? http://www.youtube.com/user/EconCat88
xoxo TD

Here are some ominous and imbecilic excerpts from the Blade stories listed below:

Who is EconCat88?
The Blade would like you to help us find EconCat88 so he can be interviewed about his views of Toledo. Those with information should contact The Blade newsroom.

After publication of a story about the EconCat88 videos on YouTube, The Blade on Sunday received what appears to be a good tip as to the author’s identity, as well as a tip that he is an acquaintance of Toledo City Councilman Steven Steel. Mr. Steel said he knows of the individual through his past work as a referee for high school athletics in Toledo and promised to reach out to the man and encourage him to call The Blade.

A photo on AREIS, the Lucas County Auditor’s Web site that officially records property addresses, shows a vehicle parked in the man’s driveway that appears identical to one seen in a reflection in one of EconCat88’s videos. Another AREIS photo shows Mr. Steel’s campaign sign in his yard. The house had one sign saying “Welcome” and another saying “No Solicitors.”

So far, the man behind “EconCat88” has refused entreaties from The Blade by way of telephone, email, two visits to his home in West Toledo, and stories seeking an interview with him.

City Councilman Steven Steel, who knows EconCat88 personally and has unsuccessfully reached out to him to take public ownership of the videos ...

So this is what I would say to the YouTube videographer EconCat88: Let’s talk. Why not come in out of the cold? Why not say: Hey, I want to put my name on this stuff and be part of the adult conversation? And many people spending much time in the electronic world hide behind the wall of anonymity. If you are not even willing to state your name, why should anyone take you seriously? I would like to see EconCat88 go to the next level: Don’t be a crank hiding behind the wall of namelessness. Join the dialogue and have the courage of your convictions. Personally, I’d like to buy you a cup of coffee and hear how you got into this. And maybe we could have a public forum — perhaps at the library. EconCat, it is incumbent upon you to step up. Take off the mask and let’s have a conversation.

As for Toledo’s branding committee, maybe it should find the reclusive man behind “EconCat88” — and hire him.

EconCat88 refused again Thursday to respond to an email or a phone call. The Blade believes it knows the identity of EconCat88 based on tips received after the first of several articles ran on Nov. 24. The Blade has knocked on the door of his residence ...

Blade columnist Keith Burris exemplifies the stone-age thinking that is still way too prevalent in the newspaper industry today.

Come in out of the cold? Public forum? Adult conversation?

The biggest and the most public forum in the world is the Internet. EconCat88 cannot reach a larger audience nor have a larger conversation by having coffee with someone nor participating in forum at the library.

People can post comments on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and elsewhere on the Web.

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2013/11/24/EconCat88-Trashing-Toledo-one-negative-video-at-a-time.html - by Nolan Rosekrans - 1566 words

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2013/11/25/City-critic-s-videos-spark-calls-for-action-agreement.html - by Tom Troy and Mark Reiter with contributions by staff writer Tom Henry - 1346 words

http://www.toledoblade.com/Keith-Burris/2013/11/25/Toledo-must-be-defined-by-those-who-build.html - by Keith Burris - 525 words

http://www.toledoblade.com/Culture/2013/11/26/Most-scathing-videos-vanish-from-YouTube-s-public-view.html - by Tom Troy - 838 words

http://www.toledoblade.com/Keith-Burris/2013/11/26/EconCat88-come-in-out-from-the-cold.html - by Keith Burris - 515 words

http://www.toledoblade.com/Featured-Editorial-Home/2013/11/29/Video-brand.html - by anonymous writer(s) - 520 words

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2013/12/06/EconCat88-resurfaces-with-harsh-new-videos.html - by Tom Troy - 950 words

#video - #toledo - #politics - #media - #moronism