Yesterday (January 29) my eldest son and I made the trek to my sister-in-law and brother's home in Auburn just for the day.
It was a Chamber of Commerce weather day for northern California. The weather here is outstanding this week (last year it rained for the entire two weeks I was here). So the three hour drive up and back was made with at least one window partially down. I had almost forgotten the feeling of warm, fresh air. Traffic was light through San Jose, which can be a bottle neck on the drive to and from the East Bay.
My son, who will be unable to attend my brother's party (he didn't want a memorial) next week wanted to see Barbara and be in my brother's home.
Next Saturday, February 7, a number of family (including a group of cousins who haven't seen each other for dozens of years) and close friends will gather and remember the life of Michael B. Smith. As my son William said yesterday: "You can still feel Uncle Mike in the house."
Barbara, a truly great cook, fed us like kings.
It's been four weeks since my brother died on New Year's Day, but the emotions sometimes well up and overflow, as they did yesterday when it was time to leave and drive back to Aptos near Santa Cruz.
Barbara is doing well, keeping busy and her many friends are taking good care of her. I'm going back (glad I have a rental with unlimited miles) next Wednesday and Thursday to help set up the party. Then I'll return to the Bay Area, pick up my wife at the airport Friday and drive back up with the cousins on Saturday for the party.
Do I know the way to San Jose? Oh, yeah.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Larry Laurain, a reporter's editor
Some have challenged, and with some justification, that I have been very rough on some editors. So while it may sound that I take no quarter with editors I have actually had more editors who have been good or great than the other kind.
Here is just one example, and because the others are living and probably would appreciate not being named here right now, we'll just talk about the late Lawrence A. "Larry" Laurain today.
Larry was the City Editor at the Oakland Press during my first couple years there in 1984 and 1985. He was my first experience with a "big" city editor and it was perhaps somewhat unfair to measure those that came after against his standard.
In this case let's go to the end of the story: Larry died of esophageal cancer in August 1985. He had just served as president of the Detroit chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists at the time of his death. In fact, the chapter awards an annual $2,500 Lawrence A. Laurain Scholarship annually to a student in Southeast Michigan with an interest in journalism.
On his death bed in the hospital, he asked that I come and visit and he gave me directions to his computer file and a pre-written obituary. Another editor and I pulled up the file and it had "xxx" where the date of his death was. It included a short description of his successful battle over alcoholism which I'm sure he believed we would have not included in an obit we would have written about him. He wanted honest and so he wrote his own obituary.
Before I met him, his 17-year journalism career which included a variety of assignments, included The Royal Oak Tribune, The Macomb Daily, United Press International and finally the City Editor of The Oakland Press.
Larry was a steely-eyed, quiet man who often smoked a pipe back in the days when cigarette, cigar and pipe smoke was allowed in the newsroom. He was direct, but kind about it. If you messed up you knew from his eyes before you heard it from his mouth.
You could argue with him and he would listen. Sometimes you could even change his mind about an assignment. Having been a street reporter who covered cops, courts, cities, schools and the great range of topics that a beat reporter can cover, reporters more than not, respected his judgement on stories.
His editing style was to call you over to his desk and have you stand behind him while he showed you what he proposed to do with your story. If you disagreed and had a good reason, he would return your copy to its original state. Except on extreme deadline, he wanted your input on what he was doing to your copy.
All of that concern grew out of his long experience as a reporter and his dealings with editors.
He fiercely defended his reporters to the editors above him.
Example: The Oakland Press was my first "real" daily newspaper job. I had worked there for about three or four months when a source at the Oakland County Sheriff's Department pointed me to a shoplifting report that involved the Chief of Police of Redford Township.
The detective was upset that the episode had been handled quietly in court and that the man remained as chief of police because no one knew about it. The chief had lifted a small amount of film from a store and left without paying for it. The report indicated he had more than $50 in his wallet and was capable of paying the bill when he was detained by store security.
It appeared the chief was having more of an emotional breakdown than that he had become a criminal. When I told Larry about the story he told me to go get it. Of course, that meant I had to call the Chief of Police. When I first called him at work, he freaked and told me he couldn't talk about it at work and that he would call me later from his home. He also ended the conversation that if I was going to do this story his life would be ruined and he would not have a reason to live.
When I told Larry that, he told me to let him know when the chief called back because he wanted to eavesdrop on the conversation. (Probably because I was new he wanted to make sure I covered all the bases).
A couple hours later, the chief did call back and Larry picked up on another extension. The chief started with an impassioned plea that I drop the whole thing, that he was getting psychiatric help and that release of a story would leave him few options. It was obvious he was talking about suicide.
I went forward with the questions, most of which he declined to answer, but it ended with a second plea that I drop the story. When I got off the phone I really felt I had this man's life in my hands. "What now?" I asked Larry. "Do your story," he said.
When the editor-in-chief spotted the story in the queue and read what I was working on, she called Larry into her office and recommended he pull me off the story and give it to a more experienced reporter to handle. The closed door conversation was loud enough I could hear much of it from my desk in the now almost empty newsroom.
A half hour later, Larry emerged from the office and I looked at him like "what's up?" Again, he looked at me and said: "It's your story, do it." I worried that my story would drive a man to kill himself, but Larry reminded me that this was a person who was in charge of a large contingent of armed employees, his shoplifting and the reasons for it were indications he was not emotionally capable of doing that.
The story ran the next day, the chief resigned the next day and what I learned later was that the chief got help, that the stress of the police job was simply too much for him and he later went on to a fairly successful real estate career. So there was, fortunately, no dramatic end to the story.
But Larry stood up, looked out and fought for me. I never forgot that.
Another thing Larry would do to help reporters involved minor holes in a story. Say he wanted information from another city source, police source, etc., instead of bothering you while you working on your next thing, he would pick up the phone, make the call himself and add the information he wanted to the story. It was something he did that was very, very much appreciated by the reporters who worked for him.
Because he knew his way around reporting he became your helper, not your boss, although he was always that as well. There were a few times, a short press release would arrive on his desk that would normally be on my beat. I was always busy, so he would frequently rewrite the release, sometimes making a call to get a quote, and the story would appear in the paper with my byline on it even though I had never seen it.
That may seem like a violation of some kind, but I always appreciated the fact that Larry understood that even brief interruptions for a press release rewrite could cost you an hour or two on another project you were working on. And because story count at the Oakland Press was everything at the time (it was charted like daily stocks) those little bylines helped keep the wolf away from the door.
That leads to another example of how Larry was the first line of defense between his reporters and the editor. One time my story count dropped by half during a month. That troubled the editor who wanted to call me on the carpet, but Larry intervened and reminded the editor that she should check the schedule first as I had been on vacation for two weeks.
He reprimanded (and boy could he reprimand) in private, he praised in public and he never allowed the editors above him to interfere with his reporters. He often took a beating for me and others and I am eternally grateful to him for that.
As I have mentioned before, one of my first editors at the Journal was very much like Larry and those were the great days at the Journal. One time when I was arguing with him over an assignment, the Journal editor looked at me with a wry smile and told me: "You have now argued with me longer than it would have taken to do the story." We both laughed and I shut up and did the story. We recently talked about this incident, which he does not remember, but agreed it was something he would have said.
Being an editor is not easy, being a good editor is even tougher. But the editors that I have had and enjoyed working with were those who treated the job like an Army foxhole. They were in it with you and they never asked you to do anything they wouldn't do or hadn't done themselves.
Here is just one example, and because the others are living and probably would appreciate not being named here right now, we'll just talk about the late Lawrence A. "Larry" Laurain today.
Larry was the City Editor at the Oakland Press during my first couple years there in 1984 and 1985. He was my first experience with a "big" city editor and it was perhaps somewhat unfair to measure those that came after against his standard.
In this case let's go to the end of the story: Larry died of esophageal cancer in August 1985. He had just served as president of the Detroit chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists at the time of his death. In fact, the chapter awards an annual $2,500 Lawrence A. Laurain Scholarship annually to a student in Southeast Michigan with an interest in journalism.
On his death bed in the hospital, he asked that I come and visit and he gave me directions to his computer file and a pre-written obituary. Another editor and I pulled up the file and it had "xxx" where the date of his death was. It included a short description of his successful battle over alcoholism which I'm sure he believed we would have not included in an obit we would have written about him. He wanted honest and so he wrote his own obituary.
Before I met him, his 17-year journalism career which included a variety of assignments, included The Royal Oak Tribune, The Macomb Daily, United Press International and finally the City Editor of The Oakland Press.
Larry was a steely-eyed, quiet man who often smoked a pipe back in the days when cigarette, cigar and pipe smoke was allowed in the newsroom. He was direct, but kind about it. If you messed up you knew from his eyes before you heard it from his mouth.
You could argue with him and he would listen. Sometimes you could even change his mind about an assignment. Having been a street reporter who covered cops, courts, cities, schools and the great range of topics that a beat reporter can cover, reporters more than not, respected his judgement on stories.
His editing style was to call you over to his desk and have you stand behind him while he showed you what he proposed to do with your story. If you disagreed and had a good reason, he would return your copy to its original state. Except on extreme deadline, he wanted your input on what he was doing to your copy.
All of that concern grew out of his long experience as a reporter and his dealings with editors.
He fiercely defended his reporters to the editors above him.
Example: The Oakland Press was my first "real" daily newspaper job. I had worked there for about three or four months when a source at the Oakland County Sheriff's Department pointed me to a shoplifting report that involved the Chief of Police of Redford Township.
The detective was upset that the episode had been handled quietly in court and that the man remained as chief of police because no one knew about it. The chief had lifted a small amount of film from a store and left without paying for it. The report indicated he had more than $50 in his wallet and was capable of paying the bill when he was detained by store security.
It appeared the chief was having more of an emotional breakdown than that he had become a criminal. When I told Larry about the story he told me to go get it. Of course, that meant I had to call the Chief of Police. When I first called him at work, he freaked and told me he couldn't talk about it at work and that he would call me later from his home. He also ended the conversation that if I was going to do this story his life would be ruined and he would not have a reason to live.
When I told Larry that, he told me to let him know when the chief called back because he wanted to eavesdrop on the conversation. (Probably because I was new he wanted to make sure I covered all the bases).
A couple hours later, the chief did call back and Larry picked up on another extension. The chief started with an impassioned plea that I drop the whole thing, that he was getting psychiatric help and that release of a story would leave him few options. It was obvious he was talking about suicide.
I went forward with the questions, most of which he declined to answer, but it ended with a second plea that I drop the story. When I got off the phone I really felt I had this man's life in my hands. "What now?" I asked Larry. "Do your story," he said.
When the editor-in-chief spotted the story in the queue and read what I was working on, she called Larry into her office and recommended he pull me off the story and give it to a more experienced reporter to handle. The closed door conversation was loud enough I could hear much of it from my desk in the now almost empty newsroom.
A half hour later, Larry emerged from the office and I looked at him like "what's up?" Again, he looked at me and said: "It's your story, do it." I worried that my story would drive a man to kill himself, but Larry reminded me that this was a person who was in charge of a large contingent of armed employees, his shoplifting and the reasons for it were indications he was not emotionally capable of doing that.
The story ran the next day, the chief resigned the next day and what I learned later was that the chief got help, that the stress of the police job was simply too much for him and he later went on to a fairly successful real estate career. So there was, fortunately, no dramatic end to the story.
But Larry stood up, looked out and fought for me. I never forgot that.
Another thing Larry would do to help reporters involved minor holes in a story. Say he wanted information from another city source, police source, etc., instead of bothering you while you working on your next thing, he would pick up the phone, make the call himself and add the information he wanted to the story. It was something he did that was very, very much appreciated by the reporters who worked for him.
Because he knew his way around reporting he became your helper, not your boss, although he was always that as well. There were a few times, a short press release would arrive on his desk that would normally be on my beat. I was always busy, so he would frequently rewrite the release, sometimes making a call to get a quote, and the story would appear in the paper with my byline on it even though I had never seen it.
That may seem like a violation of some kind, but I always appreciated the fact that Larry understood that even brief interruptions for a press release rewrite could cost you an hour or two on another project you were working on. And because story count at the Oakland Press was everything at the time (it was charted like daily stocks) those little bylines helped keep the wolf away from the door.
That leads to another example of how Larry was the first line of defense between his reporters and the editor. One time my story count dropped by half during a month. That troubled the editor who wanted to call me on the carpet, but Larry intervened and reminded the editor that she should check the schedule first as I had been on vacation for two weeks.
He reprimanded (and boy could he reprimand) in private, he praised in public and he never allowed the editors above him to interfere with his reporters. He often took a beating for me and others and I am eternally grateful to him for that.
As I have mentioned before, one of my first editors at the Journal was very much like Larry and those were the great days at the Journal. One time when I was arguing with him over an assignment, the Journal editor looked at me with a wry smile and told me: "You have now argued with me longer than it would have taken to do the story." We both laughed and I shut up and did the story. We recently talked about this incident, which he does not remember, but agreed it was something he would have said.
Being an editor is not easy, being a good editor is even tougher. But the editors that I have had and enjoyed working with were those who treated the job like an Army foxhole. They were in it with you and they never asked you to do anything they wouldn't do or hadn't done themselves.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
My little stand for American made
One of the little pleasures I have in coming to California for a couple weeks (besides knowing that my wife will enjoy the peace and quiet of the house in Michigan during the same period) is insisting on an American brand car at the rental counter.
I sometimes get an odd look when I say I prefer driving only American brand cars, but they will always accommodate you. Today, I'm driving a Pontiac G6, which for all I know was assembled in Bangladesh, but it stands out on the freeways here which are filled with Hondas, Toyotas, Hyundai, KIAs and any number of other foreign manufacturers.
It's my little protest for buying American in a sea of "I'll buy whatever I want."
As an aside, the brand name KIA is one of the most curious names for a car. As any Vietnam veteran will tell you KIA, means and will always mean, Killed In Action. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for a vehicle.
Just a thought for today. (And for my former editor friends (I'm talking you SC), I originally spelled Bangladesh - Bangledesh, but because I don't have you for a backstop anymore actually looked it up myself to make sure it's right. See an old dog can learn a new trick.)
I sometimes get an odd look when I say I prefer driving only American brand cars, but they will always accommodate you. Today, I'm driving a Pontiac G6, which for all I know was assembled in Bangladesh, but it stands out on the freeways here which are filled with Hondas, Toyotas, Hyundai, KIAs and any number of other foreign manufacturers.
It's my little protest for buying American in a sea of "I'll buy whatever I want."
As an aside, the brand name KIA is one of the most curious names for a car. As any Vietnam veteran will tell you KIA, means and will always mean, Killed In Action. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for a vehicle.
Just a thought for today. (And for my former editor friends (I'm talking you SC), I originally spelled Bangladesh - Bangledesh, but because I don't have you for a backstop anymore actually looked it up myself to make sure it's right. See an old dog can learn a new trick.)
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
A Booth editor says good-bye to his staff
Thanks to the blog "Inside Out" (link at right) for this item on a Booth editor doing a good job of saying good-bye to much of his staff.
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/muskegon/index.ssf/2009/01/departing_chronicle_veterans_h.html
For the complete "Inside Out" take go to:
http://mcwflint.blogspot.com/2009/01/saying-goodbye-in-public.html
And just in case you wondered: An embedded hyperlink and my lazy man's hyperlink both work pretty much the same.
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/muskegon/index.ssf/2009/01/departing_chronicle_veterans_h.html
For the complete "Inside Out" take go to:
http://mcwflint.blogspot.com/2009/01/saying-goodbye-in-public.html
And just in case you wondered: An embedded hyperlink and my lazy man's hyperlink both work pretty much the same.
Time to Spare: Go by air
Actually that's my father's motto as it relates to commercial air travel. Today was a great illustration of that on my trip out to California. (Where it's a balmy 59 degrees in Aptos, California - just south of Santa Cruz).
Left Flint on time at 6:10 a.m. (well away from the gate on time, but then it was time for de-icing. Which I heartily approve of as I would rather be late than be in a ball of flaming wreckage off Bristol Road).
At Chicago, a sprint (more like a fast waddle) from the American Eagle Gate at O'Hare in Chicago to the adjacent terminal to catch my next flight to Phoenix (Don't you love the multiple connections all in the name of saving money). More de-icing and we took off 30 minutes late, which didn't bode well with a 38-minute connection time in Phoenix.
Got in just in time for my luggage - but not me - to be loaded aboard the 10:55 a.m. flight to San Jose, California. No problem, we'll get you on the 2:30 p.m. flight to San Jose. (Something not so comforting about having my luggage arriving four hours before I did.)
I was not alone, a group of about 20 of us arrived at the gate just as the plane was pulling away from the jetway right on time. If they could have held the plane just five minutes, they would have had 20 very appreciative passengers, instead there was a whole lotta angry going on. It's always nice when someone else blows a gasket so you don't have to. I actually ended up feeling very badly for the young woman behind the counter and told her I knew it wasn't her fault.
Off to lunch at the Fox Sports restaurant and then still had a couple hours to kill. Found a free wireless signal at the airport and did a little work and then noticed that although the digital sign said "On Time" the jetway for the gate was missing one important ingredient - a plane.
The airline employee sweetly told us the plane was about "5 minutes late" and after 20 minutes, she came back on the microphone to tell us "the plane is on the ground and will taxi for about 10 minutes and then it will be at the gate." Obviously her watch is on a warp time that I'm not familiar with. But the plane actually arrived at the gate about five minutes after our flight was supposed to be taking off.
Then, of course, it took more than a half hour to deplane the passengers and load the $2 cokes and $4 snack packs aboard for our flight. Then it was time for about 130 passengers to shoe horn into the airplane including the group of 20 already very frustrated travelers.
We heard more talk of head winds slowing us enroute to San Jose and the long and short (mostly long) of it was that I arrived exactly 5 hours and 13 minutes after I was supposed to, on a bright, clear day with not a cloud in the sky. Not the worst airline experience that I have had, but considering this is the same airline that has proven its ability to land safely on the Hudson River, you would think they could work out a procedure that would hold a plane for five minutes so 20 passengers could accompany their luggage to the next stop.
Their was a silver lining. When your luggage catches an earlier flight, at least you don't have to wait for the endless carousel to find it. There was my little suitcase all curled up in the corner waiting for me.
And although I'm apparently too stupid to embed a hyperlink (actually I know how, I just am too lazy to do it, it's very similar to the Html embed of a Youtube, which I obviously know how to do) I am an ace at pirating wireless signals.
So here I sit overlooking the Pacific Ocean (well, it's two blocks away anyway) and I'll have contact with the outside world and the blog.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Blogger has media saving ideas
For those who like to wear their hats on backwards here's someone with a few tips on how to use social networking sites to help with news coverage:
http://savethemedia.com/
http://savethemedia.com/
Sports, the last outpost of the newspaper
OK, the headline is hyperbole. But I think one of the things people will miss most if newspapers slip into oblivion in the next decade or so is the coverage of local and professional sports.
In addition to local breaking news, the Flint Journal has always excelled (in my humble opinion) in covering high school, college and professional sports. As a former part-time sports writer at the Lansing State Journal during my college career, I can tell you that high school sports nights are a high energy production at any daily newspaper.
During the high school football season, all's quiet until about 9:30 - 9:45 p.m. and that's when the calls start trickling in as games end. The trickle turns to a flood and any young reporter can learn a lot about deadline reporting and speed when you only have three to five minutes to summarize a whole game.
Oh, and it better be right because a couple thousand people who witnessed the event will read your account in the morning paper and let you know if you got it wrong. Not to mention trying to get stats out of a losing coach who would rather be having a root canal than talking to you.
So what will happen to that kind of coverage as newspapers shrink or, heaven forbid, disappear altogether. Like breaking news and court coverage, I think a lot of folks will miss it a lot.
Guys like Len Hoyes, Dean Howe, Doug Mintline, etc. were household names in the community and their loss was already being felt when the current downturn came. News reporters might consider the sports department the toy department, but a lot of people, more than many news reporters like me ever dared to admit, buy the paper primarily for sports.
Tom Kowalski, a former colleague from the Oakland Press, has spent nearly all of his career covering the Detroit Lions (he ought to get extra pay just for that) but he knows that team as well as anyone, including the folks at the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News. He's also a pretty nice guy.
So for the folks who are bailing on buying or subscribing to the newspaper, just try and think of where you will get the Saturday morning coverage of your Friday night football games.
Mark Cuban has weighed in on this issue as well: (Borrowed :) this from the Fading to Black site:
http://www.vator.tv/news/show/2009-01-25-why-pro-sports-need-newspapers
In addition to local breaking news, the Flint Journal has always excelled (in my humble opinion) in covering high school, college and professional sports. As a former part-time sports writer at the Lansing State Journal during my college career, I can tell you that high school sports nights are a high energy production at any daily newspaper.
During the high school football season, all's quiet until about 9:30 - 9:45 p.m. and that's when the calls start trickling in as games end. The trickle turns to a flood and any young reporter can learn a lot about deadline reporting and speed when you only have three to five minutes to summarize a whole game.
Oh, and it better be right because a couple thousand people who witnessed the event will read your account in the morning paper and let you know if you got it wrong. Not to mention trying to get stats out of a losing coach who would rather be having a root canal than talking to you.
So what will happen to that kind of coverage as newspapers shrink or, heaven forbid, disappear altogether. Like breaking news and court coverage, I think a lot of folks will miss it a lot.
Guys like Len Hoyes, Dean Howe, Doug Mintline, etc. were household names in the community and their loss was already being felt when the current downturn came. News reporters might consider the sports department the toy department, but a lot of people, more than many news reporters like me ever dared to admit, buy the paper primarily for sports.
Tom Kowalski, a former colleague from the Oakland Press, has spent nearly all of his career covering the Detroit Lions (he ought to get extra pay just for that) but he knows that team as well as anyone, including the folks at the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News. He's also a pretty nice guy.
So for the folks who are bailing on buying or subscribing to the newspaper, just try and think of where you will get the Saturday morning coverage of your Friday night football games.
Mark Cuban has weighed in on this issue as well: (Borrowed :) this from the Fading to Black site:
http://www.vator.tv/news/show/2009-01-25-why-pro-sports-need-newspapers
Friday, January 23, 2009
I want some TARP!
This is the best description and example of the current status of Washington, D.C. giveaways. And if the clowns who we elected continue to think mortgaging our childrens' futures is the way out of this mess, we're all in big doo-doo.
But enjoy the song and it even has a catchy tune.
But enjoy the song and it even has a catchy tune.
Food for thought on buyouts
From Jim Carty's blog, this ditty about a buyout gone wrong somewhere else:
http://www.minnpost.com/braublog/2009/01/20/6003/star_tribune_some_buyout_checks_will_bounce
http://www.minnpost.com/braublog/2009/01/20/6003/star_tribune_some_buyout_checks_will_bounce
A word about information
Just a reminder for those who read this blog: If you are a Boothie and you enjoy coming here, don't do it from work. Any communications with me should be done from your home e-mail or from your cell or home phone.
Some believe there is a real hunger among management to find whoever is providing information to FFE.
This is, has been, and will be as long as you want, a forum about newspapers in general and Booth newspapers in particular. But I don't want anyone to lose their job or be disciplined because of it.
I have plenty of things I want to write about that do not include newspapers and am really ready to move on to those. Most of the folks I knew well at the Journal are now gone from there or will be shortly so the need for venting should soon slacken.
In the very near future I will be returning to California to honor my brother's memory and visit my two grown sons and granddaughter. Not to mention a little down time with my sister and cousin and blogging will drop off considerably then.
Soon after that, my wife will retire and we will be hitting the open road for frequent and extended trips to places that either one of both of us have never been. I hope to write about those travels and may start another blog for those.
My hope and prayer is that the Flint Journal will survive and thrive and that it will remain a life force in and around Flint. As we have discussed here at length I don't believe the current model or leadership will do that, but I'm open to being surprised.
Some believe there is a real hunger among management to find whoever is providing information to FFE.
This is, has been, and will be as long as you want, a forum about newspapers in general and Booth newspapers in particular. But I don't want anyone to lose their job or be disciplined because of it.
I have plenty of things I want to write about that do not include newspapers and am really ready to move on to those. Most of the folks I knew well at the Journal are now gone from there or will be shortly so the need for venting should soon slacken.
In the very near future I will be returning to California to honor my brother's memory and visit my two grown sons and granddaughter. Not to mention a little down time with my sister and cousin and blogging will drop off considerably then.
Soon after that, my wife will retire and we will be hitting the open road for frequent and extended trips to places that either one of both of us have never been. I hope to write about those travels and may start another blog for those.
My hope and prayer is that the Flint Journal will survive and thrive and that it will remain a life force in and around Flint. As we have discussed here at length I don't believe the current model or leadership will do that, but I'm open to being surprised.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
New local editor selected at FJ
I received a flurry of contacts today about the selection of a new local editor. Picked to replace the new editor was his hand selected choice just last year as an assistant editor.
Here's the text of the e-mail sent out to staff:
"Everyone:
I'm pleased to announce that MR (per the policy of Free From Editors, I'm withholding her full name) is our new Local News Editor. In that capacity, M will direct our local news efforts, acting as the day-to-day supervisor for reporters and overseeing the daily and Sunday budgets. She will be in charge of editorial operations when I am not available. Since leaving the reporting ranks to become an editor, M (missed the name in the first go round, I have fixed it, sorry) has demonstrated a great news sense, organization, enthusiasm and a strong leadership style. It should serve us well in the future."
I was a desk neighbor of MR for several years when we were both reporters. She was always nice to me and often complained - along with the rest of us - about the poor personnel skills of the now editor. I liked her a lot. To be fair, I have not worked as a reporter under her and can't really offer an opinion as to her skills, or the lack thereof, but I do know a number of folks sent me the announcement of her appointment with not many nice things to say. None which I will repeat here.
What I do know is that an excellent editor, one with two decades of editing experience - actually much more editing experience than the big editor - is being pushed out the door while the editor continues his policy of rewarding those he personally likes. Guess that's just human nature.
Someone also pointed out that another person who had been a Sunday editor for a number of years was also passed over for this new promotion.
Unlike most other businesses, the news business has a secretive and non-competitive process for selecting who gets promoted. There are rarely postings for advancement and the new promotions simply are announced without offering others a chance to apply. If a government agency ran its advancement programs in that fashion you can believe that any good newspaper editorial writer would lambast them for not giving everyone an equal chance.
What I also know is that whatever editors are left after the latest downsizing, they better start grabbing a phone and a keyboard and start helping out with writing stories or the morale will sink even further than people tell me it is today.
Here's the text of the e-mail sent out to staff:
"Everyone:
I'm pleased to announce that MR (per the policy of Free From Editors, I'm withholding her full name) is our new Local News Editor. In that capacity, M will direct our local news efforts, acting as the day-to-day supervisor for reporters and overseeing the daily and Sunday budgets. She will be in charge of editorial operations when I am not available. Since leaving the reporting ranks to become an editor, M (missed the name in the first go round, I have fixed it, sorry) has demonstrated a great news sense, organization, enthusiasm and a strong leadership style. It should serve us well in the future."
I was a desk neighbor of MR for several years when we were both reporters. She was always nice to me and often complained - along with the rest of us - about the poor personnel skills of the now editor. I liked her a lot. To be fair, I have not worked as a reporter under her and can't really offer an opinion as to her skills, or the lack thereof, but I do know a number of folks sent me the announcement of her appointment with not many nice things to say. None which I will repeat here.
What I do know is that an excellent editor, one with two decades of editing experience - actually much more editing experience than the big editor - is being pushed out the door while the editor continues his policy of rewarding those he personally likes. Guess that's just human nature.
Someone also pointed out that another person who had been a Sunday editor for a number of years was also passed over for this new promotion.
Unlike most other businesses, the news business has a secretive and non-competitive process for selecting who gets promoted. There are rarely postings for advancement and the new promotions simply are announced without offering others a chance to apply. If a government agency ran its advancement programs in that fashion you can believe that any good newspaper editorial writer would lambast them for not giving everyone an equal chance.
What I also know is that whatever editors are left after the latest downsizing, they better start grabbing a phone and a keyboard and start helping out with writing stories or the morale will sink even further than people tell me it is today.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Flint Journal launches new website
The Flint Journal launched its new website today and it is a definite improvement over the old MLive version.
I'm still not sold on the soft blue type, but the information was easier to find and I like the "Most commented" tabs at the bottom of the page.
The mlive.com logo at the top of the page is a useless distraction, but probably required by corporate types. I still think an identifiable banner completely linking the webpage to the paper would be the best, but at least some of the navigation problems have gone away.
Anyway, here's the link:
http://www.mlive.com/flint/
I'm still not sold on the soft blue type, but the information was easier to find and I like the "Most commented" tabs at the bottom of the page.
The mlive.com logo at the top of the page is a useless distraction, but probably required by corporate types. I still think an identifiable banner completely linking the webpage to the paper would be the best, but at least some of the navigation problems have gone away.
Anyway, here's the link:
http://www.mlive.com/flint/
Good article on blogging versus conventional reporting
A good column on why blogging won't replace traditional journalism:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123033777465236429.html
Here's the conclusion:
"Over the past few weeks, I've watched a parade of top-notch reporters leave the Star-Ledger for the last time. The old model for compensating journalists is as obsolete as the telegraph. If anyone out there in the blogosphere can tell me what the new model is, I will pronounce him the first genius I've ever encountered on the Internet."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123033777465236429.html
Here's the conclusion:
"Over the past few weeks, I've watched a parade of top-notch reporters leave the Star-Ledger for the last time. The old model for compensating journalists is as obsolete as the telegraph. If anyone out there in the blogosphere can tell me what the new model is, I will pronounce him the first genius I've ever encountered on the Internet."
More trimming at the Flint Journal
The deadline for taking the buyout came and went last Friday and the results show another major downsizing in the newsroom.
Several veteran reporters, a senior editor, the entire imagining department and members of the Internet team will be leaving the Flint Journal as a result of the buyout offer.
On top of that the Community Newspaper division is now down three reporters. A couple have been let go and another one found a job to parachute into. I don't know if there are plans to replace them.
Those staying have received about a one percent raise plus a one percent bonus at the end of this month. That's pretty good, considering what's going on elsewhere.
Let me just say something about several of the news and imaging folks. I know most of them and they were friends, colleagues and wonderful people. They deserved better, but all will survive and thrive. One of them was my next door neighbor in our newsroom pod and is one of the kindest, nicest people I have ever met in or out of journalism.
The feature writer who is leaving wrote some of my favorite feature stories and used to give me a bad time about my lack of culture.
It does seem as if the Internet team is actually shrinking rather than increasing which is surprising because the mantra is, and has been for several years, that the Internet is the way out of the "troubles."
Many of the reporters left (I don't know some of them because they came after I left) are excellent writers and researchers and no doubt will be beaten like rented mules to produce copy. With the departure of a senior editor who also took the buyout, the level of editing and personnel skills will likely drop. Not sure who is in place to replace her, but her departure will also remove one layer of sanity between the editor and the staff.
I worked for this editor for many years, and she took many verbal beatings on my behalf from those above her, so I apologize to her now and thank her for her strength and perseverance when it would have been easier to capitulate. If anyone is looking for a really good editor, one who knows how to assign, organize and edit stories, contact me and I'll try and get you in contact with her.
I haven't heard anything about other departments, but feel free to chime in with that information.
Several veteran reporters, a senior editor, the entire imagining department and members of the Internet team will be leaving the Flint Journal as a result of the buyout offer.
On top of that the Community Newspaper division is now down three reporters. A couple have been let go and another one found a job to parachute into. I don't know if there are plans to replace them.
Those staying have received about a one percent raise plus a one percent bonus at the end of this month. That's pretty good, considering what's going on elsewhere.
Let me just say something about several of the news and imaging folks. I know most of them and they were friends, colleagues and wonderful people. They deserved better, but all will survive and thrive. One of them was my next door neighbor in our newsroom pod and is one of the kindest, nicest people I have ever met in or out of journalism.
The feature writer who is leaving wrote some of my favorite feature stories and used to give me a bad time about my lack of culture.
It does seem as if the Internet team is actually shrinking rather than increasing which is surprising because the mantra is, and has been for several years, that the Internet is the way out of the "troubles."
Many of the reporters left (I don't know some of them because they came after I left) are excellent writers and researchers and no doubt will be beaten like rented mules to produce copy. With the departure of a senior editor who also took the buyout, the level of editing and personnel skills will likely drop. Not sure who is in place to replace her, but her departure will also remove one layer of sanity between the editor and the staff.
I worked for this editor for many years, and she took many verbal beatings on my behalf from those above her, so I apologize to her now and thank her for her strength and perseverance when it would have been easier to capitulate. If anyone is looking for a really good editor, one who knows how to assign, organize and edit stories, contact me and I'll try and get you in contact with her.
I haven't heard anything about other departments, but feel free to chime in with that information.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Vietnam, Uganda stop by
Two more countries stopped by Monday to Free From Editors. Someone from Vietnam and Uganda made stops yesterday.Having been to Vietnam some 42 years ago, courtesy of Uncle Sam, it was nice for at least one person to return the favor.
Just for information, people from 217 Michigan cities and every state except Wyoming and North Dakota have also visited.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Ah, the good old days
A video look at the good and bad old days of journalism. Notice that the newsrooms were pretty much all-white and women had to stay in the "Women" and "Society" sections. Also if you make it to the 9:20 mark of the 10-minute video you will see an old platen press. I ran one of these monsters in my high school printing class. With Mr. Carrington's help I could really make that thing hum. In those days I worked on writing the paper as well as printing the paper. (A result of having too many course electives).
Idea borrowed from another blog, video obviously borrowed from YouTube.
Idea borrowed from another blog, video obviously borrowed from YouTube.
Big pow-wow could decide copy desk question
A meeting among the Booth publishers and Newhouse, either just held or just about to be held, will likely decide the fate of the central copy desk idea.
A lot of folks have something riding on this decision and there seems to be some reluctance on the part of Newhouse to the central desk strategy.
You have to wonder if Booth/Newhouse may at some point decide whether they need as many publishers as they currently have as well.
Stay tuned.
A lot of folks have something riding on this decision and there seems to be some reluctance on the part of Newhouse to the central desk strategy.
You have to wonder if Booth/Newhouse may at some point decide whether they need as many publishers as they currently have as well.
Stay tuned.
An Internet editor hits the road, involuntarily
Another blog, another perspective on online news:
http://robargeblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/crisis-hits-home.html
http://robargeblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/crisis-hits-home.html
Pakistan checks in
Free From Editors hit a milestone of sorts overnight. A visitor from Pakistan checked in. That makes it an even 50 countries that have sent visitors to this site. Not sure what there is here for someone in Pakistan, but we are glad they stopped by. The Pakistan flag is at right next to the American flag.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Matt Drudge on the Internet in 1998
Found this long read (on another blog) from a speech Matt Drudge made to the National Press Club on June 2, 1998. I'm not a Drudge reader, although I have stopped there a couple times to see what the hub-bub was about, but this speech, given ten years ago is very enlightening.
While I disagree with some of what Drudge said in this speech and in the question and answer session that follows, you can certainly see that this man, who has no formal journalism or media training, saw the future of journalism far clearer than all the high-priced suits in all the top media organizations.
And given that a lot of them were in the room at the time he gave the speech their reticence to challenge the status quo and move forward into the new media is surprising.
http://www.libertyroundtable.org/library/essay.drudge.html
Here's a little sample from the Q&A:
MR. HARBRECHT: How many leaked stories do you get from mainstream journalists, and would you speculate on their motivation?
MR. DRUDGE: That's a good question, because what I've been doing lately is breaking news that's about to be broken, coverage of the coverage of the coverage. But that's where we are, since the media is so powerful. The media is comparable to government - probably passes government in raw power.
A lot of the stories are internal. They leak it to me wanting to get attention, wanting to get that headline. More times than not, I will not give it to them. It has to get - has to raise my whiskers. It has to be a good headline. I'm a sucker for a good story. I go where the stink is. I'm a partisan for news. If you got a story, I'll be listening outside when we're done. [Soft laughter]
While I disagree with some of what Drudge said in this speech and in the question and answer session that follows, you can certainly see that this man, who has no formal journalism or media training, saw the future of journalism far clearer than all the high-priced suits in all the top media organizations.
And given that a lot of them were in the room at the time he gave the speech their reticence to challenge the status quo and move forward into the new media is surprising.
http://www.libertyroundtable.org/library/essay.drudge.html
Here's a little sample from the Q&A:
MR. HARBRECHT: How many leaked stories do you get from mainstream journalists, and would you speculate on their motivation?
MR. DRUDGE: That's a good question, because what I've been doing lately is breaking news that's about to be broken, coverage of the coverage of the coverage. But that's where we are, since the media is so powerful. The media is comparable to government - probably passes government in raw power.
A lot of the stories are internal. They leak it to me wanting to get attention, wanting to get that headline. More times than not, I will not give it to them. It has to get - has to raise my whiskers. It has to be a good headline. I'm a sucker for a good story. I go where the stink is. I'm a partisan for news. If you got a story, I'll be listening outside when we're done. [Soft laughter]
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Chesley Sullenberger III - a real hero
Not much else to say about the incredible Hudson River landing of U.S. Airways pilot Chesley Sullenberger II on Friday. http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=6658493&page=1
Also slightly strange that I had put up an item about the weather on Wednesday that referred to, among other things, Danville, California (which is the home of one of my favorite cousins) and is interestingly the home of pilot Sullenberger.
But while everyone is lauding the pilot - and put me at the top of the list - it won't keep some Philadelphia lawyer (and some New York and New Jersey ones as well) from filing a negligent lawsuit on Monday or sometime next week against the airlines. Wait and see.
Because in America, there always has to be a pot at the end of the tragedy (or near tragedy) rainbow even when the fault lies with a flock of geese.
Also slightly strange that I had put up an item about the weather on Wednesday that referred to, among other things, Danville, California (which is the home of one of my favorite cousins) and is interestingly the home of pilot Sullenberger.
But while everyone is lauding the pilot - and put me at the top of the list - it won't keep some Philadelphia lawyer (and some New York and New Jersey ones as well) from filing a negligent lawsuit on Monday or sometime next week against the airlines. Wait and see.
Because in America, there always has to be a pot at the end of the tragedy (or near tragedy) rainbow even when the fault lies with a flock of geese.
Timothy F. Geithner - a get out of jail free card
Just when I was worried that Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert would have nothing to joke about with the end of the Bush Administration comes Timothy F. Geithner, President-elect Obama's choice for Treasury Secretary.
You folks are all smart so you already know that the Treasury Secretary is in charge of, among other things, the Internal Revenue Service.
So how funny is the news that Geithner (who is the darling of both Democrats and Republicans) forget, neglected, delayed, or mistakenly did not pay $34,000 in federal taxes between 2001 and 2003.
When was the last time you forgot, neglected, delayed or mistakenly did not pay your federal taxes? But if you ever do, now you can simply say: "I just did the same thing the head of your agency did."
If this doesn't argue for a simplified tax code (not to mention a higher degree of honesty) I don't know what does.
And how about the awful results of a Ponzi scheme in which someone takes money from you to invest for your future and then, instead of investing it, they give it in large quantities to another client who needs the money right now. What should happen to someone who does that to your money?
No, I'm not talking about Bernie Madoff who took $50 billion from his investors, but 70 years of Congressional representatives who have done that to your Social Security money. The problem for Madoff is that he can't print more money to get out of his hole, but Congress can.
If Madoff has done something horrible, how about those representatives who have withheld more than two trillion dollars from you and your employer and instead of investing it handed it to someone else to spend?
Just a little Saturday morning musings while we sit here buried in snow in frigid Buffalo.
You folks are all smart so you already know that the Treasury Secretary is in charge of, among other things, the Internal Revenue Service.
So how funny is the news that Geithner (who is the darling of both Democrats and Republicans) forget, neglected, delayed, or mistakenly did not pay $34,000 in federal taxes between 2001 and 2003.
When was the last time you forgot, neglected, delayed or mistakenly did not pay your federal taxes? But if you ever do, now you can simply say: "I just did the same thing the head of your agency did."
If this doesn't argue for a simplified tax code (not to mention a higher degree of honesty) I don't know what does.
And how about the awful results of a Ponzi scheme in which someone takes money from you to invest for your future and then, instead of investing it, they give it in large quantities to another client who needs the money right now. What should happen to someone who does that to your money?
No, I'm not talking about Bernie Madoff who took $50 billion from his investors, but 70 years of Congressional representatives who have done that to your Social Security money. The problem for Madoff is that he can't print more money to get out of his hole, but Congress can.
If Madoff has done something horrible, how about those representatives who have withheld more than two trillion dollars from you and your employer and instead of investing it handed it to someone else to spend?
Just a little Saturday morning musings while we sit here buried in snow in frigid Buffalo.
Friday, January 16, 2009
More manufactured money after bad
Four months ago here I blasted Congress and President Bush for the stupid bail out plan for the banking institutions. It seemed hasty, ill thought-out and tragically reckless. The fact that much of the money has disappeared into the ether without creating any of the so-called credit it was supposed to bears out my concerns.
Now comes word of a second wave of the same.
At the same time, the very banks and financial institutions who we handed over our childrens' and grandchildrens' money to, are now donating big bucks to the Inaugural Party and events in order to win favor with the same politicians who have already rewarded them beyond their wildest dreams.
The fact that they are donating hundreds of thousands of dollars individually and millions collectively to the Inaugural events simply shows how blatantly arrogant they are to spend "our" money to win more influence for "them."
And yet Congress, both parties, wink at this excessive celebration at a time of great suffering and financial woes in the this country. Nearly 10 percent of the country is unemployed, millions of people are in foreclosure, we are fighting a war on two fronts and so what's the answer:
Let's have a Party!
So when you see these high-rolling bank executives in their formal wear Tuesday night, just remember all that glamor and glitz was purchased with our money.
I have high hopes for President Obama, but I have very, very low expectations for what his supporting cast in Congress will do to support him. I better see some heavy duty tax relief, as promised in the campaign, and I better see it soon.
If Congress wants to get people spending again, how about giving us back more of the money we earn, rather than printing up more and more money to give to a bunch of bankers who have proved over the last decade they not only don't know how to spend money, but even worse they know how to lose it in large quantities.
Now comes word of a second wave of the same.
At the same time, the very banks and financial institutions who we handed over our childrens' and grandchildrens' money to, are now donating big bucks to the Inaugural Party and events in order to win favor with the same politicians who have already rewarded them beyond their wildest dreams.
The fact that they are donating hundreds of thousands of dollars individually and millions collectively to the Inaugural events simply shows how blatantly arrogant they are to spend "our" money to win more influence for "them."
And yet Congress, both parties, wink at this excessive celebration at a time of great suffering and financial woes in the this country. Nearly 10 percent of the country is unemployed, millions of people are in foreclosure, we are fighting a war on two fronts and so what's the answer:
Let's have a Party!
So when you see these high-rolling bank executives in their formal wear Tuesday night, just remember all that glamor and glitz was purchased with our money.
I have high hopes for President Obama, but I have very, very low expectations for what his supporting cast in Congress will do to support him. I better see some heavy duty tax relief, as promised in the campaign, and I better see it soon.
If Congress wants to get people spending again, how about giving us back more of the money we earn, rather than printing up more and more money to give to a bunch of bankers who have proved over the last decade they not only don't know how to spend money, but even worse they know how to lose it in large quantities.
Colder than Alaska
Just a quick note to point out that in Michigan and Buffalo today it is 40 degrees colder than it is in Anchorage, Alaska.
As of 7:24 a.m. today, Anchorage was 37 degrees and Lapeer, Michigan was -7.
So there Alaska!
As of 7:24 a.m. today, Anchorage was 37 degrees and Lapeer, Michigan was -7.
So there Alaska!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Back in Buffalo
Nothing like a winter getaway to Buffalo, NY. We are back in my favorite city for a short visit with the folks.
We left the 0 degree weather of Michigan and arrived to the 0-degree weather here in Buffalo. Fear not, the temperatures are supposed to soar into the teens over the weekend so we may get to do a little sunbathing then.
As you can see I have found a signal so blogging may continue through the weekend. But first a trip to Niagara Falls tomorrow.
We left the 0 degree weather of Michigan and arrived to the 0-degree weather here in Buffalo. Fear not, the temperatures are supposed to soar into the teens over the weekend so we may get to do a little sunbathing then.
As you can see I have found a signal so blogging may continue through the weekend. But first a trip to Niagara Falls tomorrow.
Ricardo Montalban R.I.P.
In honor of Ricardo Montalban - a true working actor - here is a 9 minute, 45 second segment from Star Trek. (Also notice the young female officer working on the bridge who later starred in the great Cheers series). I came late to Star Trek, but was a big fan, although I never went to a convention. I borrowed this from a Facebook entry, which had borrowed it from YouTube.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
New FJ web page coming
In a note buried in a story about the indictment of the Flint police chief a Journal web staffer notes that the Journal will launch a new webpage for the news product by the end of this month.
The employee pointed people to the website syracuse.com as a template for what the Journal is going to do.
I just breezed over there and on first blush it would seem to be a much better format than the current MLive one. It is well past the time the change should have been made, but it is a hopeful sign that the online product may become a much better platform.
The MLive colloboration has been, by nearly all accounts, a total disaster and has contributed to the Booth's tardy entry into the real online news world. So this is good news.
The employee pointed people to the website syracuse.com as a template for what the Journal is going to do.
I just breezed over there and on first blush it would seem to be a much better format than the current MLive one. It is well past the time the change should have been made, but it is a hopeful sign that the online product may become a much better platform.
The MLive colloboration has been, by nearly all accounts, a total disaster and has contributed to the Booth's tardy entry into the real online news world. So this is good news.
Just like clockwork
And just three hours after I posted my cold weather television prediction comes this:
http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story/Protecting-Pets-from-Dangerously-Cold-Temps/0PhsRmroaEO_ud9w_mmThQ.cspx
These guys are nothing, if not predictable.
Oh yes, and this one too.
http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story/Car-Safety-During-The-Cold/Cuh-Dyz1M02efqCBoXCc8Q.cspx
And to my friends and family in warmer climates, you can spare me anymore of your local weather reports.
http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story/Protecting-Pets-from-Dangerously-Cold-Temps/0PhsRmroaEO_ud9w_mmThQ.cspx
These guys are nothing, if not predictable.
Oh yes, and this one too.
http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story/Car-Safety-During-The-Cold/Cuh-Dyz1M02efqCBoXCc8Q.cspx
And to my friends and family in warmer climates, you can spare me anymore of your local weather reports.
Frozen eggs and water
Sometimes there is nothing funnier than TV news. Take last night for example, as the television news reporters were stumbling all over themselves to try and describe how cold it is going to get here over the next few days.
For the many readers in California, especially the ones who have never experienced a real Michigan winter, we are in the beginning of a major cold snap.
This morning it was -14 degrees (actual temperature) on our deck. For a point of reference that's colder than your chicken breasts are in your freezer there in Santa Cruz, Danville and Los Angeles.
As if -14 degrees wasn't cold enough the television folks like to embellish the misery by adding the "windchill" which is the mathematical factor that makes -14 into -30 or -40 if there is a breeze or wind blowing through.
Trust me on this, once you get to the minus numbers, it doesn't really matter how fast the wind is blowing, it's just major league cold. Note they never use the windchill factor when it's 90 degrees and the wind is blowing.
"Folks it may be 90 degrees out here, but with the 20-mph winds it really only feels like 70," the reporter should say.
Anyway back to the tricks of the television trade. This morning, on two different stations, I watched with amusement as one reporter cracked an egg on the sidewalk and then timed how long it took for it to completely freeze. (Not long). Someone should tell this intrepid reporter that eggs should only be broken to show how hot it is, as in a 100-degree summer day in Tucson.
Later, another reporter poured a bottle of water into a plastic ice tray to show how quickly you could have ice cubes in the cold temperatures. As if anyone wants a nice cold drink with ice cubes when it's -14 outside. Here's what I propose, open your mouth until your tongue freezes and you can't talk. That I'll watch.
Tonight there will be obligatory story on keeping your pets warm and to make sure you carry a blanket, a shovel and enough food to feed West Covina in your car in case you break down in the cold.
Note to TV stations: We get it. It's cold outside. Any responsible pet owner knows that they must care for their pets in this arctic weather. The other kind of pet owners are likely watching reruns of the Beverly Hillbillies on a cable channel and not your news show.
Yes, it's cold. Yes, it's Michigan. Move on, nothing to see here.
For the many readers in California, especially the ones who have never experienced a real Michigan winter, we are in the beginning of a major cold snap.
This morning it was -14 degrees (actual temperature) on our deck. For a point of reference that's colder than your chicken breasts are in your freezer there in Santa Cruz, Danville and Los Angeles.
As if -14 degrees wasn't cold enough the television folks like to embellish the misery by adding the "windchill" which is the mathematical factor that makes -14 into -30 or -40 if there is a breeze or wind blowing through.
Trust me on this, once you get to the minus numbers, it doesn't really matter how fast the wind is blowing, it's just major league cold. Note they never use the windchill factor when it's 90 degrees and the wind is blowing.
"Folks it may be 90 degrees out here, but with the 20-mph winds it really only feels like 70," the reporter should say.
Anyway back to the tricks of the television trade. This morning, on two different stations, I watched with amusement as one reporter cracked an egg on the sidewalk and then timed how long it took for it to completely freeze. (Not long). Someone should tell this intrepid reporter that eggs should only be broken to show how hot it is, as in a 100-degree summer day in Tucson.
Later, another reporter poured a bottle of water into a plastic ice tray to show how quickly you could have ice cubes in the cold temperatures. As if anyone wants a nice cold drink with ice cubes when it's -14 outside. Here's what I propose, open your mouth until your tongue freezes and you can't talk. That I'll watch.
Tonight there will be obligatory story on keeping your pets warm and to make sure you carry a blanket, a shovel and enough food to feed West Covina in your car in case you break down in the cold.
Note to TV stations: We get it. It's cold outside. Any responsible pet owner knows that they must care for their pets in this arctic weather. The other kind of pet owners are likely watching reruns of the Beverly Hillbillies on a cable channel and not your news show.
Yes, it's cold. Yes, it's Michigan. Move on, nothing to see here.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Story confirmed, new editor selected
Hate to do the I beat the Journal thing, but 16 hours after I posted the news, the Flint Journal put up a story about the changing of the guard at the paper.
Here's the link:
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/01/john_foren_named_editor_of_the.html
I noticed there was no mention of his current residency in the announcement. In case anyone wants to know it's in a Lansing suburb.
Here's the link:
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/01/john_foren_named_editor_of_the.html
I noticed there was no mention of his current residency in the announcement. In case anyone wants to know it's in a Lansing suburb.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Can you say Peter Principle?
Just when you think that maybe, just maybe, someone at Booth or Newhouse would seek a new vision or new leadership, they prove that they are nothing, if not suicidal. And just when I said things had become suddenly quiet over there.
So the word is out that the current local news editor, affectionately known here as the editor-in-charge-of-corrections, has been elevated to the top Editor spot in the newsroom to replace the former captain of the Titanic.
And just for the record, I don't have anything personal against either of these men - and that's also the operative word here, men - it's just that between the two they have provided perhaps the poorest, most incompetent leadership of the Flint Journal in its history.
At times, I've shared a laugh or two with the new editor of the paper, but his skills at handling people and news are laughable. For Booth or Newhouse to believe this is the way out of the abyss is equally funny. For one thing, he lives in a suburb of Lansing with his very nice family and has for his entire career as an editor of the Flint Journal.
I wonder if the promotion comes with a push for him to finally move into the subscription area of the Flint Journal. It was always laughable when he commissioned stories on the residency of police officers and teachers when he himself not only lived in a different area code, but many, many miles outside the Journal's subscription area.
This is a guy who covered politics, and nothing else, early in his career and who has so little understanding of breaking news and how it needs to be covered that it was painful to those of us who did.
This just makes it plain that Booth is not really interested in surviving the long term.
There's a cliche that says when you're in a hole the first thing you should do is to "stop digging."
Booth just brought in a backhoe.
So the word is out that the current local news editor, affectionately known here as the editor-in-charge-of-corrections, has been elevated to the top Editor spot in the newsroom to replace the former captain of the Titanic.
And just for the record, I don't have anything personal against either of these men - and that's also the operative word here, men - it's just that between the two they have provided perhaps the poorest, most incompetent leadership of the Flint Journal in its history.
At times, I've shared a laugh or two with the new editor of the paper, but his skills at handling people and news are laughable. For Booth or Newhouse to believe this is the way out of the abyss is equally funny. For one thing, he lives in a suburb of Lansing with his very nice family and has for his entire career as an editor of the Flint Journal.
I wonder if the promotion comes with a push for him to finally move into the subscription area of the Flint Journal. It was always laughable when he commissioned stories on the residency of police officers and teachers when he himself not only lived in a different area code, but many, many miles outside the Journal's subscription area.
This is a guy who covered politics, and nothing else, early in his career and who has so little understanding of breaking news and how it needs to be covered that it was painful to those of us who did.
This just makes it plain that Booth is not really interested in surviving the long term.
There's a cliche that says when you're in a hole the first thing you should do is to "stop digging."
Booth just brought in a backhoe.
Gloom and doom
If you love newspapers and want them to succeed you may want to skip this story:
http://www.247wallst.com/2009/01/twelve-major-me.html
Source: Newspaper Death Watch
http://www.247wallst.com/2009/01/twelve-major-me.html
Source: Newspaper Death Watch
All's Quiet on the FJ front
It used to bug me when people would say, "no news is good news."
Well, when you are a newspaper reporter, not so much. But things are unusually quiet on the Booth front and frankly I haven't had time to shake the tree much.
What I do know is that one or two more people have been called aside and encouraged to lighten Booth's wallet by taking the buyout. The final date (or at least the latest final date) for those considering the buyout to sign on the dotted line is Friday.
Because of some pressing family health issues in Buffalo, my wife and I will be heading there for the weekend and so blogging will be sporadic between now and then.
So sorry about the dearth of news. Feel free to visit the links to the right as those folks are pretty regular about putting up news about the news business.
And, of course, if you have some information feel free to e-mail me at: jlsmediaservices (at) gmail (dot) com. Only use the symbols. Duuuuh!
If you are interested I added the obituary I wrote for my brother to the entry below where I announced his death. And again, thanks to all of you who have contacted me on - and off - line to express your concern and sympathy. It is very much appreciated and at some point I will try to respond to them all.
Well, when you are a newspaper reporter, not so much. But things are unusually quiet on the Booth front and frankly I haven't had time to shake the tree much.
What I do know is that one or two more people have been called aside and encouraged to lighten Booth's wallet by taking the buyout. The final date (or at least the latest final date) for those considering the buyout to sign on the dotted line is Friday.
Because of some pressing family health issues in Buffalo, my wife and I will be heading there for the weekend and so blogging will be sporadic between now and then.
So sorry about the dearth of news. Feel free to visit the links to the right as those folks are pretty regular about putting up news about the news business.
And, of course, if you have some information feel free to e-mail me at: jlsmediaservices (at) gmail (dot) com. Only use the symbols. Duuuuh!
If you are interested I added the obituary I wrote for my brother to the entry below where I announced his death. And again, thanks to all of you who have contacted me on - and off - line to express your concern and sympathy. It is very much appreciated and at some point I will try to respond to them all.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Good dog, needs a good home - update Home Found!
January 11 - Home Found!
In the current economy many folks are just leaving behind or turning loose animals they can no longer afford or care for. That is pretty sad, but to prove how ecletic this blog is I am posting this short article and picture to hopefully help a friend and a dog who showed up on her property the Saturday after Christmas.
In the current economy many folks are just leaving behind or turning loose animals they can no longer afford or care for. That is pretty sad, but to prove how ecletic this blog is I am posting this short article and picture to hopefully help a friend and a dog who showed up on her property the Saturday after Christmas.Initially my friend turned the dog into the Animal Shelter, but no one came to claim him, so she reclaimed him before it was time for the evil deed to be done.
Here, in my friend Tracie's own words, is the information on the dog:
"He’s a husky/chow mix. He’s got a husky coat, with the chow coloring and black tongue. He’s good with kids and normal dogs (he’s not wild about my spastic young male husky, and I can’t blame him). My Kodi is constantly in his face being a pain in the butt. I’ve been calling him Teddy Bear because of his beautiful reddish coat. He gets along well with my female husky who is calmer. He is neutered and well mannered. He knows sit, stay, shake, lay down. He is housetrained and likes to have a crate to lay in. He’s very comfortable laying on the floor at your feet. He’s obviously a wanderer, so he would need some sort of containment. Either in the house, cable system or fenced yard (I use a wireless fence for my huskies). I had my vet check him out and he is heartworm and parasite negative. She feels he is around 5-6 years old. I also took him to the doggie spa and got him all shined up.
You can put my email: huskywalkr@gmail.com and my phone 810-441-5819."
"He’s a husky/chow mix. He’s got a husky coat, with the chow coloring and black tongue. He’s good with kids and normal dogs (he’s not wild about my spastic young male husky, and I can’t blame him). My Kodi is constantly in his face being a pain in the butt. I’ve been calling him Teddy Bear because of his beautiful reddish coat. He gets along well with my female husky who is calmer. He is neutered and well mannered. He knows sit, stay, shake, lay down. He is housetrained and likes to have a crate to lay in. He’s very comfortable laying on the floor at your feet. He’s obviously a wanderer, so he would need some sort of containment. Either in the house, cable system or fenced yard (I use a wireless fence for my huskies). I had my vet check him out and he is heartworm and parasite negative. She feels he is around 5-6 years old. I also took him to the doggie spa and got him all shined up.
You can put my email: huskywalkr@gmail.com and my phone 810-441-5819."
If we weren't tied up with family and traveling issues, I would think about it, but it simply is not in the cards for now or in the forseeable future, but maybe one of the readers of this blog is looking for a decent dog with all the hard training work already done.
Margaritaville, Margaritaville
While I was away, a loyal FFE reader sent me a note that the Flint Journal published the exact same story and exact same photo of Jimmy Buffet in separate sections of the Journal on the same day over the past weekend.
By the time I arrived home the dead tree versions of the FJ had been recycled so I did not personally see this. But I know of at least one Parrot Head at the Journal so, who knows?
And just to show I'm not anti-Jimmy Buffet (I went to his show back in the old Pine Knob Days with the resident Flint Journal Parrot Head) here is the Buffet performance on "The Today Show" a couple years ago.
By the time I arrived home the dead tree versions of the FJ had been recycled so I did not personally see this. But I know of at least one Parrot Head at the Journal so, who knows?
And just to show I'm not anti-Jimmy Buffet (I went to his show back in the old Pine Knob Days with the resident Flint Journal Parrot Head) here is the Buffet performance on "The Today Show" a couple years ago.
Central copy desk now not a certainty
Word is that the owners of Booth are not yet sold on the idea of a central copy desk for all the State's newspapers located out of Grand Rapids.
The cost saving measure to reduce and consolidate copy desk functions was perhaps the most confusing part of the Booth rescue plan.
Now word is that the Flint Journal (and presumably the other Booth properties) are being asked to craft proposals on how they would continue local copy editing functions with the personnel that remains after the buyouts.
Of course, a number of local copy desk folks have already accepted the buyouts after this word came down so one has to wonder if that was intentional or simply coincidental. This has all the appearance of a beached whale trying to find its way back to the ocean.
It is simply hard to imagine the lack of foresight and leadership in a business that so sorely needs it now. And yet, those in charge find a home for those most incompetent folks in the future leadership.
The cost saving measure to reduce and consolidate copy desk functions was perhaps the most confusing part of the Booth rescue plan.
Now word is that the Flint Journal (and presumably the other Booth properties) are being asked to craft proposals on how they would continue local copy editing functions with the personnel that remains after the buyouts.
Of course, a number of local copy desk folks have already accepted the buyouts after this word came down so one has to wonder if that was intentional or simply coincidental. This has all the appearance of a beached whale trying to find its way back to the ocean.
It is simply hard to imagine the lack of foresight and leadership in a business that so sorely needs it now. And yet, those in charge find a home for those most incompetent folks in the future leadership.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Too true, so sad
Here are links to two very funny journalism related cartoon panels:
http://www.arcamax.com/mothergooseandgrimm/s-470750-695411
http://www.gocomics.com/nonsequitur/2009/01/06/?campid=0&ssns=9&
http://www.arcamax.com/mothergooseandgrimm/s-470750-695411
http://www.gocomics.com/nonsequitur/2009/01/06/?campid=0&ssns=9&
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
More self-inflicted journalism wounds
Then there's this decision by the Atlanta Journal and Constitution.
http://www.theledger.com/article/20090104/COLUMNISTS/901040311?Title=Cuts_Dry_Up_Dixie_s_Dew___and_News
http://www.theledger.com/article/20090104/COLUMNISTS/901040311?Title=Cuts_Dry_Up_Dixie_s_Dew___and_News
More Oakland Press short cuts
From a reliable Oakland Press source.
Want to get your story or better yet a free advertisement in the Oakland Press?
Here's how; You don't need to be a good writer or photographer.
There are two ways to get free "ink." First, and the easiest, is to just send a fax or email to the editor or city editor. Outline what you want covered. ie; say you have a new business,? it need not be new, just say so.
A used dress shop, a hamburger joint that is cerebrating its first year in business, or say a barber that is retiring after a decade in the same location. All of that is ok, just outline it and almost without a problem a reporter ( or one of the new unpaid "citizen reporters") will take a picture and give a non-factual, one-sided glowing coverage of a story that only you care about.
If you're able this works even better: Supply a decent photograph and a story telling how great your business is. Look! It's done every day in the Oakland Press. If you are in public relations and need to give your client a boost just e-mail your story, all packaged-up to the Oakland Press and, Bingo! there it is on the front page. News content is not a requirement.
Just fill space. Good luck, but you will not need much to be a hero to your company. 'Almost forgot, if your retiring from any job for any amount of years it almost a given you will get a story published. Just ask.
Catpaws.
Don't blame the lower editors for this one either. They are very short staffed and the leadership basically believes that it doesn't matter what you put in the blank space around the ads.
I once worked as an editor for the Ingham County News and a business owner called me to say if we would do an article, he would buy an ad. "Now," I told him, "would you want to read a newspaper filled with gratuitous articles like that?" He admitted he would not. I convinced him that a good readable newspaper, filled with articles people actually wanted to read would be the best way to make his ad work. Don't remember if he bought an ad, but we did not do the story.
Want to get your story or better yet a free advertisement in the Oakland Press?
Here's how; You don't need to be a good writer or photographer.
There are two ways to get free "ink." First, and the easiest, is to just send a fax or email to the editor or city editor. Outline what you want covered. ie; say you have a new business,? it need not be new, just say so.
A used dress shop, a hamburger joint that is cerebrating its first year in business, or say a barber that is retiring after a decade in the same location. All of that is ok, just outline it and almost without a problem a reporter ( or one of the new unpaid "citizen reporters") will take a picture and give a non-factual, one-sided glowing coverage of a story that only you care about.
If you're able this works even better: Supply a decent photograph and a story telling how great your business is. Look! It's done every day in the Oakland Press. If you are in public relations and need to give your client a boost just e-mail your story, all packaged-up to the Oakland Press and, Bingo! there it is on the front page. News content is not a requirement.
Just fill space. Good luck, but you will not need much to be a hero to your company. 'Almost forgot, if your retiring from any job for any amount of years it almost a given you will get a story published. Just ask.
Catpaws.
Don't blame the lower editors for this one either. They are very short staffed and the leadership basically believes that it doesn't matter what you put in the blank space around the ads.
I once worked as an editor for the Ingham County News and a business owner called me to say if we would do an article, he would buy an ad. "Now," I told him, "would you want to read a newspaper filled with gratuitous articles like that?" He admitted he would not. I convinced him that a good readable newspaper, filled with articles people actually wanted to read would be the best way to make his ad work. Don't remember if he bought an ad, but we did not do the story.
The Oakland Press enlists reporters to train free journalists
Thanks to an anonymous, but impeccable source, I have a copy of the e-mail sent from editor Glenn Gilbert of the Oakland Press. Here is the memo, I will comment after:
Subject: citizens unite
From: Glenn Gilbert [mailto:glenn.gilbert@oakpress.com]
Sent: Tue 12/30/2008 1:32 PM
Our first citizens journalism class was a stunning success. We had 45 people in news and seven in sports. Jeff will handle sports, but in news, 29 of the individuals filled out forms desiring to continue in the process.
There is no way to make this work without staff commitment. I would never ask you to believe something that you don't believe in, but I do need your help. Names will be divided up among newsroom personnel. You will be responsible for working with the individual and accountable for their progress and your contacts with them.
Be generous with your time, but time-efficient. You can learn valuable teaching, coaching and management techniques in the process. Some of you who are teaching oriented will enjoy the process. Just remember, those who teach learn. Let me know if you think you can handle more than one or two individuals, or your interest in the process (or even lack of interest if you feel strongly).
(memo ends here)
Ain't this grand, the editor is strong arming his staff to help those who are in line to replace them. And I love his little aside at the end "or even lack of interest if you feel strongly." If you feel strongly about that you may be replaced sooner than you might anticipate.
And don't think of this as extra work, think of this as a chance to learn more. Where did this guy come from? He had to have been a press secretary for some politician to put out doo-doo like this.
If this is journalism, then Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is the Indianapolis 500. I don't even know what more to say about an idea this stupid.
Subject: citizens unite
From: Glenn Gilbert [mailto:glenn.gilbert@oakpress.com]
Sent: Tue 12/30/2008 1:32 PM
Our first citizens journalism class was a stunning success. We had 45 people in news and seven in sports. Jeff will handle sports, but in news, 29 of the individuals filled out forms desiring to continue in the process.
There is no way to make this work without staff commitment. I would never ask you to believe something that you don't believe in, but I do need your help. Names will be divided up among newsroom personnel. You will be responsible for working with the individual and accountable for their progress and your contacts with them.
Be generous with your time, but time-efficient. You can learn valuable teaching, coaching and management techniques in the process. Some of you who are teaching oriented will enjoy the process. Just remember, those who teach learn. Let me know if you think you can handle more than one or two individuals, or your interest in the process (or even lack of interest if you feel strongly).
(memo ends here)
Ain't this grand, the editor is strong arming his staff to help those who are in line to replace them. And I love his little aside at the end "or even lack of interest if you feel strongly." If you feel strongly about that you may be replaced sooner than you might anticipate.
And don't think of this as extra work, think of this as a chance to learn more. Where did this guy come from? He had to have been a press secretary for some politician to put out doo-doo like this.
If this is journalism, then Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is the Indianapolis 500. I don't even know what more to say about an idea this stupid.
Back home, blogging to resume
Arrived home late Tuesday and made my way home in a two and one half hour (usually one hour and fifteen minute trip) from Detroit Metro. Freezing rain turned all the freeways into ice rinks. There were accidents everywhere and I-94 eastbound was completely shut down at M-39 for a half hour.
I appreciate all the kind sentiments here and on Facebook about the loss of my brother. The world seems oddly out of place with the loss of my younger brother, but life does go on and my brother, a frequent commenter here under the name "jim's brother", would not want it any other way.
So after I go to work today I will return to blogging. I received a copy of a memo from the editor of the Oakland Press who was literally giddy over the turnout at his first citizen journalist seminar and is now asking all reporters and editors to take on one of two of the reporters to help them learn the ropes.
It would be funny if it wasn't so sad. I'll put the memo up later today. There is also some additional Booth news and that will go up as well. I just don't have time this morning to put it in some readable form.
If you come back this time tomorrow (Thursday) it should be up.
I appreciate all the kind sentiments here and on Facebook about the loss of my brother. The world seems oddly out of place with the loss of my younger brother, but life does go on and my brother, a frequent commenter here under the name "jim's brother", would not want it any other way.
So after I go to work today I will return to blogging. I received a copy of a memo from the editor of the Oakland Press who was literally giddy over the turnout at his first citizen journalist seminar and is now asking all reporters and editors to take on one of two of the reporters to help them learn the ropes.
It would be funny if it wasn't so sad. I'll put the memo up later today. There is also some additional Booth news and that will go up as well. I just don't have time this morning to put it in some readable form.
If you come back this time tomorrow (Thursday) it should be up.
Friday, January 2, 2009
How do you say good-bye to your brother?
Just hours before I arrived here in California my brother, Michael B. Smith, 57, died peacefully in an Auburn hospital. His wife, Barbara had to make the difficult, but correct, decision to remove him from life support on Wednesday, December 31.
He was moved from ICU to a transitional unit in the hospital where he was kept comfortable until he died at 2:30 a.m. New Year's morning. I received the call of his death while checking into my flight at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. My brother had been insistent that I not come to see him, so I guess he got his way in the end.
As I write this I am looking out the window in the office at his home over the beautiful landscape that is the foothills of the Sierra Mountain range. Last night I slept in my brother's room, surrounded by his family pictures. It was the first good night's rest I've had in a week.
I talked to him Wednesday just before he was unhooked from life support to tell him that despite his wishes I was coming to see him. But before we hung up I told him how much I loved him and how much he meant to me. What more can you say?
I will have more to say and write a proper obituary to my brother when I return home. Thank you all for your prayers, we are sad but not without hope. He was in exteme pain and now he is not. Among my closest friends and family who wish to memorialize my brother in some way, spare the flowers and I will be collecting for the Foothill Theatre Company (www.foothilltheatre.org) here in Auburn. My brother was the house director there for three seasons and a long-time volunteer and donor to the vintage community theater. I'll let you know more later.
As per my brother's wishes he will be cremated and his ashes scattered high over an appropriate place (which I will not name in case some government agency has a stupid rule against it). In February, his friends and family will gather at his home in Auburn to have a party to celebrate his short, but wonderful life.
As for me, I am spending the weekend with his wife and then a day with my two sons and granddaughter and then returning home Tuesday. I will return to blogging then.
Late add (January 9, 2009) Here is the obituary I wrote for the local paper in California:
Michael B. Smith of Auburn died Thursday, Jan. 1, at Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital. His death came after a long and courageous battle with severe infections. He was 57. Cremation has taken place. No funeral services are planned.
Michael was born Jan. 16, 1951, in Los Angeles. After high school graduation he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served his country honorably in Germany and did a tour of duty in Vietnam and received an award for rescuing a fellow airman from a fire.
After his five-year Air Force service, Michael took his computer skills and used them in setting up some of the first sophisticated wire transfer banking computer systems for Crocker National Bank and Bank of California in San Francisco. He also worked at the First Nationwide Bank in Folsom and San Francisco.
Michael and his wife, Barbara Eveleigh, moved to the foothills of the Sierra and Lake of the Pines in 1988.Michael’s work life was diversified.
At one point in his life, he worked at a trading post near the Grand Canyon where he sold Native American jewelry. He loved reading books, especially historical fiction, biographies and Civil War non-fiction.
He and Barbara loved to travel and cruise.One of his recent passions in life was the support of the Foothill Theatre Company, where he worked as its part-time house manager for three seasons and he was also a dedicated volunteer and donor, along with his wife Barbara Eveleigh.
Michael’s kind and gentle spirit, his quick wit and sense of humor will be greatly missed by his family, friends and loving pets.
Survivors include, his wife, Barbara Eveleigh, of Auburn; his father and stepmother, Lee and Janet Smith, of Virginia; brothers and sisters, James L. Smith, of Michigan, Pamela (Smith) Armstrong, of West Virginia, Laura Lee Fues, of Chicago. He is also survived by his wife’s son, Ron Eveleigh, of Grass Valley, and several nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia Smith, and stepfather, Raymond Smith.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to the Foothill Theatre Company, P.O. Box 1812, Nevada City, CA 95959.
He was moved from ICU to a transitional unit in the hospital where he was kept comfortable until he died at 2:30 a.m. New Year's morning. I received the call of his death while checking into my flight at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. My brother had been insistent that I not come to see him, so I guess he got his way in the end.
As I write this I am looking out the window in the office at his home over the beautiful landscape that is the foothills of the Sierra Mountain range. Last night I slept in my brother's room, surrounded by his family pictures. It was the first good night's rest I've had in a week.
I talked to him Wednesday just before he was unhooked from life support to tell him that despite his wishes I was coming to see him. But before we hung up I told him how much I loved him and how much he meant to me. What more can you say?
I will have more to say and write a proper obituary to my brother when I return home. Thank you all for your prayers, we are sad but not without hope. He was in exteme pain and now he is not. Among my closest friends and family who wish to memorialize my brother in some way, spare the flowers and I will be collecting for the Foothill Theatre Company (www.foothilltheatre.org) here in Auburn. My brother was the house director there for three seasons and a long-time volunteer and donor to the vintage community theater. I'll let you know more later.
As per my brother's wishes he will be cremated and his ashes scattered high over an appropriate place (which I will not name in case some government agency has a stupid rule against it). In February, his friends and family will gather at his home in Auburn to have a party to celebrate his short, but wonderful life.
As for me, I am spending the weekend with his wife and then a day with my two sons and granddaughter and then returning home Tuesday. I will return to blogging then.
Late add (January 9, 2009) Here is the obituary I wrote for the local paper in California:
Michael B. Smith of Auburn died Thursday, Jan. 1, at Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital. His death came after a long and courageous battle with severe infections. He was 57. Cremation has taken place. No funeral services are planned.
Michael was born Jan. 16, 1951, in Los Angeles. After high school graduation he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served his country honorably in Germany and did a tour of duty in Vietnam and received an award for rescuing a fellow airman from a fire.
After his five-year Air Force service, Michael took his computer skills and used them in setting up some of the first sophisticated wire transfer banking computer systems for Crocker National Bank and Bank of California in San Francisco. He also worked at the First Nationwide Bank in Folsom and San Francisco.
Michael and his wife, Barbara Eveleigh, moved to the foothills of the Sierra and Lake of the Pines in 1988.Michael’s work life was diversified.
At one point in his life, he worked at a trading post near the Grand Canyon where he sold Native American jewelry. He loved reading books, especially historical fiction, biographies and Civil War non-fiction.
He and Barbara loved to travel and cruise.One of his recent passions in life was the support of the Foothill Theatre Company, where he worked as its part-time house manager for three seasons and he was also a dedicated volunteer and donor, along with his wife Barbara Eveleigh.
Michael’s kind and gentle spirit, his quick wit and sense of humor will be greatly missed by his family, friends and loving pets.
Survivors include, his wife, Barbara Eveleigh, of Auburn; his father and stepmother, Lee and Janet Smith, of Virginia; brothers and sisters, James L. Smith, of Michigan, Pamela (Smith) Armstrong, of West Virginia, Laura Lee Fues, of Chicago. He is also survived by his wife’s son, Ron Eveleigh, of Grass Valley, and several nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia Smith, and stepfather, Raymond Smith.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to the Foothill Theatre Company, P.O. Box 1812, Nevada City, CA 95959.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
A short break from blogging
Unfortunately, my brother has not responded to treatments, dialysis or several antibiotics and the situation is not looking good.
So I am headed to California to visit him in the hospital. Your prayers have been appreciated and at this point we are looking and praying for a miracle.
See you next week.
So I am headed to California to visit him in the hospital. Your prayers have been appreciated and at this point we are looking and praying for a miracle.
See you next week.
A buyout second chance
Just arrived home from Buffalo and found a couple of messages informing me that there has been an extension of the buyout offers at the Flint Journal for an additional two weeks. I noticed that Jim Carty is reporting the same thing for Ann Arbor on his blog.
The profit and loss numbers are in and the news is horrid. So the company wants to give those who have decided to stay one last chance to take the buyouts. It may be more of a "we warned you" type situation than an actual need for more people to take the buyouts.
Lots of rumors swirling about the central copy desk situation with one rumor that the New York owners don't think it will work and at the same time think it saves too many copy desk jobs, up to 70.
So for those who were thinking of staying, the new offer simply gives them just that much more to think about.
According to those at the meetings, Publisher Dave Sharp did not paint a very pretty picture of the current bottom line of the chain.
I couldn't feel worse for my friends left behind and I really wish there was a silver lining for them.
The profit and loss numbers are in and the news is horrid. So the company wants to give those who have decided to stay one last chance to take the buyouts. It may be more of a "we warned you" type situation than an actual need for more people to take the buyouts.
Lots of rumors swirling about the central copy desk situation with one rumor that the New York owners don't think it will work and at the same time think it saves too many copy desk jobs, up to 70.
So for those who were thinking of staying, the new offer simply gives them just that much more to think about.
According to those at the meetings, Publisher Dave Sharp did not paint a very pretty picture of the current bottom line of the chain.
I couldn't feel worse for my friends left behind and I really wish there was a silver lining for them.
A dream and an adventure lived in real time
Wow, again thanks to Jim Carty at Paper Tiger No More for pointing me (and everyone who reads his blog) to the adventures of another former Booth newspaper reporter who is living a dream while blogging about it.
Here's the link to his very first post back in April, but don't stop there he is a terrific writer who is on an adventure that I certainly wish I had done at his age.
http://nathanfenno.blogspot.com/2008/04/life-off-sidelines.html
Here's the link to his very first post back in April, but don't stop there he is a terrific writer who is on an adventure that I certainly wish I had done at his age.
http://nathanfenno.blogspot.com/2008/04/life-off-sidelines.html
Monday, December 29, 2008
Buffalo, the new windy city
Forget the "Queen City" moniker, Buffalo, NY, on Sunday should have replaced Chicago as the windy city. With temperatures soaring to 60 degrees on Saturday there was widespread flooding (OK, give Al Gore back his Oscar) and then on Sunday all heck broke loose with the wind.
Gusts up to 75 mph swept through here all day yesterday and seriously changed the outlook for the Buffalo Bills versus New England Patriots game. If you saw any of the highlights (we watched it live) you will notice that a field goal attempt from the 30-yard line was blown well wide right because of the wind.
But at least the Detroit Lions didn't screw up their appointment with history Sunday, finally ending the misery at 0-16 for the season.
We're driving home Tuesday and the weather forecast is for an uneventful weather day. Yeah!
Gusts up to 75 mph swept through here all day yesterday and seriously changed the outlook for the Buffalo Bills versus New England Patriots game. If you saw any of the highlights (we watched it live) you will notice that a field goal attempt from the 30-yard line was blown well wide right because of the wind.
But at least the Detroit Lions didn't screw up their appointment with history Sunday, finally ending the misery at 0-16 for the season.
We're driving home Tuesday and the weather forecast is for an uneventful weather day. Yeah!
Gannett blog added to links
As requested by a FFE reader I have installed a link to the Gannett blog at the right. If you are interested in the daily happenings at one of the nation's biggest newspaper chains that's the source.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Notes from "Inside Out"
A long time friend has posted an interesting set of items on her blog, "Inside Out," including a nice shout out to Free From Editors. Thanks MCW!
http://mcwflint.blogspot.com/2008/12/first-words-on-their-last-day-and-other.html
I'm adding a link to her blog on the link list to the right.
http://mcwflint.blogspot.com/2008/12/first-words-on-their-last-day-and-other.html
I'm adding a link to her blog on the link list to the right.
Another newspaper perspective
A good read I borrowed off a blog from a former FJ employee. In addition to the former editor's column there is a column written by a UNC journalism professor that is a pretty good read also.
http://www.metrosantacruz.com/metro-santa-cruz/12.03.08/cover-0849.html
http://www.metrosantacruz.com/metro-santa-cruz/12.03.08/cover-0849.html
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Prayers requested for my brother
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My younger brother, my only brother, Mike (with me in 2007 photo at right), is in a California hospital in intensive care in critical condition.He entered the hospital in critical condition a week ago, improved enough to be moved out of ICU a couple days ago, but has been transferred back in after a serious infection he has regressed.
We are praying that the doctors will find what is ailing my brother, a fellow Vietnam veteran who has suffered from ill health from nearly the time he left the service, and that he can be restored to full and complete health.
For now, he has asked that I not come out there as he doesn't want visitors, and his wife, Barbara, is taking good care of him.If you are a praying person, and we believe that prayer works, please put Michael on your list.
Thank you.
Booth spin is widespread, apparently
See these two columns from former Ann Arbor News folks now writing online:
From Jim Carty:
http://papertigernomore.blogspot.com/2008/12/former-newsie-mary-morgan-what-news.html
From the online Ann Arbor Chronicle:
http://annarborchronicle.com/2008/12/26/column-what-the-ann-arbor-news-needs/
Make sure you read the comments, especially on the Ann Arbor Chronicle article.
Shame on a news organization that demands accountability and honesty from everyone else, to not model the behavior when the finger points at them.
From Jim Carty:
http://papertigernomore.blogspot.com/2008/12/former-newsie-mary-morgan-what-news.html
From the online Ann Arbor Chronicle:
http://annarborchronicle.com/2008/12/26/column-what-the-ann-arbor-news-needs/
Make sure you read the comments, especially on the Ann Arbor Chronicle article.
Shame on a news organization that demands accountability and honesty from everyone else, to not model the behavior when the finger points at them.
A sad tale with a happy ending
My stepdaughter in Boston forwarded the following news article:
Detroit, MI (AP) - A seven-year-old boy was at the center of a Detroit courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a court ruling over who should have custody of him. The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and regulations requiring that family unity be maintained to the greatest degree possible.
The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her. When the judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried out that they also beat him.
After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have custody of him.
After two recesses to check legal references and confer with child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the Detroit Lions, whom the boy firmly believes is not capable of beating anyone.
Detroit, MI (AP) - A seven-year-old boy was at the center of a Detroit courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a court ruling over who should have custody of him. The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and regulations requiring that family unity be maintained to the greatest degree possible.
The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her. When the judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried out that they also beat him.
After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have custody of him.
After two recesses to check legal references and confer with child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the Detroit Lions, whom the boy firmly believes is not capable of beating anyone.
Friday, December 26, 2008
With a week to go, the newsroom is halved again
Several editors, including the features editor who has already taken the buyout and left, will be leaving the Flint Journal, some at the end of April with the rest sticking around until August when the central copy desk puts Flint into the Grand Rapids mix.
A veteran features reporter is expected to leave by the end of April. She has done some of the best and most noticed work at the Journal as far as features. Two newsroom full-time reporters, including my desk mate for six years are also taking the buyout. One is leaving by the end of January, my desk mate's date is undetermined at this point.
Two copy desk folks are for sure leaving, including a young man (a former State News alum like me) who toyed with last year's buyout so he could go back to school then. Maybe he will continue those plans now. The other copy desk person I'm not as familiar with, but both have undetermined dates of departure.
It appears my favorite editor, the one who unquestionably has the best touch with reporters and knows how to actually edit a story to improve and better organize it, as well as the only one who has had the strength to stand up to the incompetents who run the place, is also apparently departing. Good for her, she never had a chance with the women haters who run the place. I understand she may be gone by April. Her loss will undoubtedly show up in the reduced editing quality of the newspaper.
The sports editor is also on his way out, he's new enough that I don't remember him. His date is, as yet, undetermined.
Three imaging folks with a long history with the Journal are also taking the buyout (read pushed out) at an undetermined date. The TV Guide paginator is leaving along with the entire advertising production staff.
A number of the departing reporters, imaging and pagination folks are African-Americans. At one time the Journal made a good and conscious effort to increase the representation of blacks in the newsroom to reflect the community of Flint. Looks like that effort is pretty much over now. Sad, very sad.
Two copy desk folks, including a former reporter and veteran Journal employee and a newer female desk employee are seeking a spot in Grand Rapids. Two sports copy desk folks are seeking similar spots in Grand Rapids.
The former photo editor, who was severely injured in a motorcycle accident months ago, looks to be reassigned to Saginaw or Bay City when he is able to return to work.
Safe and staying in Flint as reporters are five reporters with more than five (and in some cases much more time) years experience, while four reporters with less than five years news experience are also staying. That's a pretty thin number of reporters to, in the words of the current, but soon to be gone editor, "continue to do everything we've done before."
Two features columnists with wide name recognition were not offered buyouts so presumably they are safe as well.
The Metro editor and his faithful sidekick, a design editor, were not offered buyouts and for reasons known only to those in charge are going to continue on with their work that has brought the Journal to this point.
With the emphasis on Internet media, none of the current Internet team were offered buyouts and two full-time photographers were also left out of the buyout offer and are presumably safe in Flint. At least three longtime sports reporters are also safe as well as the editorial assistant.
There's a long list of those who have an uncertain future: The current business editor, a woman copy desk employee, two designers, both who were hired after the last round of buyouts. One left a job at the Oakland Press to take the job at the Journal last year. Talk about jumping from the fire into the frying pan.
At least one part-time features writer will leave at the end of the year, but there are a list of part-time copy desk, page designers and copy desk folks and regular and sports part-timers who have an uncertain future. Some of them have been long time part-time employees. Supposedly they will receive some type of severance, but nothing close to the buyout offers, I am told.
There are three employees who are on 10-hour a week contracts (former retirees) whose status is unknown, but likely safe because of the small amount of money they cost the company.
So for the second straight year, the Journal will reduce by about half its content producers. Presumably this is being done to help the bottom line. In the end it will simply accelerate the slide into oblivion for the newspaper, but it will save, for a year or two the comfy positions of a few at the top who should have been the first ones shown the door.
With the new year, I will reduce my blogging about Booth. I mean really, what more can be said. The lame management that has brought the company to the brink, remains. While there are many good folks remaining to produce the copy, there are not enough of them to really make a difference and it appears the die is cast.
So, as I learn of new things, I will post them, but maybe one of the new buyout recipients will continue the coverage through their sources on a more consistent basis. Free From Editors will continue on, but just won't be as focused on the Flint Journal and Booth.
A veteran features reporter is expected to leave by the end of April. She has done some of the best and most noticed work at the Journal as far as features. Two newsroom full-time reporters, including my desk mate for six years are also taking the buyout. One is leaving by the end of January, my desk mate's date is undetermined at this point.
Two copy desk folks are for sure leaving, including a young man (a former State News alum like me) who toyed with last year's buyout so he could go back to school then. Maybe he will continue those plans now. The other copy desk person I'm not as familiar with, but both have undetermined dates of departure.
It appears my favorite editor, the one who unquestionably has the best touch with reporters and knows how to actually edit a story to improve and better organize it, as well as the only one who has had the strength to stand up to the incompetents who run the place, is also apparently departing. Good for her, she never had a chance with the women haters who run the place. I understand she may be gone by April. Her loss will undoubtedly show up in the reduced editing quality of the newspaper.
The sports editor is also on his way out, he's new enough that I don't remember him. His date is, as yet, undetermined.
Three imaging folks with a long history with the Journal are also taking the buyout (read pushed out) at an undetermined date. The TV Guide paginator is leaving along with the entire advertising production staff.
A number of the departing reporters, imaging and pagination folks are African-Americans. At one time the Journal made a good and conscious effort to increase the representation of blacks in the newsroom to reflect the community of Flint. Looks like that effort is pretty much over now. Sad, very sad.
Two copy desk folks, including a former reporter and veteran Journal employee and a newer female desk employee are seeking a spot in Grand Rapids. Two sports copy desk folks are seeking similar spots in Grand Rapids.
The former photo editor, who was severely injured in a motorcycle accident months ago, looks to be reassigned to Saginaw or Bay City when he is able to return to work.
Safe and staying in Flint as reporters are five reporters with more than five (and in some cases much more time) years experience, while four reporters with less than five years news experience are also staying. That's a pretty thin number of reporters to, in the words of the current, but soon to be gone editor, "continue to do everything we've done before."
Two features columnists with wide name recognition were not offered buyouts so presumably they are safe as well.
The Metro editor and his faithful sidekick, a design editor, were not offered buyouts and for reasons known only to those in charge are going to continue on with their work that has brought the Journal to this point.
With the emphasis on Internet media, none of the current Internet team were offered buyouts and two full-time photographers were also left out of the buyout offer and are presumably safe in Flint. At least three longtime sports reporters are also safe as well as the editorial assistant.
There's a long list of those who have an uncertain future: The current business editor, a woman copy desk employee, two designers, both who were hired after the last round of buyouts. One left a job at the Oakland Press to take the job at the Journal last year. Talk about jumping from the fire into the frying pan.
At least one part-time features writer will leave at the end of the year, but there are a list of part-time copy desk, page designers and copy desk folks and regular and sports part-timers who have an uncertain future. Some of them have been long time part-time employees. Supposedly they will receive some type of severance, but nothing close to the buyout offers, I am told.
There are three employees who are on 10-hour a week contracts (former retirees) whose status is unknown, but likely safe because of the small amount of money they cost the company.
So for the second straight year, the Journal will reduce by about half its content producers. Presumably this is being done to help the bottom line. In the end it will simply accelerate the slide into oblivion for the newspaper, but it will save, for a year or two the comfy positions of a few at the top who should have been the first ones shown the door.
With the new year, I will reduce my blogging about Booth. I mean really, what more can be said. The lame management that has brought the company to the brink, remains. While there are many good folks remaining to produce the copy, there are not enough of them to really make a difference and it appears the die is cast.
So, as I learn of new things, I will post them, but maybe one of the new buyout recipients will continue the coverage through their sources on a more consistent basis. Free From Editors will continue on, but just won't be as focused on the Flint Journal and Booth.
Heading to sunny Buffalo, NY for the weekend
We're off on one of our monthly excursions to the Queen City, Buffalo, NY, to help the folks.
As always, if I can pirate a wireless signal, blogging will continue, but likely at a reduced rate.
So enjoy 'boxing day' as we will be passing through Canada during their big after Christmas holiday. Through the magic of the blogpost time machine there will be some posts that I have already completed that will show up over the weekend.
As always, if I can pirate a wireless signal, blogging will continue, but likely at a reduced rate.
So enjoy 'boxing day' as we will be passing through Canada during their big after Christmas holiday. Through the magic of the blogpost time machine there will be some posts that I have already completed that will show up over the weekend.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
Remember the reason for the season. "Unto us a child is born....."From my family to yours, God Bless you and have a very Merry Christmas.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Booth News on Friday
Finally have a nearly complete list of those at the Flint Journal who are leaving, those who are staying and a number still on the fence. It will take me a little time to put it together in a form where (1), names are not used, and (2), a form that will make sense and will give an accurate count of how many are leaving, how many are vying for positions at Grand Rapids and those who are kind of left out in the cold. Right now I have a pile of packages to wrap.
I understand that the editor has been having a second round of meetings with certain people giving them that added little push to take the buy out.
What I have learned is that the paper's two lead columnists were not offered buyouts as well as a couple other key folks. That is a major change from last year's offer. But take Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off and come back Friday for the news.
I understand that the editor has been having a second round of meetings with certain people giving them that added little push to take the buy out.
What I have learned is that the paper's two lead columnists were not offered buyouts as well as a couple other key folks. That is a major change from last year's offer. But take Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off and come back Friday for the news.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
In limbo on Booth news
Still waiting for some final numbers on who stayed and who left at the Journal. I understand there is a great deal of consternation among copy editors who must make the difficult choice of taking the buyout or hoping for a chance at a smaller pool of jobs in Grand Rapids.
There is also word that the annual profit and subscription numbers are even worse than anticipated which does not bode well for the future.
No word yet either on how many part-timers will be invited to stay or shown the door.
There is also word that the annual profit and subscription numbers are even worse than anticipated which does not bode well for the future.
No word yet either on how many part-timers will be invited to stay or shown the door.
Monday, December 22, 2008
A year of corrections in review
Regret the error has its year in review wrap-up. If you're looking for some light reading it is very entertaining.
http://www.regrettheerror.com/regret-articles/crunks-2008-the-year-in-media-errors-and-corrections
http://www.regrettheerror.com/regret-articles/crunks-2008-the-year-in-media-errors-and-corrections
Sunday, December 21, 2008
This former publisher asked and answered the question I have been asking for the past 8 years, both in and out of the newspaper business.
"How can the newspaper charge one group of subscribers a fee and yet, give the same information away on the Internet for free? The answer was always: "We have to have a presence there." Well, yes, but don't you need to charge for it?," I would ask.
Well here's a column that sums up how I felt and still feel about that issue.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tim-giago/the-slow-death-of-america_b_152591.html
"How can the newspaper charge one group of subscribers a fee and yet, give the same information away on the Internet for free? The answer was always: "We have to have a presence there." Well, yes, but don't you need to charge for it?," I would ask.
Well here's a column that sums up how I felt and still feel about that issue.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tim-giago/the-slow-death-of-america_b_152591.html
A singing Christmas Card for you
Sung by The Drifters. Cartoon by Joshua Held.
Featuring Bill Pinkney on lead bass and Clyde McPhatter on tenor.
An animated Christmas Card, and a homage to a great song, a great band, and a great Holiday.
South Dakota checks in
OK, with the visit from someone from South Dakota there are only two states left who haven't visited Free From Editors. Wyoming and North Dakota where are you?
I hope the blue flag below Old Glory is actually the real South Dakota flag.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Flint Journal, Saginaw News duped by woman
For veteran reporters, people with a sob story so sad it seems perfect should always ask a few more questions before they publish. Most recent case in point:
http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/index.ssf/2008/12/flint_womans_tale_of_woe_falls.html#2225496
http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/index.ssf/2008/12/flint_womans_tale_of_woe_falls.html#2225496
What could you do when you were 7?
At 7, I think the most creative thing I did was make a cabin out of Lincoln Logs. This kid is amazing and he is only 7 years old. There's plenty more of this wonderful child, Ethan Bortnick, on You Tube.
We're dreaming of a green Christmas!
Well, so much for a green Christmas. On Friday we got dumped on. Somewhere between 8-10 inches of snow is piled up in our yard. It took my more than two hours to clear my driveway and the one belonging to the lady who lives across the street.
What is worse is that we live on the main drag for the Road Commission and the snow plows pass by here every ten minutes scraping more and more snow into my driveway entrance.
This morning (and early) afternoon I spent a couple more hours using my roof rake to pull tons of snow off the roof of our house. For readers in warmer climes, there is a condition called snow dams that cause roof damage if snow melts and then freezes and backs up under the roof shingles.
So anytime we get more than 4-inches of snow I pull as much snow off the roof as possible to avoid the problem.
Anyway, I'd love for Al Gore to come here right now and explain global warming to me once again. This winter looks to be worse than last and that was a record one.
I could have a little more Booth news on Monday, so stay tuned.
What is worse is that we live on the main drag for the Road Commission and the snow plows pass by here every ten minutes scraping more and more snow into my driveway entrance.
This morning (and early) afternoon I spent a couple more hours using my roof rake to pull tons of snow off the roof of our house. For readers in warmer climes, there is a condition called snow dams that cause roof damage if snow melts and then freezes and backs up under the roof shingles.
So anytime we get more than 4-inches of snow I pull as much snow off the roof as possible to avoid the problem.
Anyway, I'd love for Al Gore to come here right now and explain global warming to me once again. This winter looks to be worse than last and that was a record one.
I could have a little more Booth news on Monday, so stay tuned.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Go figure, statistics on a cold day and a Merry Christmas
Just wanted to stop for a minute to acknowledge a tremendous increase in traffic on Free From Editors since late October. My Google analytics program shows that more than 2,000 new folks have found their way here since Halloween.A slow day on the site is now 400 hits, compared to 80-90 back in March and I have regular readers from 205 Michigan cities. Understandably most of the traffic comes from Booth cities like Saginaw, Bay City, Flint, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids and the suburbs surrounding those cities. For example, Flint area readers frequently check in from Grand Blanc and Burton.
But I also receive a fair share of visits from Waterford, Lansing and even regular visits from someone in Marquette. As I said previously, I have had visits from every state in the country except Wyoming and the two Dakotas. Not sure any of those states knows what a computer is anyway.
Since starting this project more than a year ago, I've learned how to embed videos, upload photos, link to other blogs, set posts for later publication and other computer skills I would never imagine I could learn. Hey, maybe, Newhouse would hire me to work with their new Special Projects guy. I know at least as much as he does about working online.
All that to say that I appreciate all of the folks who stop in here and comment (positively or negatively) and your patience with my occasional lapses in judgment.
To be honest there isn't much left to say about the current state of Booth/Newhouse. They seem to be on a trek to slowly bleed to death with no real leadership in sight. But as new things come up, and certainly they will, I will post them.
For example, I'm compiling a list of former colleagues who are now either set on taking the buyout, those on the fence, those being pushed and those who are safe for the next round. As soon as I have a clearer picture (one very good copy editor just signed her papers for the buyout on Monday - a huge loss for the Journal) I will post them.
Blogging may slow a little over the Christmas holiday as we, like all of you no doubt, are very busy with family, church, activities, travel and the other range of things people do during the holidays. Tonight my wife and I and members of my church are hosting a discussion of Rick Warren's "Purpose of Christmas" and a party following for a group of senior citizens in a Davison senior living complex.
As always, if I see something interesting (newspaper related, or not) I will post it.
From me to you: Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
Towels, and how to throw them in
For the past several hours I've been digesting the news about the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News decision to limit daily newspaper delivery and move to an online delivery program.While I understand the desperation and the gloom of the impending journalistic train wreck, it just seems that almost universally the brains who run newspaper organizations are, well, without brains.
From what I understand, even in today's plunging market, the only part of any newspaper's operation that is making real money is the print side. Oh sure, managers brag about the number of hits and page views, but what they don't mention is how that relates to incoming revenue.
So on the one hand, the Free Press and Detroit News have it right, the product is news and to the extent you can save your news gathering organization you can still market that side of it. But going to mostly online begs the question of how that will make more money.
I see where the online edition will cost $12 a month and will come to readers in a printable format. So now, we're giving people the newspaper, but making them print it at home. Sounds a little like going to Burger King where they will supply the meat patty, but you have to bring the bun and condiments and still pay the same price for the burger.
It may not take long for some sharp blogger to figure out how to take the online version and then distribute to an e-mail list of their own for free or a much cheaper price. Articles will be ripped off, copied and distributed as they are now.
People are too used to getting their online news for free and I don't see a lot of people willing to pony up the new online subscription rate. But again, at least the Freep and Detroit News are trying to keep the main thing, the main thing.
Besides when I go out to breakfast, I don't want to take my laptop with me to try and run through computer pages while I eat.
Then you have the Booth model. The one that says, people don't care what's in the paper or who gets the news so you eviscerate the news gathering staff and lean on the same poor, incompetent leadership that brought you to this point. This is the model I really don't understand.
Imagine an airline that had one airline cockpit crew that every time they were assigned a flight it crash landed and everyone but the crew was lost. At some point you would think that the CEOs of that airline would say, I think the flight crew may be the problem and not the passengers.
But Booth is taking off on a new flight, but again with the same flight crew that brought down the plane the last time. Someone smarter than I said you can't keep doing the same thing over and over and expect different results.
Then you have the Journal Register Co. model that plans to replace much of the reporting staff with hobby journalists working for free. Sort of like a car repair garage turning over its business to a bunch of weekend car warriors.
Everyone thinks they can do another person's job better than they can (just ask any football or baseball coach) but despite what people think, doing a reporter or editor's job is not as easy as it looks and requires a certain skill set. So turning over the steering wheel of a newspaper to an unlicensed, underage driver is really insane.
But all this flailing around is a product of having incompetent people at the top who are more concerned about keeping their jobs than improving the product. With the obvious impact their incompetence is having on many decent young people with careers on the line, I frankly don't know how they sleep at night.
The one thing all three models have in common is they are blowing a big kiss-off to the biggest group of their loyal readers, the ones who have bought and purchased their dead tree product for years. They are consciously writing off a large, profitable segment of their readership without a clue as to how to attract the young readers they desire and need.
Who knew that the eventually newspaper model would be for the newspaper to be the one to cancel the subscriptions of loyal readers. All of this looks like a strange way to throw in the towel.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
It's Alice in Journalismland time
It's really getting stupid out in journalism land. Jim Carty on his blog referenced the Free Press and Detroit News situation, but added some additional information about my former employer, The Oakland Press.
While the Free Press looks like it is launching the Hail Mary and putting all its eggs in the online basket, at least they realize that "content producers" should be retained. Whether this works or not remains to be seen, but at least they realize what their product really is.
Not so for the Journal-Register Co., the new and highly unprofitable owner of the Oakland Press and a number of other newspapers who in exchange for real journalism is now offering short courses in journalism - taught by Press editors (at least a couple who know what they are doing) - for some of its readers. The rewards for that, well, read it in editor Glenn Gilbert's own words:
"For those who complete the instruction, we offer the opportunity to get your work published online or in the print edition. This experience would be especially helpful for high school and college students viewing careers in the communications field. In addition, others can work toward becoming members of our freelance stable of journalists."
Great experience and clips for more non-existent journalism jobs, who does this clown think he's kidding? Emphasize the "free" in freelance. You can read the whole tripe filled column here:
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2008/12/13/opinion/doc4944876017642127238243.txt
The next link is a little old, but has some very prophetic information in it from August:
http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=9594
And if you want to read what Jim Carty had to say about all this, go here:
http://papertigernomore.blogspot.com/2008/12/you-work-for-me-you-work-for-free-what.html
While the Free Press looks like it is launching the Hail Mary and putting all its eggs in the online basket, at least they realize that "content producers" should be retained. Whether this works or not remains to be seen, but at least they realize what their product really is.
Not so for the Journal-Register Co., the new and highly unprofitable owner of the Oakland Press and a number of other newspapers who in exchange for real journalism is now offering short courses in journalism - taught by Press editors (at least a couple who know what they are doing) - for some of its readers. The rewards for that, well, read it in editor Glenn Gilbert's own words:
"For those who complete the instruction, we offer the opportunity to get your work published online or in the print edition. This experience would be especially helpful for high school and college students viewing careers in the communications field. In addition, others can work toward becoming members of our freelance stable of journalists."
Great experience and clips for more non-existent journalism jobs, who does this clown think he's kidding? Emphasize the "free" in freelance. You can read the whole tripe filled column here:
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2008/12/13/opinion/doc4944876017642127238243.txt
The next link is a little old, but has some very prophetic information in it from August:
http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=9594
And if you want to read what Jim Carty had to say about all this, go here:
http://papertigernomore.blogspot.com/2008/12/you-work-for-me-you-work-for-free-what.html
Flint Mayor Donald J. Williamson
What follows is the obviously edited highlights from Flint Mayor Don Williamson's deposition involving his demanding the arrest of a Flint Journal carrier for peddling newspapers at City Hall.
I'm posting this because several of the out-of-state freefromeditors readers have asked me off line about Flint's colorful mayor. This just about says it all. If you want more go to Youtube.com and search for Mayor Donald J. Williamson. All of the depostiions are there.
I'm posting this because several of the out-of-state freefromeditors readers have asked me off line about Flint's colorful mayor. This just about says it all. If you want more go to Youtube.com and search for Mayor Donald J. Williamson. All of the depostiions are there.
Ever heard of a webinar, cyber conference?
The editor of the Flint Journal and soon-to-be one of the head gurus of Newhouse's Advance Internet team has been busy traveling to New York via carbon wasting air transportation recently. Reportedly at least three times.
So the guy who leans on "guys wearing their hats on backwards" to lead the way into the new Internet world, apparently is unable to figure out how to use the Internet to save a few bucks for the company by meeting online.
Having the editor stand up in front of a bunch of employees crowing about his exciting, new Internet job while they struggle with major life decisions on whether to take this buyout or cast their lots with the possible remaining jobs in a downsized Booth is more than some of them can take.
So the guy who leans on "guys wearing their hats on backwards" to lead the way into the new Internet world, apparently is unable to figure out how to use the Internet to save a few bucks for the company by meeting online.
Having the editor stand up in front of a bunch of employees crowing about his exciting, new Internet job while they struggle with major life decisions on whether to take this buyout or cast their lots with the possible remaining jobs in a downsized Booth is more than some of them can take.
Monday, December 15, 2008
"We're not the best team in the NFL"
"We know we're not the best team in the NFL."That was the line Detroit Lions Quarterback Dan Orlovsky said to a group of reporters after the team's latest loss bringing them to 0-14 on the season.
I may stop laughing by tomorrow. But don't count on it.
Just a little "I told you so"
A couple months ago, I wrote the following:
http://freefromeditors.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-two-cents-about-700-billion.html
Didn't seem to work, did it?
http://freefromeditors.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-two-cents-about-700-billion.html
Didn't seem to work, did it?
A library of Booth downsizing spin
So far, I can find four columns by Booth editors about the looming cuts (only three weeks for folks to make up their minds whether they are staying or taking the buyouts).
There seems to be a consistent theme (Booth talking points) in all the columns. "We're getting smaller, but more local so stick with us, readers."
Here are the columns (and please do read the reader comments where applicable).
Muskegon:
http://www.mlive.com/chronicle/opinion/index.ssf/2008/11/were_looking_for_ways_to_make.html#more
Kalamazoo:
http://www.mlive.com/kzgazette/opinion/index.ssf/2008/12/how_hundreds_of_newspapers_bec.html
Jackson:
http://www.mlive.com/citpat/news/index.ssf/2008/11/economy_costs_forcing_paper_to.html
Ann Arbor:
http://www.mlive.com/annarbornews/news/index.ssf/2008/12/editors_column_the_ann_arbor_n.html
There seems to be a consistent theme (Booth talking points) in all the columns. "We're getting smaller, but more local so stick with us, readers."
Here are the columns (and please do read the reader comments where applicable).
Muskegon:
http://www.mlive.com/chronicle/opinion/index.ssf/2008/11/were_looking_for_ways_to_make.html#more
Kalamazoo:
http://www.mlive.com/kzgazette/opinion/index.ssf/2008/12/how_hundreds_of_newspapers_bec.html
Jackson:
http://www.mlive.com/citpat/news/index.ssf/2008/11/economy_costs_forcing_paper_to.html
Ann Arbor:
http://www.mlive.com/annarbornews/news/index.ssf/2008/12/editors_column_the_ann_arbor_n.html
Sunday, December 14, 2008
More on Booth from the Ann Arbor perspective
Jim Carty has some reflections on a column by the Ann Arbor editor in this morning's paper reference the continuing Booth downsizing.
You can read it all here and follow the links to more:
http://papertigernomore.blogspot.com/2008/12/ed-speaks.html
You can read it all here and follow the links to more:
http://papertigernomore.blogspot.com/2008/12/ed-speaks.html
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