Mystery at the Marathon - Santa Barbara News-Press

Good morning, Santa Barbara ☀️

Here’s what we have for you today:

19 runners fall ill, hospitalized, after running in Santa Barbara Half-Marathon
Santa Barbara City College loses millions of dollars from the decline of international student enrollment
Regime change, again, at Montecito Sanitary District
Santa Barbara officials, church leaders talk homelessness before winter cold season
From house parties to festival stages, Don Jamal returns to Santa Barbara

The power of social media companies

In the eyes of the public social media companies hold too much political power, and more so than traditional media companies, according to a Pew-Knight Initiative survey.

People used to complain that newspaper editors were gatekeepers, and were too powerful in deciding what makes news. The internet was supposed to allow for more diversity of news and opinion. Anyone, theoretically, could have a platform on the web.

But increasingly, the American public doesn’t see it that way. Social media companies have the power to control what shows up in your feed and what posts get taken down or flagged, according to the survey.

This is apparently true across party lines.

Republicans (71%) and Democrats (69%) say social media companies have too much power in politics today.

Social media is a necessity in the modern era, but I still prefer the journalists, who are on the front lines reporting the stories, deciding what is news, over the tech companies.

Check out the full survey here.

Joshua Molina

News-Press Editor

Stories you should know about

Art of the midterms: Blue wave splashes musicians, artists and even a former Prada model into power (Los Angeles Times)

How Canada inflicted maximum midterms pain on Trump (Politico)

UFC’s Dana White says he will meet with Trump Monday over offer to be White House press secretary (Associated Press)

California news

New deadline for phaseout of gas water heaters gives Bay Area homeowners one more year (Los Angeles Times)

In-N-Out’s billionaire owner vows iconic chain will always be in California (Fortune)

California landlords are turning tenants’ parking spaces into tiny homes (Daily Mail)

This day in history

Back in 1999, the first year I was hired at the News-Press, I was a general assignment reporter, out covering anything and everything that popped up. On this day, 27 year ago, I wrote about some vandals who trashed plants that were tended to by low-income families, and headed to Elings Park. Apparently I interviewed Don Hartley, instructor at Santa Barbara City College, to get the scoop. I don’t remember this one, but I appreciate that the News-Press archives are home to this community’s history.

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here.
Sent to *|EMAIL|* Change email preferences | Unsubscribe
Santa Barbara News-Press thanks our corporate sponsors. Find out more about sponsorships and advertising opportunities here.