A master of spin

Give the editor of the Flint Journal credit, he knows how to spin. No straight talk express for him. (I'll post a link to the column as soon as they put it on the website.)

In Sunday's editorial page, the editor says adios to longtime employee and editorial page editor Mike Riha (a great guy, by the way).

The farewell to Mike column included the editor's new initiative to bring the paper closer to its readers by turning over more of the editorial page to contributors. So now the paper won't write editorials daily (Sunday-Friday) as it has but will let its readers fill in on some days.

This, according to the editor, is to bring the newspaper closer to its readers.

Better wear your boots when you read this stuff or you'll be up to your knees in what the cows left behind.

Here's the no-spin translation: "We are running out of people to write, I don't want to write everyday because I'm busy overseeing our correction policy and so we're going to fill the editorial page with your free stuff."

The truth is that readers and contributors don't ask for an hourly wage or benefits.

Here's how I would have written it:

"Folks, the squeeze is on. My owners have eviscerated my newsroom. I've already kissed off most of the coverage of Lapeer and Shiawassee counties and my business desk is gone except for one reporter. My features desk is a fond memory.

Areas that used to be covered by five reporters are now assigned to one. Some of them are new and need to get up to speed and learn the ropes. I can only flog them so much.

So here's the deal, I have no one left to write editorials and you people keep calling me telling me how you can do my job better. Here's your chance, I'm turning over large portions of the editorial pages to you several days a week.

But unlike the people who used to work there, you can't ask for pay or benefits. Deal? Deal.

By the way, sorry about that hefty per newspaper issue price increase late last year and for charging you to put milestone pictures and articles in the paper that we used to do free. Just be glad we don't bill you for putting your name in the paper when you are arrested. Thanks for reading."

This all fits with the new newsroom attempts to raise morale among the surviving employees. Recently the management told reporters they were looking for ways to make working at the paper more fun.

One actual suggestion: A bulletin board where pictures of family members of staffers could be posted to help improve morale.

Here's my suggestion: Pay people what they are worth and for ALL the hours they work. Overtime is nice too. Do that, morale will really soar.