It is hard to watch the unfolding fires in Southern California. First, because it is always sad to see folks watching an approaching disaster that there is little they can do to stop.
But in this case, and I'm sure my sister Pam, will agree because we lived through this terror so many times as children living in La Crescenta in the foothills of Los Angeles.
The current fires are threatening areas of Altadena, Pasadena and La Canada (not to mention the Jet Propulsion Laboratory being in the mix) and could soon move into our old neighborhood on Briggs Terrace in La Crescenta.
As a young man in the 1950s I remember these fires, which seem to return every three years. It would take that long for the brush and grass to regrow after a previous fire and then the days would become thick with smoke and the nights bright with flames.
One time the fires got so close that our house was only two or three blocks out of the mandatory evacuation area and I remember seeing my stepfather on the roof of the house watering it down with a garden hose to extinguish the burning embers falling on it.
Some of our neighbors, who foolishly installed wooden shake roofs, were equally busy keeping their roofs wet.
Pray for those firefighters that they will remain safe. These fires move very quickly and can turn and trap firefighters in a moment.
As an aside that windy road at the north end of the map (Hwy 2) is Angles Crest Highway and our high school driver's training instructor (my math teacher as I recall) used to make us drive up there and learn how to negotiate the hairpin turns. On a date night there were great views of the City of Los Angeles after a movie and a dinner.
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Saturday, August 29, 2009
Inside Out: An array of Advance news
Over on Inside Out plenty of links to Advance changes and moves.
Friday, August 28, 2009
The sound of the men working on the chain gang
Tonight that sound is tired. I love the fall and football. One of the fun things I have been able to do in the fast few years is be a regular member of a high school football chain gang.
The game tonight was one of those up and down the field affairs that kept us running all of the first half and much of the second half. I think the final score was 39-21, but it could have been higher, I quit watching the scoreboard after the start of the fourth quarter.
We were quietly rooting for sacks and short runs by the end of the game, but what we got were long run backs and long successful passes.
Still, the chain gang has the best seat in the house and the crew I work with has a lot of fun. But we're hoping for a more defensive struggle next time.
The game tonight was one of those up and down the field affairs that kept us running all of the first half and much of the second half. I think the final score was 39-21, but it could have been higher, I quit watching the scoreboard after the start of the fourth quarter.
We were quietly rooting for sacks and short runs by the end of the game, but what we got were long run backs and long successful passes.
Still, the chain gang has the best seat in the house and the crew I work with has a lot of fun. But we're hoping for a more defensive struggle next time.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Print versus online ad revenue: Guess who wins
For all those online gurus who want to dump the print product you might want to check this article in the Columbia Journalism Review.
Some of you have noticed I signed up for Google ads in May. I did it as an experiment to see even with my less than modest traffic how much money I could make off the blog.
Since May, I've had 43,000 hits and that translates into - ta da - $14.16 worth of revenue. Only 24 of you folks have bothered to click on the ads at all.
Google doesn't send you a check until you tally $100, so I'm looking for that first check sometime next year, late next year.
Some of you have noticed I signed up for Google ads in May. I did it as an experiment to see even with my less than modest traffic how much money I could make off the blog.
Since May, I've had 43,000 hits and that translates into - ta da - $14.16 worth of revenue. Only 24 of you folks have bothered to click on the ads at all.
Google doesn't send you a check until you tally $100, so I'm looking for that first check sometime next year, late next year.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
More newspaper news
Hadn't stopped by Fading to Black for awhile, but lots of new essays and posts there. Some interesting newspaper news.
Editors getting the blame, and I'm not the source
Over on Newspaper Death Watch is an essay about why newspapers are really failing. Lots of good stuff there.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
More travels by the Beecher board
A follow up to the Beecher travel story of last week, has produced more records of excessive travel and expenses by the five-member Beecher Board.
As experienced reporters disappear from the ranks of newspapers there will be less of these kinds of investigative pieces.
More watchdogs, more corruption stories. Corruption will never go away, but with fewer people watching we won't hear about it.
As experienced reporters disappear from the ranks of newspapers there will be less of these kinds of investigative pieces.
More watchdogs, more corruption stories. Corruption will never go away, but with fewer people watching we won't hear about it.
Victory MSU! Go State!
Just in time for football season a couple great reminders of why fall along the Red Cedar River is best.
And this great "Thriller" half time performance.
And this great "Thriller" half time performance.
Detroit News, new source for the Flint Journal
Several FFE readers sent along the following link about the Michigan School for the Deaf forming a football team and the fact that the school, which sits on Ground Zero of the Journal's subscription area didn't even rate a phone call from the paper.
The paper merely linked to a Detroit News story about the possible football season.
A lot of folks, besides me, are confused by this new model for covering home town news.
One writer mentioned: "I guess with the downsized staff there isn't even time for one phone call to do your own story."
The paper merely linked to a Detroit News story about the possible football season.
A lot of folks, besides me, are confused by this new model for covering home town news.
One writer mentioned: "I guess with the downsized staff there isn't even time for one phone call to do your own story."
Sunday, August 23, 2009
"Where are my dancing Indians?"
Nearly two years after I started this blog to recount the great, and not so great, moments in my 30-year journalism career I remembered one of the most disturbing editor moments in my tenure.
Well, actually, not directly my career, but anyone who worked at the Oakland Press in the 1980s will clearly recall the “dancing Indians” incident.
(To my dear friend “cat paws” feel free to chime in with your intimate knowledge of this incident).
No, I have not lost my mind with the culturally insensitive and politically incorrect description, “dancing Indians.” The term came right out of the mouth of an angry editor and the story is 100 percent true.
In the early 1980s, there was a controversy brewing in Waterford Township over the development of a piece of property that had some connection to a local Native American tribe.
One of the people upset by the pending development dropped a dime on an editor about a “big” protest that would occur at the next Township board meeting. Native Americans (my term) were expected to turn out in huge numbers to let their anger be known at the meeting.
The excited editor dispatched a reporter and photographer to the meeting in anticipation of a huge protest that hopefully involved dozens of Native Americans dressed in traditional loin cloths and wearing feathered head dress.
When the reporter and photographer arrived at the meeting, they found no one outside and only two people inside to speak in opposition to the development. Both were in traditional American business suits and instead of carrying a bow and arrow were armed with briefcases.
The two men, one was an attorney for the tribe as I recall, spoke in respectful tones to the Township Board about the tribe’s concerns and how the objections could be overcome without a huge lawsuit.
Returning from the assignment, the reporter and photographer filed a story that accurately reflected what transpired at the meeting. The picture was of a lawyer in a business suit addressing the township board.
After the editor who assigned the story began to edit it, he was livid.
“Where are the dancing Indians?,” he yelled across the newsroom. “I sent you to get dancing Indians and you bring me back this?”
Despite the protests of the reporter and photographer, it took a long time to calm the editor down and convince him that there were no “dancing Indians.”
“I was told there would be dancing Indians,” the editor protested.
From that moment on, any outrageous story assignment was frequently referred to as a “dancing Indians” assignment. Any reporter at the OP knew immediately what a colleague meant when they said I’m off on a “dancing Indians” assignment.
Well, actually, not directly my career, but anyone who worked at the Oakland Press in the 1980s will clearly recall the “dancing Indians” incident.
(To my dear friend “cat paws” feel free to chime in with your intimate knowledge of this incident).
No, I have not lost my mind with the culturally insensitive and politically incorrect description, “dancing Indians.” The term came right out of the mouth of an angry editor and the story is 100 percent true.
In the early 1980s, there was a controversy brewing in Waterford Township over the development of a piece of property that had some connection to a local Native American tribe.
