Who says “Just a Blogger” can’t make a difference?

MT @DailyHMblog: Rise of new media in NC politics http://t.co/Kzk3Y593XY @PeteKaliner @NCPlottHound @sistertoldjah @LadyLiberty1885 #ncga

— Tim Moffitt (@TimMoffitt) April 11, 2014

At http://t.co/WL5YQbePK3 Victory on #Senate2014 debate invites shows power of NewMedia in NC @SisterToldjah@LadyLiberty1885@NCGOP#consNC — Paul Chesser (@PaulChesser) April 11, 2014

Daily Haymaker points out that New Media in North Carolina is having an impact, as evidenced by the exclusion and subsequent inclusion of U.S. Senate Candidate Mark Harris in the Senate debate arena. Carolina Plotthound led the charge in this case as documented by the Haymaker: #NCSEN: WRAL debate battle demonstrates power of New Media Excerpt:

So, when it came time to put together the GOP debates for the US Senate primary, many in the old media thought it was going to be business-as-usual. THEY were going to decide which candidates got exposure on their airwaves or in their pages.  Never mind that they all define themselves as the defenders of the people’s right to know.  

For months, old media has been describing Charlotte pastor Mark Harris as a leading contender for the GOP nomination.  But when it came to organize a candidate debate, WRAL decided he was not significant enough to include in their event.  Harris’ campaign howled in protest.  Our friends at The Carolina Plotthound took the fight directly to WRAL on Facebook.  The Plotthound suggested that the Harris exclusion may have had something to do with his advocacy for 2012′s marriage amendment to the state constitution — a ballot issue that WRAL’s owners fought against aggressively.  Campaigns on Facebook and Twitter started up.  Multiple blogs started raising questions.  In the end, WRAL caved and added Harris to the debate lineup.

YEP. I’ve been blogging since 2009 and calling out our media has been a consistent theme. Something I’ve cranked up a notch in terms of local reporting in the last year or so – WRAL in particular.  WRAL’s coverage of Common Core has been decidedly pathetic by totally excluding the information that 2/3 of the public comment speakers at the NCGA hearing spoke OPPOSING the Common Core. Instead, it was smear time.

But then again, that’s the level of professionalism we’ve come to expect:

Professionalism @NCCapitol@WRAL => RT @LauraLeslie: @LadyLiberty1885 You must enjoy being disgusted, then, since you’re at it 24/7.

— LL1885 – A.P. Dillon (@LadyLiberty1885) May 24, 2013

Thank you to Carolina Plott Hound for linking!