Grumpy Editor

Internet, cell phones attract more usage by seniors

Older Americans are taking to the Internet and cell phones more, after several years of little growth, notes Grumpy Editor. 

Information from the Pew Internet & American Life Project finds 53 percent of adults 65 and older now use the Internet or email. 

It marks the first time that more than half of the gray-hair crowd is going online.

This means more time online takes away from reading daily newspapers. 

On a typical day, 86 percent of Internet users in the 65-plus bracket use email for communications, according to the survey. 

Findings are based on March-April telephone interviews by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. 

While online, seniors are busy in other areas, too. 

About one third (34 percent) focus on social networking sites such as Facebook, with 18 percent doing so on a typical day. 

Seniors also are taking to cell phones more. 

The survey uncovers 69 percent of the 65-plus group say they have a mobile phone.  That’s up from 57 percent two years ago.

 

‘Sensitive’ voting machines being eyed today in Nevada

With Nevada’s primary election today, some voters will be keeping sharp eyes on electronic voting machines that were a source of questionable vote tallies in the 2010 election that resulted in a close victory for Democrat Harry Reid, Senate majority leader, notes Grumpy Editor. 

In a tight race with Republican Sharron Angle at that time (she was ahead in polls right up until the election) some early voters --- in a state that allows early voting in such places as supermarkets, shopping malls and trailers --- found Reid’s name already checked on ballot pages of electronic units. 

The happening received scant national media attention at that time. 

Clark County registrar of voters in 2010, without conducting an intensive investigation, declared there was no voter fraud but blamed the checkmarks alongside Reid’s name on sensitive screens. 

Larry Lomax at that time also blamed the faulty voting action on seniors, mentioning elderly citizens have difficulty in casting their ballots. 

Following that weak explanation, former House majority leader Dick Armey, now Freedom Works chairman, said with early voting there “is less security” that creates a “great opportunity” for voter fraud, especially in major urban areas. 

This year’s early voting in Nevada ran from May 26 to June 8. 

Top race in Nevada’s current voting is for the U.S. Senate, pitting Democrat Shelley Berkley against Republican Dean Heller. 

Nevada requires no photo identification or verification of identity for people who vote.

 

Taxpayers to foot $20 million ObamaCare PR push

While the U.S. government over the years has run TV/radio public service announcements (PSAs) --- at no cost to taxpayers --- to inform or educate the public about an issue, now, in promoting ObamaCare, the public relations price tag to taxpayers will be $20 million, notes Grumpy Editor. 

Surprisingly, few newspapers this week mentioned the costly promotion. 

The Health and Human Services Department handed the task to global public relations firm Porter Novelli. 

Based in New York, the PR agency, part of the Omnicom Group international marketing communications firm, maintains 90 offices (13 in the U.S.) in 60 countries. 

What’s interesting about the assignment is that Porter Novelli co-founder (in 1972 with Jack Porter) is William Novelli, who retired in April, 2009 after eight years as AARP chief executive officer. 

His departure came at a time when AARP, representing 40 million people 50 and older, was running into unexpected PR problems with some members stemming from its stance backing what was to be labeled ObamaCare. 

“Health care reform is AARP’s top priority,” declared incoming AARP CEO A. Barry Rand in the July, 2009, AARP Bulletin.  “We simply can’t fix the economy without restructuring the delivery of health care, expanding access and cutting costs."

The lucrative ObamaCare account was being kept secret on the Porter Novelli website.  As of yesterday, no mention was made. 

However, the opening page noted in bold letters that Porter Novelli is “Named Top PR Agency in Spain.” 

The site described what Porter Novelli is all about: 

“Combining the power of immersion with the rigor of data, we create a deeper human insight that transforms the opinions, beliefs and behaviors of those who matter most to our clients.” 

That’s what probably moved HHS to sign the firm.

 

Bennington (Vt.) Banner columnist marks 86 years writing

 

We don’t stop writing when we get old…

We get old when we stop writing.

That variation of a George Bernard Shaw line comes to mind with word that Bennington (Vt.) Banner columnist Harriette Leidich, who celebrated her 100^th birthday last week, continues to produce copy --- via typewriter --- for “Senior Moments,” notes Grumpy Editor. 

Recognized as the oldest active newspaper columnist in the U.S., she started her writing career at 14 with her father’s Iowa newspaper. 

Over the years she knew her way around newspaper production, too, including operating a Linotype that set type from hot lead.  It was an important back-shop machine from the late 1800s before fading in use during the 1970s. 

Leidich has been writing her column, a collection of mostly small town matters, since 1995 in the Bennington Banner one of MediaNews Group’s 57 daily newspapers in the U.S. 

Her July 17, 2006 column explained the background for her column. 

“Sometimes one needs to step back and take a closer look at what they write for publication,” she pointed out.

“This has been the case with my Senior Moments columns. Seems that as I grow older and as the world changes its many patterns and modes of living, one gets a bit jaded. When friends called to inquire if I had passed on, I decided to tell you that I am quite alive and always interested in what is going on in this world.”

