#The reader sandpoint series
Even more surprising, those on the left were just as complimentary about the series as those on the right. Much to our surprise, the feedback we received throughout the series was overwhelmingly positive. Many of our readers were thankful to have been given an inside look at the specific ideology Barron and others were promoting. This was only the second time Barron, the so-called “Bard of the American Redoubt,” has ever consented to be interviewed by the press. However, convincing him the series was an earnest attempt to understand the movement from a non-partisan point of view, Barron ultimately agreed to an interview, so long as it was conducted in writing and that we agreed not to edit his responses (except for grammar).īarron’s two-page interview published in the Nov. Schmidt failed to respond to interview requests, as did Barron at first. While Rawles denied our request for an interview, he did acknowledge on his blog that the work we had done thus far was “surprisingly fair.”Īlong with Rawles, there are two other spokespersons for the Redoubt movement: Alex Barron of and John Jacob Schmidt from. However, after the first two installments of the series were published, the immediate opposition slowly turned into begrudging acceptance that the series was starting out fair and accurate. One even claimed to be left of center when it came to politics. Those who did agree to interviews were more moderate and not exactly the stereotypical Redoubter. Matt Shea, the editors at (who seemed to take offense that we would compare them with the Redoubt movement, though they use the term in their name) and a handful of local politicians and pundits who claimed we were “fake news” for even asking. Of those we contacted for interviews and were denied or ignored: Idaho Rep. Many believed their lifestyle choices were being mocked, emphasizing the “mad prepper in a gas mask” angle over the ideological reasons behind such a movement. Most distrusted the media and believed it unfairly treated the Redoubt movement in the past. Toward the end of the series, we then analyzed the movement’s impact on the region.įrom the beginning, it was difficult to arrange interviews with those who identify with the Redoubt. Instead of casting judgment, we decided to explain the movement from the perspective of those who identify with it. The goal of this series was to take an even, documentary look at the movement and its parts: geographic isolation, preparedness and religious and political ideologies. After this series, I believe many understood what the movement was all about and stopped using the term in a pejorative fashion, instead focusing on the tenets of the movement they disagreed with. Those who identify with the Redoubt are encouraged to store supplies and practice preparedness, as well as to promote limited government and a religious-minded approach to communities.īefore this series, the loaded term “Redoubter” generally referred to someone who was anti-refugee, pro-church, anti-big government, anti-public education and was opposed to social issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage, among others. Rawles calls for conservative Christians to migrate to eastern Washington and Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming (collectively called the “Redoubt” by Rawles) in order to live off-grid with “like-minded” people concerned that an “end of days” event might occur. The American Redoubt is a political migration movement first proposed in 2011 by James Wesley, Rawles (sic), who maintains. The series ran in eight consecutive issues from Nov. Thanks to a $500 grant awarded by the Idaho Press Club, the Reader was able to dig in a little deeper and produce an eight-week series of articles, profiles and analyses on the Redoubt. One of the more frequent requests for stories last year was an in-depth analysis on the American Redoubt movement and its impact on North Idaho. While the survey helps define what print, radio and television media our readers follow in North Idaho, it also gives them a chance to suggest possible story ideas. 15 there’s more information at our website, By Ben OlsonĮvery January, the alternative weekly Sandpoint Reader newspaper invites its 5,000-plus readers to participate in a media survey. You, too, can apply for the mid-career scholarship, which is available for any Idaho Press Club member to use for any training or project that will benefit the working press in Idaho. Note: Ben Olson, publisher of the Sandpoint Reader, won an Idaho Press Club Don Watkins Mid-Career Scholarship of $500 to aid in this project.
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