The VSU Spectator posted the most detailed traditional news media report of Occupy Valdosta,
along with an excellently edited video.
Desiree Thompson wrote 20 October 2011,

Occupy movement inspires Valdosta,

According to Occupy Valdosta’s mission statement, the group exercises
their right to “peacefully assemble, to nonviolently occupy public
space, to create an open process to address the problems they face,
and to generate solutions accessible to everyone.”

In an attempt to raise revenue, Bank of America Corp. plans to charge
customers at the beginning of next year with a $5 fee every month they
use their debit cards outside of withdrawing from the Bank of America ATM.

Protestors demanded an answer from the bank downtown, but employees
refused to comment.

Here’s

the Spectator video:

Occupy movement inspires Valdosta —VSU Spectator

We are the 99%,

Marching to Occupy Valdosta, Occupy Valdosta,

Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 14 October 2011.

Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

Extensive quotes from students:

Ivey Roubique, a senior geology major, believes that Bank of America is
only looking out for its own best interest.

“I’m here at Bank of America because they’re making new charges
to use your debit card,” she said. “As a student who works for the
school, I don’t have any choice but to have direct deposit. I should
be able to make a choice, but I shouldn’t have to make this choice
with their greed. Their greed is going to take away all of my money.”

Erin Hurley, senior anthropology major, spoke outside of Bank of America,
asking who is a bank patron, who wants to pay the fee and who will
withdraw his or her account. Protesters raised their hands and verbally
responded to Hurley’s first question, responded with a resounding
“No” to the second and cheered in agreement to the third.

“Who got bailed out?” Hurley asked. “They did,” the protestors
said. “Who did it?” she asked. “We did,” they said.

They even included two sentences about

me talking at the

MLK Monument
about

how we don’t need a private prison in Lowndes County.

Pretty good coverage of the remaining stops, including more students
at the VDT,
and some of the main issues at the Chamber.

At the Chamber the Spectator did the obligatory interview-the-other-guys.
I do wonder about this part, though:

Another group of protestors stood against the original protestors to
make sure they stayed clear of their goal.

Um, there were six counter-protesters, and they stayed on the other
side of the street, while 150 Occupy Valdosta folks hobnobbed with
Chamber President Myrna Ballard, who petted their dogs.

But I especially like this part:

Disclaimer: Due to mistakes noticed in the print version that ran on Oct. 20, the story was updated accordingly. If there are any mistakes to be found, please contact one of the editors, and we will fix them as soon as possible.

Every reporter and news organization should be so conscientious!

-jsq