 

Many editors shun Social Security pay raise on front pages

In deciding stories vying for limited front-page space of newspapers, savvy editors consider interest to readers in their circulation areas.  So it’s rather surprising to Grumpy Editor that announcement of a long-sought cost-of-living increase for 58 million Americans --- that's one fifth of the population --- didn’t make many opening pages yesterday across the country.

It indicated not all editors are fully tuned in as to what is news.  Or perhaps they were distracted in watching Wednesday night's opening game of the World Series. 

News that financially-squeezed Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will see monthly benefits rise 3.6 percent starting in January was especially newsworthy because it marks the first increase since 2009. 

It also indicated inflation isn’t so “tame” (as media have labeled it for many months) after all. 

An extensive survey of U.S. newspapers by Grumpy Editor uncovered few dailies yesterday placed the COLA story on front pages. 

Among those that did: 

The Washington Times, with the COLA for Social Security and SSI recipients as one of five front-page stories. 

The News Journal, Wilmington, Del., had it as one of four front-page pieces. 

The Garden Island, Lihue, Hawaii, made it one of four front-page stories. 

Others that ran the development as a front-page one-sentence “refer” to stories on inside pages included: 

The New York Times

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

San Francisco Chronicle

Austin American-Statesman

The Salt Lake Tribune

Among key dailies skipping any front-page mention: 

The Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, Denver Post, Hartford Courant, Washington Post, The Miami Herald, Tampa Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, The Indianapolis Star, South Bend (Indiana) Tribune, The Des Moines Register, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans), The Baltimore Sun, The Boston Globe, The Detroit News, Star Tribune (Indianapolis), Kansas City Star, Omaha World-Herald, The Star-Ledger (Newark), Albuquerque Journal, The Oklahoman, The (Portland) Oregonian, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Dallas Morning News. 

And how did The Wall Street Journal treat it?  The business paper combined the latest consumer price index (mentioned in a front-page refer) with the Social Security COLA information on page A6.

 

Recession brings hunger risk to youngest baby boomers

AARP Foundation finds tough times are affecting the youngest baby boomers --- 50 to 59 year olds --- resulting in 8.8 million in that bracket facing the risk of hunger, learns Grumpy Editor. 

In case highlights from the report, “Food Insecurity Among Older Adults,” do not make it to your local newspaper today: 

Research uncovers more than 9 percent of older Americans were at risk of hunger in 2009, a 79 percent increase since 2001. 

The research for AARP Foundation, an AARP affiliated charity, by James P. Ziliak of the University of Kentucky and Craig Gundersen of the University of Illinois, is the first of its kind to examine hunger risk among 50 to 59 year olds.

They point out that age group, too young for Social Security and too old to qualify for programs designed for families with children, can be hard hit in bad economic times.

"For the first time, we have a fuller picture of hunger risk among all Americans 50-plus,” relates Jo Ann Jenkins, AARP Foundation president. 

"The recession has taken an especially large toll on older people, particularly those in the middle class," she adds.

"Between 2007 and 2009, the most dramatic increase in food insecurity was among those with annual incomes more than twice the poverty line.”

 

Presto! August Social Security payments flow on time

Following several weeks of scary-to-seniors dire warnings --- from President Barack Obama to national print and broadcast media --- that more than 45 million Americans may not get their August Social Security payments if the debt-ceiling crisis was not resolved, lo and behold, just minutes after the debt-ceiling vote passed in Washington, the Social Security Administration issued a news release saying benefits will be paid on time, notes Grumpy Editor. 

Whew! 

Imagine this miraculous speed:  With the green light and to meet the next-day (Aug. 3) dissemination, the U.S. Treasury Department immediately cranked up its check-printing presses or geared for direct deposits to millions of recipients.  Then, for the mailed checks, the U.S. Postal Service took over for following-day distribution around the country --- a delivery process that usually takes two days to mail boxes. 

Hard to believe? 

Not even usual eyebrow-raising investigative reporters were stirred by this magical, super-fast federal government action, equal to pulling a rabbit out of a hat. 

Strangely, with millions of Americans concerned, few print and broadcast media reported the announcement that Social Security benefits would be paid as usual and on time. 

The Aug. 2 news release from the Social Security Administration announced “payments for August 3 will be made on time and as scheduled.  Payments for August 10, 17 and 24 also will be made as scheduled.” 

The three-paragraph news release also reminded that “current beneficiaries must switch to electronic payments by March 1, 2013.” 

That should provide another “crisis” for media, focusing on recipients who do not have bank accounts.

 

Seniors focus on third quarter CPI for 2012 COLA clue

For Social Security recipients looking for an upward cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2012 monthly payments, last month’s consumer price index (CPI) may provide a clue as to how this year’s third quarter will wind up, observes Grumpy Editor.

Figures from July, August and September will be averaged out to determine the COLA for next year. 

As the Social Security Administration explains it: “The Social Security Act provides for an automatic increase in Social Security and SSI benefits if there is an increase in the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the last year a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) was determined to the third quarter of the current year.” 

