Where Clark gets his information

Believe none of what you hear, half of what you see and the opposite of what you read. It used to be that media were driven by the quest for information and truth, but those days are long gone. Increased competition and corporate ownerships have made the bottom line the Holy Grail and principles are soluble in cash. There isn’t an advertiser butt most publishers won’t smooch these days.

What brings this to mind is a review of Cincinnati as a travel destination posted by Lonely Planet. I’m well past the point of trusting any tourism reviews because this is a segment fraught with advertiser influence. But, this example is worth the read for entertainment value.

The write-up recommends some entertainment venues located in Over-the-Rhine, an area it describes as “once-dangerous.” That’s like describing the government as “once-wasteful.” Two years ago, insurance companies ranked Over-the-Rhine as the most dangerous neighborhood in America in terms of violent crimes per capita. Just last year, it was still in the top 25. And, earlier this year, rival gangs were littering the streets of it with bodies in a battle for control.

Cincinnati has a world class zoo, great art museums, outstanding symphony and one of the finest examples of art deco in the country. So, what do they list as its favorite attraction? The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, a failure by almost any yardstick you choose.

Go ahead and trust the travel writers if you so desire. You could always be the next Clark Griswold.