One of the people upset by the pending development dropped a dime on an editor about a “big” protest that would occur at the next Township board meeting. Native Americans (my term) were expected to turn out in huge numbers to let their anger be known at the meeting.
The excited editor dispatched a reporter and photographer to the meeting in anticipation of a huge protest that hopefully involved dozens of Native Americans dressed in traditional loin cloths and wearing feathered head dress.
When the reporter and photographer arrived at the meeting, they found no one outside and only two people inside to speak in opposition to the development. Both were in traditional American business suits and instead of carrying a bow and arrow were armed with briefcases.
The two men, one was an attorney for the tribe as I recall, spoke in respectful tones to the Township Board about the tribe’s concerns and how the objections could be overcome without a huge lawsuit.
Returning from the assignment, the reporter and photographer filed a story that accurately reflected what transpired at the meeting. The picture was of a lawyer in a business suit addressing the township board.
After the editor who assigned the story began to edit it, he was livid.
“Where are the dancing Indians?,” he yelled across the newsroom. “I sent you to get dancing Indians and you bring me back this?”
Despite the protests of the reporter and photographer, it took a long time to calm the editor down and convince him that there were no “dancing Indians.”
“I was told there would be dancing Indians,” the editor protested.
From that moment on, any outrageous story assignment was frequently referred to as a “dancing Indians” assignment. Any reporter at the OP knew immediately what a colleague meant when they said I’m off on a “dancing Indians” assignment.
For beta or worse, a 1994 video that has come true
My stepdaughter Elin sent me this link to a 1994 Knight-Ridder video that was both on and off the mark in relation to newspapers. Very interesting to see how far back the thinking goes. Advance and Booth came to the party even later. It was posted on the blog Forbetaorworse.com.
Santa Cruz: Where freedom rings in your ears
Just a quick video from You Tube courtesy of the craziest City Council in the country - Santa Cruz, California. I feel a beauty pageant in this young woman's future. My two sons, granddaughter and even a few friends live there. I get a lot of hits every month from Santa Cruz. For a good time go to Youtube.com and search for Crazy Santa Cruz public comments. It's better than anything on TV.
What of the clipping services now?
The death of the Ann Arbor News brought up some interesting questions in this Columbus Dispatch (I'll let go the irony of the Columbus paper lamenting the death of an Ann Arbor anything) article.
Did I ever tell you about the winter of '44?
Yesterday, Saturday, August 22nd we said good-bye to my father-in-law Red Uleskey in a brief military graveside service at the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Ebenezer (West Seneca) New York.
Frankly, it was more of a service than Red wanted. His desire was no service at all. This seemed contradictory coming from a man who used to serve on a local VFW Post’s honor guard. In the end, his daughters decided they needed at least a brief ceremony to help close the book for them.
The group of attendees was small, immediate family only and a captain and sergeant from the New York Army National Guard to serve as an honor guard. Red’s wife, Joan, clutched a favorite photograph of Red wearing his VFW honor guard uniform, a picture that appeared in the Buffalo News many years ago.
It was a warm, sunny day and the service started at noon. It was over by 12:10 p.m. In those ten minutes were plenty of tears and at the end a little laughter, courtesy of my mother-in-law Joan who chimed in with a comment so poignant and telling that it almost brought a small smile from the stoic Army captain who had just presented my mother-in-law Red’s burial flag.
As is tradition, even in the case of a cremation, the flag that would normally cover a casket was present and folded next to the small, metal box containing Red’s ashes. Following the playing of “Taps” the honor guard opened the folded flag and then re-folded it in front of the family.
The captain then got down on one knee and offered the flag to Joan with the traditional Army statement: “This flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service.” (Each military branch does a slightly different statement).
As the captain’s white-gloved hand placed the flag in Joan’s lap, as she sat in her wheelchair, she put her right hand, the one not frozen by her stroke on top of the officer's hand, looked up at him and said the words that brought us to tears and laughter: “Did I ever tell you about the winter of ’44?”
Our laughter caught the Army captain slightly off guard and he successfully stifled a brief smile that started coming over his face.
So where did the question come from and why did we laugh and cry?
As I have written previously, Red joined the Army during World War II and was assigned to the Army’s 75th Division, the so-called “diaper division” owing to the young ages of its members. The Division arrived in France and was thrust into action in December 1944 in the middle of the fierce Battle of the Bulge.
It was trial by fire and it was in the most extreme circumstances and horrific weather. The Germans tried to take advantage of the miserable weather and poor conditions to push back against the Allies counter-invasion that began with D-Day.
The fierceness of the battle, the extreme cold and snow – even for a guy from Buffalo, New York – left an internal tattoo on Red’s being. The winter of 1944 is the extreme test of his life by which all other difficulties were measured.
In Red’s declining years, almost every night when he was tucked into bed by his wife Joan, he would look at her and say: “Did I ever tell you about the winter of ’44?”
It was his way of saying no matter how bad things were, they could never be as bad as they were in the winter of 1944. The young Army captain, who heard the laughter and saw the tears, could not have known the impact of Joan’s question, but we did.
My mother-in-law, who suffered a debilitating stroke in April, is living her own ‘winter of ’44.’
During this difficult time she is leaning on Red’s strength, that quiet toughness that spoke to him every day, that while life was tough, it would never be as tough as it was in that awful winter of 1944.
Red let those difficult days in the Ardennes region in Europe refine his life, not define it. It would be great if all of us could take our “winters of ‘44” and use them for strength and not for defeat.
After the honor guard left, my sister-in-law Diane read the 23rd Psalm and then Red’s wife clutched the metal box with Red’s ashes in her lap for a minute and then returned it to the stand. Red’s wife and three daughters then took turns laying four red carnations next to the box before we left the cemetery.
And just like that the service was over and we all left the cemetery. Rest in peace, Red.
Frankly, it was more of a service than Red wanted. His desire was no service at all. This seemed contradictory coming from a man who used to serve on a local VFW Post’s honor guard. In the end, his daughters decided they needed at least a brief ceremony to help close the book for them.
The group of attendees was small, immediate family only and a captain and sergeant from the New York Army National Guard to serve as an honor guard. Red’s wife, Joan, clutched a favorite photograph of Red wearing his VFW honor guard uniform, a picture that appeared in the Buffalo News many years ago.
It was a warm, sunny day and the service started at noon. It was over by 12:10 p.m. In those ten minutes were plenty of tears and at the end a little laughter, courtesy of my mother-in-law Joan who chimed in with a comment so poignant and telling that it almost brought a small smile from the stoic Army captain who had just presented my mother-in-law Red’s burial flag.
As is tradition, even in the case of a cremation, the flag that would normally cover a casket was present and folded next to the small, metal box containing Red’s ashes. Following the playing of “Taps” the honor guard opened the folded flag and then re-folded it in front of the family.
The captain then got down on one knee and offered the flag to Joan with the traditional Army statement: “This flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service.” (Each military branch does a slightly different statement).
As the captain’s white-gloved hand placed the flag in Joan’s lap, as she sat in her wheelchair, she put her right hand, the one not frozen by her stroke on top of the officer's hand, looked up at him and said the words that brought us to tears and laughter: “Did I ever tell you about the winter of ’44?”
Our laughter caught the Army captain slightly off guard and he successfully stifled a brief smile that started coming over his face.
So where did the question come from and why did we laugh and cry?
As I have written previously, Red joined the Army during World War II and was assigned to the Army’s 75th Division, the so-called “diaper division” owing to the young ages of its members. The Division arrived in France and was thrust into action in December 1944 in the middle of the fierce Battle of the Bulge.