So it’s interesting to note that Friday-released consumer prices, as tallied by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)  fell 0.2 percent in June from a month earlier for the first time in a year.

“Lower Inflation in June” proclaims headlines in newspapers and in broadcast reports. 

However, less emphasized:  Excluding volatile fuel and food costs, core inflation rose 0.3 percent, making it the second straight monthly gain and the largest back-to-back increase since summer, 2008. 

Watchful Social Security recipients will be focusing attention on the July CPI tally from BLS, due to be announced on Aug. 18, followed by August figures on Sept. 15 and September numbers on Oct. 19. 

Four months ago, Social Security trustees projected a 1.2 percent COLA for senior recipients while President Barack Obama envisioned under one percent (0.9 percent, to be exact).

 

AARP backs Social Security benefits cuts...or does it?

Grumpy Editor figures there must have been a lot of stirring at AARP’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., following Friday’s report in The Wall Street Journal that the mammoth senior organization “is dropping its long-standing opposition to cutting Social Security benefits…which AARP hasn’t discussed publicly.”

The Laura Meckler byliner also mentioned with that position, “AARP runs the risk of alienating both its liberal allies, who have vowed to fight any benefit cuts, and its 37 million members, many of whom are deeply opposed to such a move.”

It didn’t take long for AARP to produce a response.  At 2:22p.m. (Eastern) Friday, PRNewsire moved a news release under the headline, “AARP Has Not Changed Its Position On Social Security.”

AARP CEO A. Barry Rand snapped:  "Let me be clear --- AARP is as committed as we've ever been to fighting to protect Social Security for today's seniors and strengthening it for future generations.  Contrary to the misleading characterization in a recent media story, AARP has not changed its position on Social Security.”

“We are currently fighting some proposals in Washington to cut Social Security to reduce a deficit it did not cause,” he pointed out.  “Social Security should not be used as a piggy bank to solve the nation's deficit.  Any changes to this lifeline program should happen in a separate, broader discussion and make retirement more secure for future generations, not less.”

The WSJ’s story pinned John Rother, AARP’s policy chief, as the prime mover behind its change of heart.

An Associated Press story on the controversy in newspapers over the weekend noted an AARP spokeswoman said Rother was traveling Friday and unavailable for comment.

But AP did get quotes from David Certner, AARP’s director of legislative policy, who claimed the organization adamantly opposes cutting Social Security benefits to help reduce the federal budget.

Then, adding to the confusion, Certner said for years AARP has acknowledged that cuts to future benefits might be necessary to improve the program’s finances.

Getting back to the AARP news release, it also mentioned, “It has long been AARP’s policy that Social Security should be strengthened to provide adequate benefits and that it is sufficiently financed to ensure solvency with a stable trust fund for the next 75 years.”

It concluded with:  “As we have been for decades, we will continue to protect this bedrock of lifetime financial security for all generations of Americans.”

Grumpy Editor notes AARP triggered another controversy two years ago when it ran into unexpected public relations problems with its seniors membership stemming from its support of President Barack Obama's health care reform plan.  It lost about 300,000 members as a result.

AARP, formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons, describes itself as “a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole.”

 

Customers conserve power, so NV Energy gets rate hike

In covering utilities and their constant parade of rate increase proposals before state public utility commissions, business writers should do a bit of fact checking, even if it means looking at their own bills, rather than following information put out by the companies, suggests Grumpy Editor. 

For example, already-squeezed customers of Nevada power utility NV Energy ---  in a state already among those with the highest electricity rates in the West --- are grumbling about state Public Utilities Commission approval Monday of a 3.4 percent rate increase that goes into effect on July 1. 

The boost seems modest enough, especially when New York Stock Exchange-listed NV Energy puts “the average residential bill” extra cost at a mere $5.29 a month. 

But when customers, most living in air-conditioned homes, view their electric bill for July, they’ll see a total close to $300 --- or more, figuring a single-story 2,400-square-foot home.  That will be $10 to $15 above the like month a year prior. 

NV Energy bills include an assortment of fees and charges, such as basic service charge, local government fee, universal energy charge, temporary green power financing and renewable energy program. 

The state PUC grants the latest rate increase to allow NV Energy to recover costs related to its energy-efficiency program. 

In other words, that program is going so well, with customers conserving power, that NV Energy sways the PUC to approve a rate hike to compensate for revenue lost from more energy-efficient steps and equipment. 

Just prior to the rate increase, senior group AARP representative Barry Gold tells the Nevada PUC: 

“During a time of economic crisis (NV Energy) is asking us to pay more.  They ask us to save energy, but the better we conserve, the more it’s going to cost us.  (Nevada) already is first in foreclosures and first in unemployment.  We don’t want to be first in electricity shutoffs, too.” 

PUC chairwoman Alaina Burtenshaw, meanwhile, points to state legislators, declaring, “They’re the ones who make the laws we have to follow.” 

Look for more irate ratepayers. 

NV Energy is slated to apply for a general rate increase next Wednesday.