Huffington Post Fails At Crowdsoucing GM Dealer Closing List
The GM dealer closing list is remains a hot topic. Since GM has not released the dealer closing List, Huffington Post is trying to crowdsource the list.
Crowdsourcing is supposed to be the new wave of journalism, according to yahoos like Jeff Jarvis.
Here’s how it is supposed to work. GM has a list of dealer closings. They don’t release the list to the general public. No matter, a giant blog like Huffington Post just asks their millions of readers to submit what they know to Huffington Post and a list of GM dealer closings appears.
Except when it doesn’t.
This is exactly why local newspapers and the AP still have a role in gathering news. They are close to the market and can put a couple reporters on the phone and start calling around. Or they have sources inside GM, and the GM dealer closing list is leaked.
Oh, and BTW, the Huffington Post won’t just take your word that you are sending them facts. No siree Bobbie. They want you to link with a “confirmed source.” Which I’m guessing means, they want you to link to a newspaper or television station report.
We are only posting confirmed closures of GM dealerships, so please include a link to a news report in your email.
Here’s the list of GM Dealer Closing compiled through crowdsourcing so far…
- Tom Sparks Buick in Dekalb, Illinois.
- Reichert Automotive Group, which has locations in Crystal Lake and Woodstock, Illinois.
- Two dealerships owned by the Asbury Automotive Group in Kissimmee, Florida.
- Fox Pontiac Buick GMC in Alpine Township, Michigan.
- Chuck Clancy Chevrolet dealership in Cartersville, Georgia.
- Nourse Interstate Automall in Richburg, South Carolina.
- Matthews Chevy of Brilliant, Ohio; and Glen Dale Motors and Bell Chevrolet of Sistersville, West Virginia.
- Merle Snider Motors in Winfield, Kansas
- Adams Chevrolet in Belton, Missouri.
- Eisenhower Motor Sales in Pemberville, Ohio.
- Stokes Hodges GM in Thomson, Georgia.
- Fox Motors in Charlevoix, Michigan.
- Roseland Auto Sales in Chicago.
- Williams Auto Group, Sayre, Pennsylvania.
- AutoServ of Laconia, in Belmont, New Hampshire.
- At least 18 dealerships in Minnesota.
- Johnson Motor Company of South Carolina and Henna Chevrolet of Aiken, South Carolina.
- Mendenhall-Roy Chevrolet in Grabill, Indiana
- J.L. Freed and Sons of Lansdale, Pennsylvania.
- Jones Chevrolet in Corvallis, Oregon.
- La Roche Buick Pontiac GMC in Brenham, Texas.
- McCombs Superior Pontiac GMC in San Antonio, Texas.
- Hatfield Buick/GMC, Redlands, California.
- Dick Bigelow Chevrolet, Parma, Ohio.
- Moore Pontiac Buick GMC, Canton, Georgia.
- Don Ayres Pontiac-GMC, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
- Preferred Chevrolet-Pontiac, Lagrange, Indiana.
- Tom’s Chevrolet, Cornell, Wisconsin.
- Frank Andrews Chevrolet, Dublin, Georgia.
- Bob Wysong Chevrolet-Pontiac, Cromwell, Indiana
- Meyer GMC Trucks, North Manchester, Indiana
- Rea Buick, Port Jervis, New York
- Firebaugh Chevrolet, Firebaugh, California
- Wile Motors, Columbia, Connecticut
- Raceway Chevrolet Pontiac Buick GMC, Lake City, South Carolina
- Servco Auto Windward, Kaneohe, Hawaii
- R.L. Reising Sales Inc., Beecher, Illinois
- Bruckerts Chevrolet, Bunker Hill, Illinois
- Patire Chevrolet Buick, Hoosick Falls, New York
- Olesen Chevrolet, Avoca, Iowa
- Courtesy Chevrolet, Morgan Hill, California
- Mazzei’s GMC in Pittsburgh, California
- Colonial Chevrolet-Buick, Talladega, Alabama
- Ricky Smith GMC, Weymouth, Massachusetts
- Johnson Sales, Arlington, Wisconsin
- Boyd Chevrolet, South Hill Virginia
- Larry Millier Pontiac Buick GMC, Caldwell, Idaho
- Brackeen Motors in Shawnee, Oklahoma
- City Chevrolet, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Charlie Roberts Chevrolet – Buick, Rensselaer, Indiana
- Daniels Chevyland, Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Bill Cross of Performance Auto Group, Wooster, Ohio
- Moomaw Chevrolet, Sugarcreek, Ohio
- Crown Automotive, Lawrence, Kansas
- Epps Motors Middlesboro, Kentucky
- Spencer Auto Group, Spencer, West Virginia.