It was trial by fire and it was in the most extreme circumstances and horrific weather. The Germans tried to take advantage of the miserable weather and poor conditions to push back against the Allies counter-invasion that began with D-Day.
The fierceness of the battle, the extreme cold and snow – even for a guy from Buffalo, New York – left an internal tattoo on Red’s being. The winter of 1944 is the extreme test of his life by which all other difficulties were measured.
In Red’s declining years, almost every night when he was tucked into bed by his wife Joan, he would look at her and say: “Did I ever tell you about the winter of ’44?”
It was his way of saying no matter how bad things were, they could never be as bad as they were in the winter of 1944. The young Army captain, who heard the laughter and saw the tears, could not have known the impact of Joan’s question, but we did.
My mother-in-law, who suffered a debilitating stroke in April, is living her own ‘winter of ’44.’
During this difficult time she is leaning on Red’s strength, that quiet toughness that spoke to him every day, that while life was tough, it would never be as tough as it was in that awful winter of 1944.
Red let those difficult days in the Ardennes region in Europe refine his life, not define it. It would be great if all of us could take our “winters of ‘44” and use them for strength and not for defeat.
After the honor guard left, my sister-in-law Diane read the 23rd Psalm and then Red’s wife clutched the metal box with Red’s ashes in her lap for a minute and then returned it to the stand. Red’s wife and three daughters then took turns laying four red carnations next to the box before we left the cemetery.
And just like that the service was over and we all left the cemetery. Rest in peace, Red.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Pontiac Police - Michael Jackson video found!
Update: I have been corrected as the identify of the female officer to the right (left as you view the video) of MJ. That was another female officer with the first name Janie. Susan is almost directly behind MJ.
Nearly two months ago I posted an item about my former wife, a Pontiac Police detective, being in a picture and video with Michael Jackson during his appearance at a concert at the Pontiac Silverdome. Susie and another reader produced the photo.
A FFE reader this morning sent me the You Tube video that includes the short (5-second at the 6:34 spot) clip of the Pontiac police officers clamoring (oops, clambering) down the stairs flanking Michael Jackson. Susie is to Jackson's immediate right as they come down the stairs. For their participation in the video they got to keep the sunglasses they were all wearing.
After watching the video, it reminded me that Jackson, for all his wierdness, was a great entertainer. I believe the stage set-up in the video also appears to be the Silverdome.
Nearly two months ago I posted an item about my former wife, a Pontiac Police detective, being in a picture and video with Michael Jackson during his appearance at a concert at the Pontiac Silverdome. Susie and another reader produced the photo.
A FFE reader this morning sent me the You Tube video that includes the short (5-second at the 6:34 spot) clip of the Pontiac police officers clamoring (oops, clambering) down the stairs flanking Michael Jackson. Susie is to Jackson's immediate right as they come down the stairs. For their participation in the video they got to keep the sunglasses they were all wearing.
After watching the video, it reminded me that Jackson, for all his wierdness, was a great entertainer. I believe the stage set-up in the video also appears to be the Silverdome.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Toll roads bug me
Toll roads bug me. First, living in Michigan we don't have toll roads. But travel out of Michigan, in almost any direction and its time to get out your wallet.
As regular readers of this blog know, my wife and I have spent a great deal of time over the past two years in Western New York.
We regularly have to travel about a 1-mile section of I-90 to get to my mother-in-laws nursing home. Yes, there's a way around them, but so long it doesn't make sense not to pay the 15 cents to use the toll road.
New York is supposedly this great liberal, green State. So why does a "green" State think it's a good idea to stop long lines of cars, twice a day during morning and afternoon commute, and have them idle for long periods of time, burning fossil fuels and going nowhere just so they can get a toll card.
What are gas taxes for, if not for fixing roads? Ohio, same thing and Illinois is the worst. Try driving in and around Chicago during anything but the middle of the night and plan on long wait periods for the privilege of paying a tax for roads you have already paid for through your gas taxes.
If I were king, or at least a Michigan legislator, I would empower the Michigan State Police to stop any car from a state that has toll roads and immediately collect $10 from the motorist. The trooper could then issue a sticker with a date on it, so the person would not have to pay again for a particular period of time.
We don't charge people from New York, Ohio, Illinois or any other state with toll roads for the privilege of driving on Michigan roads and I think it's about time we did. Heck, we could use the money too.
My rant for the day.
As regular readers of this blog know, my wife and I have spent a great deal of time over the past two years in Western New York.
We regularly have to travel about a 1-mile section of I-90 to get to my mother-in-laws nursing home. Yes, there's a way around them, but so long it doesn't make sense not to pay the 15 cents to use the toll road.
New York is supposedly this great liberal, green State. So why does a "green" State think it's a good idea to stop long lines of cars, twice a day during morning and afternoon commute, and have them idle for long periods of time, burning fossil fuels and going nowhere just so they can get a toll card.
What are gas taxes for, if not for fixing roads? Ohio, same thing and Illinois is the worst. Try driving in and around Chicago during anything but the middle of the night and plan on long wait periods for the privilege of paying a tax for roads you have already paid for through your gas taxes.
If I were king, or at least a Michigan legislator, I would empower the Michigan State Police to stop any car from a state that has toll roads and immediately collect $10 from the motorist. The trooper could then issue a sticker with a date on it, so the person would not have to pay again for a particular period of time.
We don't charge people from New York, Ohio, Illinois or any other state with toll roads for the privilege of driving on Michigan roads and I think it's about time we did. Heck, we could use the money too.
My rant for the day.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Houses from 'back in the day' saved in Flint
During my reporting career in Flint I was frequently inside homes in rundown neighborhoods.
A very recent article in the New York Times about the recovery of one Flint neighborhood, Carriage Town, prompted my mental journey back to a street in north Flint. (Hat tip to Flint Expatriates for the link).
In one case, I clearly remember a home on Josephine Street where I was interviewing a family about the death of their teenage son in a drug killing. During the interview the mother went upstairs to get a photo of their son that she wanted to use in the story.
While she was gone I was looking around the room, trying to see past the peeling paint, cracked windows and very worn carpet.
What hit me was the beautiful crown molding on the ceiling and the intricate woodwork around the windows and baseboards. It suddenly struck home that this was once a prime piece of real estate, a home of someone of means. Maybe a captain of industry, but certainly someone with a lot of moola.
After finishing the shooting story, I embarked on a project to research a bunch of addresses on Josephine Street to see who initially built the homes, who lived there over the years and why such beautiful, well-crafted homes had ended up in such horrible disrepair. Empty lots served as reminders that homes, like people, don't survive forever.
Over the next months and years, mostly on my own time and using Polk's directories (an annual publication of addresses and residents known by reporters as a 'reverse directory') I began the process of going year-by-year to see who had lived in all the homes on that one block of Josephine.
The crush of daily news reporting never left me time to finish the project, which I worked on for more than two years, but I found most of the homes were built about 1914-1920 and were, in fact, built by captains of the emerging auto companies and high local officials, judges, doctors and lawyers.
For the first 30-40 years of the homes' history they rarely changed hands. In fact, a couple residents who built the homes lived in them into the 1950s and 1960s when I assume they either moved or died.
It was in the middle to late 1960s, which corresponded to white flight that landlords purchased the homes, cut them into apartments and then rented them out. After that you could see the frequent turnover of residents and likely the beginning of the decline of the neighborhoods.
Landlords milked the homes for every dime they could squeeze out of them and they saved more dimes by not performing necessary repairs and maintenance which eventually left some of them gutted by fire or simply abandoned.
But looking up at the skilled crafts work on those moldings made me wonder how much such fine construction would cost in today's market.
My files on that project ended up in a newsroom dumpster during a push to sanitize the newsroom and make it look pretty and neat. The realization that my career was coming to an end and that office neatness trumped productivity caused me to pitch the project in a fit of frustration.
Kind of wish I had them back.
A very recent article in the New York Times about the recovery of one Flint neighborhood, Carriage Town, prompted my mental journey back to a street in north Flint. (Hat tip to Flint Expatriates for the link).
In one case, I clearly remember a home on Josephine Street where I was interviewing a family about the death of their teenage son in a drug killing. During the interview the mother went upstairs to get a photo of their son that she wanted to use in the story.
While she was gone I was looking around the room, trying to see past the peeling paint, cracked windows and very worn carpet.
What hit me was the beautiful crown molding on the ceiling and the intricate woodwork around the windows and baseboards. It suddenly struck home that this was once a prime piece of real estate, a home of someone of means. Maybe a captain of industry, but certainly someone with a lot of moola.
After finishing the shooting story, I embarked on a project to research a bunch of addresses on Josephine Street to see who initially built the homes, who lived there over the years and why such beautiful, well-crafted homes had ended up in such horrible disrepair. Empty lots served as reminders that homes, like people, don't survive forever.
Over the next months and years, mostly on my own time and using Polk's directories (an annual publication of addresses and residents known by reporters as a 'reverse directory') I began the process of going year-by-year to see who had lived in all the homes on that one block of Josephine.
The crush of daily news reporting never left me time to finish the project, which I worked on for more than two years, but I found most of the homes were built about 1914-1920 and were, in fact, built by captains of the emerging auto companies and high local officials, judges, doctors and lawyers.
For the first 30-40 years of the homes' history they rarely changed hands. In fact, a couple residents who built the homes lived in them into the 1950s and 1960s when I assume they either moved or died.
It was in the middle to late 1960s, which corresponded to white flight that landlords purchased the homes, cut them into apartments and then rented them out. After that you could see the frequent turnover of residents and likely the beginning of the decline of the neighborhoods.
Landlords milked the homes for every dime they could squeeze out of them and they saved more dimes by not performing necessary repairs and maintenance which eventually left some of them gutted by fire or simply abandoned.
But looking up at the skilled crafts work on those moldings made me wonder how much such fine construction would cost in today's market.
My files on that project ended up in a newsroom dumpster during a push to sanitize the newsroom and make it look pretty and neat. The realization that my career was coming to an end and that office neatness trumped productivity caused me to pitch the project in a fit of frustration.
Kind of wish I had them back.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
In defense of the reporters at the Flint Journal
Some recent comments on a previous post about dissatisfaction with the coverage of Flushing Township came with some pretty brutal charges.
Someone said the reporters don't care.
I still know a few, a brave few, who still work at the Journal, and although they basically avoid me like the plague over concern that their bosses might punish them for talking with the enemy, the charge they don't care is just not true.
Folks don't go into journalism because they don't care. It certainly isn't for the money and benefits, especially now as the old model is being dismantled.
No one, not in their right mind anyway, would stay in journalism unless they cared about either the idea of journalism or they cared about people.
So put me down as standing up for those few still laboring in the fields. They care, they just might not have time to show it.
By the way, here's an example of great reporting from an old pro, still at the Journal.
Here's the lede, just to whet your appetite:
BEECHER -- Five members on an obscure local water and sewer board here recently charged taxpayers $36,000 for a 19-day trip to California.
Their bills included stays at a $260-per-night hotel in San Diego, dinners of shrimp cocktail and filet mignon, even $50 tickets to Sea World -- courtesy of some of the poorest residents of Genesee County.
(They justified the Sea World experience because they could study the effects of water filtration there.)
Someone said the reporters don't care.
I still know a few, a brave few, who still work at the Journal, and although they basically avoid me like the plague over concern that their bosses might punish them for talking with the enemy, the charge they don't care is just not true.
Folks don't go into journalism because they don't care. It certainly isn't for the money and benefits, especially now as the old model is being dismantled.
No one, not in their right mind anyway, would stay in journalism unless they cared about either the idea of journalism or they cared about people.
So put me down as standing up for those few still laboring in the fields. They care, they just might not have time to show it.
By the way, here's an example of great reporting from an old pro, still at the Journal.
Here's the lede, just to whet your appetite:
BEECHER -- Five members on an obscure local water and sewer board here recently charged taxpayers $36,000 for a 19-day trip to California.
Their bills included stays at a $260-per-night hotel in San Diego, dinners of shrimp cocktail and filet mignon, even $50 tickets to Sea World -- courtesy of some of the poorest residents of Genesee County.
(They justified the Sea World experience because they could study the effects of water filtration there.)
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
A comment about fairness, my answer
This morning I posted a comment (too long to repost here but available at the following link) from a reader upset about what they see as unfair and biased coverage.
The commenter doesn't say what township, or even what newspaper, they are upset at, but I'm assuming it's a Booth paper because it mentions MLive. Among the complaints are that the reporter wrote a that was completely wrong about the success of a recall petition drive. When called on it, the newspaper simply removed it from MLive without comment.
(By the way, my rule about identities does not apply to the names of cities and townships, so feel free to let me know what you are talking about?)
Before I start let me just say I can't verify any of this, but will make some general comments about what a person can, could or should do if faced with what they believe is unfair coverage.
As to the complaint about the editorial that vanished off MLive, I can say this. If true, that would be, in my opinion, a violation of journalism ethics. Once something is posted online and people have had a chance to read it, whatever happens to that story, corrections, updates, removal, should definitely require a posting that explained what happened.
If it was a minor misspelling or something trivial, no big deal, but the removal of a story because it was wrong, or based on poor information would definitely need an explanation.
That part was easy.
The complaint is that the beat reporter is favoring one side of a recall controversy over another. One of the assertions is that the reporter came to an important meeting on the issue and sat with the supporters of one side. After the conclusion of the meeting, the commenter complained that nothing was ever written on the meeting.
Not having been at the meeting, I have no idea how or why the reporter selected a place to sit. When I used to go to meetings, I always tried to sit by myself, but frequently the gadflies, would seek you out and sit next to you. A reporter is always a tempting captive audience. Sometimes in a crowded meeting I sat next to people I didn't know, but later found out represented one side or the other.
My seat selection never was an indication of what side I supported, or even if I supported one side.
Every reporter, me included, has been accused at some time during a long career of favoring one side or the other. That goes with the territory. In fact, I used to get nervous if I was getting a lot of kudos from one side and anger from the other.
It was always better, at least for me, to have people on both sides of an issue not completely happy with the coverage. That usually meant both sides were getting their say.
In one case, a group of village officials were upset that after talking to them about an issue, I actually called the folks who were opposed to it. "Why did you talk to them?," the officials said. "Gees, I don't know, maybe to get the other side?," I said.
Sometimes it can be hard not to take sides, but it is important, maybe even vital, that when a reporter starts feeling more sympathy for one side it is probably time to spend more time with the opposing side.
Any reporter worth the ink in their pen should get itchy and nervous if they are writing a story on a controversy and have only talked to one side.
The other problem is that some groups, or individuals, are better at explaining, or spinning their information than others. Reporters need to be on guard not to let slickness or friendliness get in the way of digging into information and getting the whole story. Sometimes the less articulate person may actually be in the right.
One of the Lapeer townships I covered had a woman who came to every meeting and caused long delays with her constant complaints about nit picky, minute details of township procedures, and my favorite, Robert's Rules of Order. She also used to film the meetings.
During one meeting, she extended the meeting for at least 90-minutes longer than it had to be. While those nit-picky issues were important to her, there was no way that I would write a word of it, because my editor would never print such trivial stuff and secondly, no one, other than the gadfly herself, would ever read it.
At one meeting after listening to her complaints on-and-off from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., I finally left. I had already lost three hours of my life I wouldn't get back and wasn't about to lose another one. On the way out, the woman chased me out to the parking lot demanding to know how I could leave the meeting when she was putting up such a fine defense of Robert's Rules of Order.
Trying to be polite, I simply told her that none of what she was talking about was of vital enough interest to Flint Journal readers to warrant a story. She seemed crushed. Later, she called my editor to complain.
OK, so what does a person do when they believe they are receiving biased coverage. That's pretty obvious, but here's what I would try.
First, I would contact the reporter directly and politely (that's a key) express my dissatisfaction with the reporting and coverage. If the reporter dismissed my complaints, I'd take it to the reporter's next boss (editor) in line. If that didn't work, I'd take it to the chief editor and finally the publisher.
In this case, the writer believes or suspects that the editor has some close relationship with some of the actors on the other side. This is another complaint that is not infrequent. People often thought because I wrote something that reflected on them negatively, that therefore I must have some immoral or unhealthy relationship with the other side.
My rule was always if I had some connection to one side or the other of an issue, I wouldn't cover it. I lost the biggest part of my police beat in Pontiac, when I married one of the detectives. In fact, the first time I asked the young lady out on a date, I reported to my editor, who pulled me off the Pontiac police beat.
During teacher union contract negotiations that directly involved my current wife, I also withdrew (in the original post the word withdrew somehow showed up in yellow, I have no idea how that happened, but I just fixed it) myself from covering the issue because even if I could be fair, the appearance would be otherwise.
If, and that's a big if, there is some unholy connection between the editor and the issue this person is writing about, that should be disclosed and explained.
A letter-to-the-editor is also a possibility. But in the end, if you don't get any satisfaction I guess you'll have to buy your own newspaper.
The commenter doesn't say what township, or even what newspaper, they are upset at, but I'm assuming it's a Booth paper because it mentions MLive. Among the complaints are that the reporter wrote a that was completely wrong about the success of a recall petition drive. When called on it, the newspaper simply removed it from MLive without comment.
(By the way, my rule about identities does not apply to the names of cities and townships, so feel free to let me know what you are talking about?)
Before I start let me just say I can't verify any of this, but will make some general comments about what a person can, could or should do if faced with what they believe is unfair coverage.
As to the complaint about the editorial that vanished off MLive, I can say this. If true, that would be, in my opinion, a violation of journalism ethics. Once something is posted online and people have had a chance to read it, whatever happens to that story, corrections, updates, removal, should definitely require a posting that explained what happened.
If it was a minor misspelling or something trivial, no big deal, but the removal of a story because it was wrong, or based on poor information would definitely need an explanation.
That part was easy.
The complaint is that the beat reporter is favoring one side of a recall controversy over another. One of the assertions is that the reporter came to an important meeting on the issue and sat with the supporters of one side. After the conclusion of the meeting, the commenter complained that nothing was ever written on the meeting.
Not having been at the meeting, I have no idea how or why the reporter selected a place to sit. When I used to go to meetings, I always tried to sit by myself, but frequently the gadflies, would seek you out and sit next to you. A reporter is always a tempting captive audience. Sometimes in a crowded meeting I sat next to people I didn't know, but later found out represented one side or the other.
My seat selection never was an indication of what side I supported, or even if I supported one side.
Every reporter, me included, has been accused at some time during a long career of favoring one side or the other. That goes with the territory. In fact, I used to get nervous if I was getting a lot of kudos from one side and anger from the other.
It was always better, at least for me, to have people on both sides of an issue not completely happy with the coverage. That usually meant both sides were getting their say.
In one case, a group of village officials were upset that after talking to them about an issue, I actually called the folks who were opposed to it. "Why did you talk to them?," the officials said. "Gees, I don't know, maybe to get the other side?," I said.
Sometimes it can be hard not to take sides, but it is important, maybe even vital, that when a reporter starts feeling more sympathy for one side it is probably time to spend more time with the opposing side.
Any reporter worth the ink in their pen should get itchy and nervous if they are writing a story on a controversy and have only talked to one side.
The other problem is that some groups, or individuals, are better at explaining, or spinning their information than others. Reporters need to be on guard not to let slickness or friendliness get in the way of digging into information and getting the whole story. Sometimes the less articulate person may actually be in the right.
One of the Lapeer townships I covered had a woman who came to every meeting and caused long delays with her constant complaints about nit picky, minute details of township procedures, and my favorite, Robert's Rules of Order. She also used to film the meetings.
During one meeting, she extended the meeting for at least 90-minutes longer than it had to be. While those nit-picky issues were important to her, there was no way that I would write a word of it, because my editor would never print such trivial stuff and secondly, no one, other than the gadfly herself, would ever read it.
At one meeting after listening to her complaints on-and-off from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., I finally left. I had already lost three hours of my life I wouldn't get back and wasn't about to lose another one. On the way out, the woman chased me out to the parking lot demanding to know how I could leave the meeting when she was putting up such a fine defense of Robert's Rules of Order.
Trying to be polite, I simply told her that none of what she was talking about was of vital enough interest to Flint Journal readers to warrant a story. She seemed crushed. Later, she called my editor to complain.
OK, so what does a person do when they believe they are receiving biased coverage. That's pretty obvious, but here's what I would try.
First, I would contact the reporter directly and politely (that's a key) express my dissatisfaction with the reporting and coverage. If the reporter dismissed my complaints, I'd take it to the reporter's next boss (editor) in line. If that didn't work, I'd take it to the chief editor and finally the publisher.
In this case, the writer believes or suspects that the editor has some close relationship with some of the actors on the other side. This is another complaint that is not infrequent. People often thought because I wrote something that reflected on them negatively, that therefore I must have some immoral or unhealthy relationship with the other side.
My rule was always if I had some connection to one side or the other of an issue, I wouldn't cover it. I lost the biggest part of my police beat in Pontiac, when I married one of the detectives. In fact, the first time I asked the young lady out on a date, I reported to my editor, who pulled me off the Pontiac police beat.
During teacher union contract negotiations that directly involved my current wife, I also withdrew (in the original post the word withdrew somehow showed up in yellow, I have no idea how that happened, but I just fixed it) myself from covering the issue because even if I could be fair, the appearance would be otherwise.
If, and that's a big if, there is some unholy connection between the editor and the issue this person is writing about, that should be disclosed and explained.
A letter-to-the-editor is also a possibility. But in the end, if you don't get any satisfaction I guess you'll have to buy your own newspaper.
President Barack Obama's public essays now for sale
For a time the Prez's words on health care reform were for sale through the New York Times syndicate. For reasons known only to him, the White House initially offered an essay on health care reform exclusively to the New York Times, which then made the remarkable decision to sell it through its syndicate.
Apparently, cooler heads prevailed and now the essay will be offered free. We all know the newspaper business is bad, but when someone can make a dime off the public words of the President it might indicate how desperate it is.
Through the magic of linking here it is for free.
Apparently, cooler heads prevailed and now the essay will be offered free. We all know the newspaper business is bad, but when someone can make a dime off the public words of the President it might indicate how desperate it is.
Through the magic of linking here it is for free.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Advance partners with Microsoft for ads
Thanks to a "Boothie" I received this link in my e-mail box today. What do you all think?
More on this over on Inside Out which also has more links about the relationship.
So maybe I do get this linking thing, except that I'm not in a news business.
More on this over on Inside Out which also has more links about the relationship.
So maybe I do get this linking thing, except that I'm not in a news business.
More 'Red' philosophy
My sister-in-law Patty, has continued through a journey through my late father-in-law Red's writings. She has sent me some more gems written in Red's journals.
Some of them are likely related to his failing health in his last year:
"Every day is a good day no matter how bad it is!"
"I'm going to head for the pillow."
"If I faint, don't call the rescue squad, call the firing squad."
"Death solves many problems."
"Had a very restless day (rest-less)."
Then there are those of just a more general wisdom, things he wrote down and kept to himself and his journal:
"If you need someone, you've always got yourself"
"The only woman who truly loves a man is his mother"
"I know everything about nothing"
"Intent often leads to invention"
"I had a pretty good mind but didn't know enough to use it"
"Someone should teach the world what's important"
"You better be true to your teeth or they will be false to you!"
"Popcorn, like snowflakes, no two are a like"
"Appreciate instead of expecting"
"That's the way it goes and its almost, went"
"Taste every crumb of life"
"A tear, if sincere, is as bonding as blood"
"If you live as long as you're going to, you might as well be happy"
"It's later than you blink"
"That's a lot of Noisense" (Red wasn't big on noisy confusion).
"The first step is the wrong direction"
"I was busy doing nothing"
Patty says, more to come.
Some of them are likely related to his failing health in his last year:
"Every day is a good day no matter how bad it is!"
"I'm going to head for the pillow."
"If I faint, don't call the rescue squad, call the firing squad."
"Death solves many problems."
"Had a very restless day (rest-less)."
Then there are those of just a more general wisdom, things he wrote down and kept to himself and his journal:
"If you need someone, you've always got yourself"
"The only woman who truly loves a man is his mother"
"I know everything about nothing"
"Intent often leads to invention"
"I had a pretty good mind but didn't know enough to use it"
"Someone should teach the world what's important"
"You better be true to your teeth or they will be false to you!"
"Popcorn, like snowflakes, no two are a like"
"Appreciate instead of expecting"
"That's the way it goes and its almost, went"
"Taste every crumb of life"
"A tear, if sincere, is as bonding as blood"
"If you live as long as you're going to, you might as well be happy"
"It's later than you blink"
"That's a lot of Noisense" (Red wasn't big on noisy confusion).
"The first step is the wrong direction"
"I was busy doing nothing"
Patty says, more to come.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Buffalo's Mighty Taco gets its props
As written here before, we're big fans of the Buffalo gourmet scene. That's if you can call fish fry, pizza, beef on weck and fast food tacos 'gourmet' food.
But it's no surprise that Mighty Taco has been chosen to receive national recognition for its food.
There is one bone to pick with Mighty Taco and that happened about 9 months ago when we stopped at the West Seneca store to pick up dinner for the folks. My father-in-law was in failing health and we tried to cater to what he wanted to eat.
Red wanted a beef burrito, but he wanted it double wrapped. Bread was a major staple of Red's diet so it was not a surprise that he wanted a little extra pita around his burrito.
My mother-in-law warned me that she had asked for 'double wrap' previously, but was told it was 'not possible.' Now that seemed pretty ridiculous to me. How hard could it be to roll another piece of pita around the meal?
So I skipped the drive-through and went inside so I could explain to the cooks what we wanted.
Confidently approaching the counter my first request was for a beef burrito, but double wrap it. Here is the conversation in detail, as I remember it.
"Can't do that," the cashier said.
"Sure you can," I said. "Just take another piece of pita and wrap it around the meal and charge me a little extra, it'll be easy."
"We don't do that," the cashier said.
"Why not?," I said.
"Because we don't," the cashier said.
At this point it feels like a discussion with a 15-year-old, so I asked to speak to the manager.
Again the explanation of what I want is met with: "We just don't do that."
OK, I don't suffer fools lightly, so remembering a scene from "Five Easy Pieces" with Jack Nicholson, I give the following instruction to the manager.
"What is your cheapest burrito?," I said.
"Bean burrito, 89 cents," the manager said.
"OK, here's what WE'RE going to do. I want you to make my father-in-law's beef burrito, then I want you to make him a bean burrito, but I want you to hold the beans and take the pita that should be wrapped around the beans and instead wrap it around the beef burrito," I told the manager.
There was a long pause, a brief sign of resignation and then: "I guess we can do that," the manager said.
"I knew you could," I said.
Thinking I had pulled off a major coup, I returned to the house with the double wrapped burrito and explained how it had come about.
My mother-in-law, who is close with her wallet, was happy about the burrito, but not so happy about something else.
"Why didn't you get the beans in a cup to bring home?," she said.
But it's no surprise that Mighty Taco has been chosen to receive national recognition for its food.
There is one bone to pick with Mighty Taco and that happened about 9 months ago when we stopped at the West Seneca store to pick up dinner for the folks. My father-in-law was in failing health and we tried to cater to what he wanted to eat.
Red wanted a beef burrito, but he wanted it double wrapped. Bread was a major staple of Red's diet so it was not a surprise that he wanted a little extra pita around his burrito.
My mother-in-law warned me that she had asked for 'double wrap' previously, but was told it was 'not possible.' Now that seemed pretty ridiculous to me. How hard could it be to roll another piece of pita around the meal?
So I skipped the drive-through and went inside so I could explain to the cooks what we wanted.
Confidently approaching the counter my first request was for a beef burrito, but double wrap it. Here is the conversation in detail, as I remember it.
"Can't do that," the cashier said.
"Sure you can," I said. "Just take another piece of pita and wrap it around the meal and charge me a little extra, it'll be easy."
"We don't do that," the cashier said.
"Why not?," I said.
"Because we don't," the cashier said.
At this point it feels like a discussion with a 15-year-old, so I asked to speak to the manager.
Again the explanation of what I want is met with: "We just don't do that."
OK, I don't suffer fools lightly, so remembering a scene from "Five Easy Pieces" with Jack Nicholson, I give the following instruction to the manager.
"What is your cheapest burrito?," I said.
"Bean burrito, 89 cents," the manager said.
"OK, here's what WE'RE going to do. I want you to make my father-in-law's beef burrito, then I want you to make him a bean burrito, but I want you to hold the beans and take the pita that should be wrapped around the beans and instead wrap it around the beef burrito," I told the manager.
There was a long pause, a brief sign of resignation and then: "I guess we can do that," the manager said.
"I knew you could," I said.
Thinking I had pulled off a major coup, I returned to the house with the double wrapped burrito and explained how it had come about.
My mother-in-law, who is close with her wallet, was happy about the burrito, but not so happy about something else.
"Why didn't you get the beans in a cup to bring home?," she said.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
A good read for a Saturday
Inside Out has a good read with lots of links about a former journalist who enlisted in the Marines at 34 and was killed last week in Afghanistan.
More about the new AA2.com that I don't get
There was a simple news posting about a new leader for the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce at the new AA2.com site. Simple enough.
Then a member of the site's staff put up a link to a Crain's online story that had additional resume information about the new Chamber leader.
Here's my question. Why not pick up the phone and simply check the information and add it to your story and not drive traffic off your site to another site? One of the commenters even mentioned that.
Violating my own rule about posting links to that site you can see it here.
Then a member of the site's staff put up a link to a Crain's online story that had additional resume information about the new Chamber leader.
Here's my question. Why not pick up the phone and simply check the information and add it to your story and not drive traffic off your site to another site? One of the commenters even mentioned that.
Violating my own rule about posting links to that site you can see it here.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Flint police officer Clarence Banks - RIP
Truly sad news today with word that officer Clarence Banks, one of the truly nice police officers on the Flint Police Department died of a heart attack while off duty.
The Flint Journal has story on it today.
Just yesterday I wrote about Sgt. Bob and great source and I promised further stories on other sources in the future. Well, one of those would have been Clarence Banks who was a young officer when I started on the beat back in 1989.
He had an infectuous smile and a quiet manner that endeared him to nearly all who knew him.
Banks was another of those people who I never heard speak ill of any one else and while he was not often in a position to help me with on the record information, he often led me in the right direction. Sometimes we just kept each other company at the yellow tape barricades at a crime scene.
Like Sgt. Bob, another of those who I truly missed after my beat moved me out of Flint.
It is my understanding that Officer Banks was contemplating retirement in the near future.
Rest in peace, my friend.
The Flint Journal has story on it today.
Just yesterday I wrote about Sgt. Bob and great source and I promised further stories on other sources in the future. Well, one of those would have been Clarence Banks who was a young officer when I started on the beat back in 1989.
He had an infectuous smile and a quiet manner that endeared him to nearly all who knew him.
Banks was another of those people who I never heard speak ill of any one else and while he was not often in a position to help me with on the record information, he often led me in the right direction. Sometimes we just kept each other company at the yellow tape barricades at a crime scene.
Like Sgt. Bob, another of those who I truly missed after my beat moved me out of Flint.
It is my understanding that Officer Banks was contemplating retirement in the near future.
Rest in peace, my friend.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Sgt. Bob, thanks to a great source
"Who do you think I could ask about getting the front clip off that pick-up truck?," the man asked me on Dort Highway.
The question caught me off guard because I was covering a double fatal traffic accident during my first summer of night police reporting in Flint.
Not quite understanding the question, I asked the man again what he said. He repeated the question and added that he had been looking for the front end of that pick up truck for a long time to replace his damaged truck.
At the time he asked, one of the bodies was still squashed inside the car that had slammed into the back of the pick up truck. But, yes, the front of the truck was unscratched.
I suggested he wait for the tow truck (which was still hours away from being called) and follow it back to the storage yard.
The memory is clear because this was the accident I met a police sergeant that would become a longtime source of mine in the Flint Police Department. Not one of those "pssst, you didn't hear this from me" sources, but a guy who laid it on the line every time I asked a question.
At this same accident, I waited until it appeared the rush of activity, always present at a fatal wreck, was over and walked up to the police officer with the chevrons on his shirt. I extended my hand and introduced myself and he reciprocated.
What happened next was so unusual that I never forgot it. In dealing with police, one learns that it almost always takes time to build up a mutual trust and the expectations for getting a lot of information during those early encounters is low. At least it was for me.
I figured I would get a body count, a brief description of what happened and then a terse, call me later to get the names. After all, one of the victims was still wedged in one of the vehicles and the other victim had just arrived dead to the hospital.
"Any chance you could give me the age or cities where the victims are from?," I asked Sgt. Bob.
He looked right at me and then did something that he would do many times again, but that I wasn't prepared for during my first meeting with him. He handed me the two driver's licenses of the victims.
"Mr. Smith, take down their names, ages and cities, please don't use the addresses in the story and make sure I get them back before you leave," Sgt. Bob said. "Oh, and don't run those names until I call you later tonight and let you know I've reached their families. Give me your number."
So I scratched down the information (I wrote down the addresses so I could contact the families later, but I kept my word not to use the street addresses in the paper) and handed the licenses back. Three hours later, just before I was going off shift, my phone rang and Sgt. Bob called and said, "feel free to use their names, I've talked to their families."
Sometimes Sgt. Bob would hand me his notes as he worked at an accident scene, complete with a rough sketch of the wreck.
During my career, when other police administrators ran the other way when asked for a quote for some story my editors wanted, Sgt. Bob would volunteer a good quote and be willing to put his name on it.
Because he was honest, it often got him in trouble with his superiors, but he never held that against me. It wasn't just me either, Sgt. Bob was open to all the reporters at the Journal and treated them with an extraordinary openness.
Over the years, I would sit with Sgt. Bob and he talked to me about his family. One of his daughters was an airline pilot and he was incredibly proud of her. Sgt. Bob later rose through the ranks and because my beat changed we didn't cross paths much after 2001, but when we did see each other it was always fun reliving old times and crashes.
"Remember that Mustang that was torn in half over on Chevrolet Ave?," that kind of thing.
Those are the people and times I miss the most post-reporting. More on some other sources later. But where ever you are Sgt. Bob, thanks.
The question caught me off guard because I was covering a double fatal traffic accident during my first summer of night police reporting in Flint.
Not quite understanding the question, I asked the man again what he said. He repeated the question and added that he had been looking for the front end of that pick up truck for a long time to replace his damaged truck.
At the time he asked, one of the bodies was still squashed inside the car that had slammed into the back of the pick up truck. But, yes, the front of the truck was unscratched.
I suggested he wait for the tow truck (which was still hours away from being called) and follow it back to the storage yard.
The memory is clear because this was the accident I met a police sergeant that would become a longtime source of mine in the Flint Police Department. Not one of those "pssst, you didn't hear this from me" sources, but a guy who laid it on the line every time I asked a question.
At this same accident, I waited until it appeared the rush of activity, always present at a fatal wreck, was over and walked up to the police officer with the chevrons on his shirt. I extended my hand and introduced myself and he reciprocated.
What happened next was so unusual that I never forgot it. In dealing with police, one learns that it almost always takes time to build up a mutual trust and the expectations for getting a lot of information during those early encounters is low. At least it was for me.
I figured I would get a body count, a brief description of what happened and then a terse, call me later to get the names. After all, one of the victims was still wedged in one of the vehicles and the other victim had just arrived dead to the hospital.
"Any chance you could give me the age or cities where the victims are from?," I asked Sgt. Bob.
He looked right at me and then did something that he would do many times again, but that I wasn't prepared for during my first meeting with him. He handed me the two driver's licenses of the victims.
"Mr. Smith, take down their names, ages and cities, please don't use the addresses in the story and make sure I get them back before you leave," Sgt. Bob said. "Oh, and don't run those names until I call you later tonight and let you know I've reached their families. Give me your number."
So I scratched down the information (I wrote down the addresses so I could contact the families later, but I kept my word not to use the street addresses in the paper) and handed the licenses back. Three hours later, just before I was going off shift, my phone rang and Sgt. Bob called and said, "feel free to use their names, I've talked to their families."
Sometimes Sgt. Bob would hand me his notes as he worked at an accident scene, complete with a rough sketch of the wreck.
During my career, when other police administrators ran the other way when asked for a quote for some story my editors wanted, Sgt. Bob would volunteer a good quote and be willing to put his name on it.
Because he was honest, it often got him in trouble with his superiors, but he never held that against me. It wasn't just me either, Sgt. Bob was open to all the reporters at the Journal and treated them with an extraordinary openness.
Over the years, I would sit with Sgt. Bob and he talked to me about his family. One of his daughters was an airline pilot and he was incredibly proud of her. Sgt. Bob later rose through the ranks and because my beat changed we didn't cross paths much after 2001, but when we did see each other it was always fun reliving old times and crashes.
"Remember that Mustang that was torn in half over on Chevrolet Ave?," that kind of thing.
Those are the people and times I miss the most post-reporting. More on some other sources later. But where ever you are Sgt. Bob, thanks.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Opening at AnnArbor.com?
A former colleague of mine, one of those hired to write at the new AnnArbor.com is no longer listed as a staff writer on the site. So just three weeks into the venture, already a casualty.
Sounds like he might have landed on his feet with an Oakland County public relations firm. Good for him.
At the salaries they are paying folks at the A2.com there will be more of this as the economy recovers, which probably won't bother the suits who would prefer to hire cheap.
Anyway, good luck to my former colleague, his wife and child with the new job.
Sounds like he might have landed on his feet with an Oakland County public relations firm. Good for him.
At the salaries they are paying folks at the A2.com there will be more of this as the economy recovers, which probably won't bother the suits who would prefer to hire cheap.
Anyway, good luck to my former colleague, his wife and child with the new job.
Flint Expats on the Journal's new blogging efforts
For your morning reading, this from Flint Expatriates on the current blogging efforts at the Flint Journal.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
A thunderstorm using hands only
A friend posted this on Facebook. The opening is really amazing. The choir uses its hands and body to simulate the sound of a thunderstorm. I love creative stuff like this.
Good stuff over on Inside Out
Three new posts over at Inside Out, all worth reading. One is about a former colleague, Chris, who has made the transition from reporter-editor to college journalism professor. Plenty of good links over there as well.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Why is there anger in the health care debate? My answer to Jennifer
On Facebook, a former colleague wondered why there was so much anger about the proposed health care plan. Seemingly she didn’t understand why people would be so angry about such a good idea.
I wanted to take time to respond thoughtfully, because I’m one of those who believes there is a need for health care reform, but not sure that I understand what is being proposed and secondly, I not sure those proposing the idea even understand what it is they are proposing.
Before he was running for President, Barack Obama was an unabashed supporter or a single-payer system. But now, trying to appease all sides, he now wants a hybrid reform bill that he neither wrote nor seems to know much about.
It is my belief that the current bills in Congress are simply a trap to bring us to a single payer system. It would be more honest and refreshing if both the President and the Congress would admit it.
In the bill Congress supports (the Senate is still working on a variety of approaches) there are about 1,200 pages and not one Congress representative admits to even reading the bill. If you plan to make fundamental and sweeping changes to something as important as health care, you owe it to your constituents to read the dang bill. Every rambling, lawyer inscribed page of it.
Secondly, when did angry protests become such a problem for Democrats or the left. Heck, they basically invented the organized protest. Which brings me to my next problem with the health care debate.
It is not a debate at all. President Obama said he just wants all those who oppose his bill to get out of the way. Democracy and a Republic simply don’t work that way. Did then Senator Obama or the Democrats get out of Bush’s way when he wanted to push his agenda?
Just because you get elected President doesn’t mean you own the football and can decide all by yourself who plays the game, who wins, who loses and whether the game is played at all. You would think Democrats, after the last eight years, would understand that better than most.
The greatest community organizer of recent times shouldn’t complain that someone is using community organizing to be heard on a matter of great importance.
Let’s not forget we have already seen trillions flushed down a drain on rushed legislation both before and after President Obama’s election. If you go back to my postings from September 2008 you will see that I was totally opposed to the first bail out and remain opposed to all those since.
The first Obama stimulus plan was supposed to arrest unemployment at 8 percent or below. How did that work out? People don't believe their President and they don't believe their representatives anymore. Who could blame them?
Lately, we’ve seen Congress drop another $3 billion so my neighbors can buy a new car, subsidized by me and you. The Cash for Clunkers ran out of money three months faster than Congress anticipated. Imagine if they miss the mark that much with health care.
Wanting to confront a congress representative is a time honored right and tradition in America. Angry mobs are what brought America into existence. So don’t get mad at the mobs, get mad that you can’t explain what you are trying to do. It’s not my style, but as long as it works, the left and right will continue to use it.
The fact that none of this even goes into effect for three or four years gives us time to debate and work on a real reform for health care. And not a plan that just pleases Congress and the President, but one that the majority of the people will be satisfied with as well. That only makes sense.
My political leanings are basically Libertarian. I have little use for Republican or Democrat hacks. They live where the air doesn’t move. They abuse corporate CEOs for flying on private jets at the same time they are ordering an 8-plane private fleet for themselves.
They have the world’s best health care. They have a choice of top private medical plans and access to their own clinic and doctors. When asked if they will scrap their plan and join the one they propose for us the answer is pretty vague.
So here’s my idea. I think health care reform is an extremely important issue, one that needs to be addressed sooner than later. Of course, Social Security and Medicare are other extremely important funding issues that also need addressing.
The Congressional races are coming up in 2010, I think both parties should come up with their best plans for dealing with health care reforms. They should also explain how much the plans will cost and who will pay for them and how. Then the folks running for office should choose which of the plans they support and run on that.
That will basically turn the 2010 mid-term elections into a referendum on health care reform. People can vote for the single-payer plan or a reform plan that stops short of that. Then based on the results of that election, then Congress will have a sense and maybe even a consensus of what people want.
But what we don’t need is Congressional representatives shutting down debate or maligning folks who are expressing their First Amendment Rights, organized or not.
So Jennifer, I don’t know if that explains why people are angry, but the lack of respect for dissent – on both sides – is a disturbing trend.
I wanted to take time to respond thoughtfully, because I’m one of those who believes there is a need for health care reform, but not sure that I understand what is being proposed and secondly, I not sure those proposing the idea even understand what it is they are proposing.
Before he was running for President, Barack Obama was an unabashed supporter or a single-payer system. But now, trying to appease all sides, he now wants a hybrid reform bill that he neither wrote nor seems to know much about.
It is my belief that the current bills in Congress are simply a trap to bring us to a single payer system. It would be more honest and refreshing if both the President and the Congress would admit it.
In the bill Congress supports (the Senate is still working on a variety of approaches) there are about 1,200 pages and not one Congress representative admits to even reading the bill. If you plan to make fundamental and sweeping changes to something as important as health care, you owe it to your constituents to read the dang bill. Every rambling, lawyer inscribed page of it.
Secondly, when did angry protests become such a problem for Democrats or the left. Heck, they basically invented the organized protest. Which brings me to my next problem with the health care debate.
It is not a debate at all. President Obama said he just wants all those who oppose his bill to get out of the way. Democracy and a Republic simply don’t work that way. Did then Senator Obama or the Democrats get out of Bush’s way when he wanted to push his agenda?
Just because you get elected President doesn’t mean you own the football and can decide all by yourself who plays the game, who wins, who loses and whether the game is played at all. You would think Democrats, after the last eight years, would understand that better than most.
The greatest community organizer of recent times shouldn’t complain that someone is using community organizing to be heard on a matter of great importance.
Let’s not forget we have already seen trillions flushed down a drain on rushed legislation both before and after President Obama’s election. If you go back to my postings from September 2008 you will see that I was totally opposed to the first bail out and remain opposed to all those since.
The first Obama stimulus plan was supposed to arrest unemployment at 8 percent or below. How did that work out? People don't believe their President and they don't believe their representatives anymore. Who could blame them?
Lately, we’ve seen Congress drop another $3 billion so my neighbors can buy a new car, subsidized by me and you. The Cash for Clunkers ran out of money three months faster than Congress anticipated. Imagine if they miss the mark that much with health care.
Wanting to confront a congress representative is a time honored right and tradition in America. Angry mobs are what brought America into existence. So don’t get mad at the mobs, get mad that you can’t explain what you are trying to do. It’s not my style, but as long as it works, the left and right will continue to use it.
The fact that none of this even goes into effect for three or four years gives us time to debate and work on a real reform for health care. And not a plan that just pleases Congress and the President, but one that the majority of the people will be satisfied with as well. That only makes sense.
My political leanings are basically Libertarian. I have little use for Republican or Democrat hacks. They live where the air doesn’t move. They abuse corporate CEOs for flying on private jets at the same time they are ordering an 8-plane private fleet for themselves.
They have the world’s best health care. They have a choice of top private medical plans and access to their own clinic and doctors. When asked if they will scrap their plan and join the one they propose for us the answer is pretty vague.
So here’s my idea. I think health care reform is an extremely important issue, one that needs to be addressed sooner than later. