johncombest.com

1.) I found a news article/opinion piece I think would provide valuable information to your readers. Can I send it to you?

Absolutely. I am a human being, not an algorithm, and my site is improved every day by readers who submit links. If you have a news or opinion piece regarding state government, or a piece involving Missouri’s congressional delegation or federal projects in Missouri, send it to john <at> johncombest.com. Don’t bother sending press releases, generic “Capitol Reports,” or pieces that deal exclusively with municipal or county governments – I don’t link to them.

2.) I appreciate your dedication to providing valuable context to news and opinion headlines – but at times, your headlines elicit an immediate negative emotional reaction from me. What should I do?

Thanks for your honesty. If the wording of a news headline makes you feel angry, I suggest you discuss what you’re feeling with your parent(s), guardian or school counselor. They can help you express your feelings in a constructive way that moves you up the scale of emotions toward greater acceptance. They can also refer you to a mental health professional.

If you’re an adult who feels emotionally triggered by the wording of Missouri political news headlines, I’d suggest seeking help from a mental health professional. I’d also suggest investing time identifying exactly why a headline signaling a potentially differing view on a public policy topic moves you down the emotional scale. Do opinions different from your own create the feeling of fear or anxiety because they challenge your existing worldview? Or do you actively seek out contrary opinions on the Internet (johncombest.com) or social media (Facebook, Twitter) as an excuse to feel emotions like anger and grief and have an “enemy” to vilify each day?

I recommend The Sedona Method as one way to release on heavy, low-frequency emotions and move your life in a more peaceful direction. (Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

You can learn more about releasing Internet-related angst – including anger – in my book, Stalking, Harassment, Internet Trolling: A Guide to Recovering and Rebuilding After Online Attacks.

3.) I’m a journalist, and sometimes I find that you’ve rewritten my outlet’s headline to provide deeper and richer context. But that makes me feel as if you’re saying the original headline wasn’t good enough – and because of my own personal and professional insecurities, I internalize this to mean I am not good enough. I’ve even considered tweeting my criticism of you, but I realize that type of behavior is passive-aggressive and cope. After some consideration, I’ve decided to simply thank you. Thank you, Mr. Combest, for linking to my content and helping amplify my work to more people than I otherwise could have reached on my own.

You are quite welcome. Very kind and thoughtful of you to reach out.

Updated: January 2023