- Pat Fischer Chevrolet, Titusville, Florida
- Boyles Motors in Maryville, Missouri
- Olsen’s Implement, Huron, South Dakota.
- Salisbury Chevrolet, Glenville, New York
- Rose Buick Pontiac GMC, Gloversville, New York
- Videon Chevrolet in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
- Hubler Chevrolet Center, Shelbyville, Indiana
- Broadway Automotive, Pulaski, Wisconsin
- Lewis River Motor Co., Woodland, Washington
- Tri Pontiac Buick, Hemet, California
- Courtesy Chevrolet, Ontonagon, Michigan
- Alex Montgomery Chevrolet- Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep, Mount Washington, Kentucky
- Don’s Chevrolet, Ida Grove, Iowa
- Wells River Chevrolet, Wells River, Vermont
- Brighton Garage Chevrolet, Island Pond, Vermont
- Wagner Buick Pontiac GMC, Belleville, Illionis
- Krueger Auto & Truck Villa GMC, Waverly, Iowa
Out of an estimate 1,100 dealers on the GM dealer closing list, Huffington Post has only gotten 73 names. An Epic Fail in crowdsourcing.
But you won’t read Jeff Jarvis spewing any venom toward Huffington Post and the failure of crowd sourcing. He says newspapers blew it, and he’s sticking to it, even when the evidence clearly demonstrates that crowdsourcing isn’t working on a simple story like the GM dealer closing list.
Jarvis writes for Huffington Post. He teaches. He doesn’t work at a newspaper.
Stand by for the General Motors dealer closing list. It will be here as soon as GM releases it.
UPDATE: If you’re visiting from RapidCityJournal.com, I’m not usually as rude as I was to Jeff Jarvis in the comments. He’s just such a blow hard that I lost control. If you comment, I’ll be nice. Promise.
Omygod, it failed once, so crowdsourcing is an utter failure forever. It will never be used again. It was just a stupid idea. Close the internet. Turn out the light when you leave. Nevermind. It’s over.
Jeesh.
Glad you’re there waiting for the press release.
Jeff Jarvis…also wrote this…Happy birthday, Baristanet
@Jeff Jarvis: What ever happened to the newsassignment.net experiment? Did you follow up?
The GM list was as easy as it gets. If crowdsourcing doesn’t work on the easy stuff, it won’t work on the hard stuff.
BTW: Patrick Swayze isn’t dead yet in case you are getting your news from Twitter.
You are just such a smart ass commenter. I hate that about you.
You’re the one who called me a yahoo. I’d say you set the tone.
New Assignment became Off the Bus, which broke a few stories, you may remember.
But this is a ridiculous thread. Show me the person who is saying that crowdsourcing will take over all journalism. No one. You’re fishing for a red herring. Can it help journalists do their jobs? Yes, it can. So why reject it? just because you want to? Why? Because it’s new? Less controlled? Really, why the hostility?
Jeff Jarvis…also wrote this…FTC to the rescue
@Jeff Jarvis: go away. I don’t want to have this, or any other comments from you. I’m sorry I linked to you.
I broke a vow never to read your stuff again.
Now I remember why.
Go away.
goinglikesixty…also wrote this…Will The Missing Link Win American Idol During Fleet Week 2009 or Does Shawn Johnson’s Bikini Get Her The Oscar Meyer Weinie Award?
Did any newspapers come up with lists of their own?
@cawlin: yes, every newspaper has a list of dealers in their circulation area. (if the dealers would reveal it) Where do you think Huffpo is getting their list?
In my personal opinion, one thing that crowdsourcing is good for is eliminating the hidden agendas of corporate owned media outlets. I’d much rather have my news influenced by 10,000 random personal opinions than the finely honed politics of Ted Turner or Rupert Murdoch.
That said, I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time here because this blog is that rare animal – interesting and humorous. Thumbs, up 60.
Frumpzilla…also wrote this…Comic Relief
@Frumpzilla: thanks for the thumbs up! Ted Turner is no longer associated with any news organization. Does Rupert Murdoch influence Fox News, WSJ, etc. Probably, but more in a way of who he hires to run things…
I don’t want to discuss network news because it’s irrelevant to a “local” story like the car dealers closing.
But in crowdsourcing, who do you trust to give you the facts?
I do like crowdsourcing for breaking stories: plane in Hudson. But in the long haul, I want somebody that’s been trained to separate the wheat from the chaff on the story.
YANKTON MOTOR COMPANY YNAKTON, SD
SPRINGS AUTO WESSINGTON SPRINGS SD
LINK ARGUSLEADER.COM
I think there is a time and a place for crowdsourcing, but I agree….it doesn’t have any place in big stories like this. What happened to patience and waiting for the real story to surface? I miss real journalism.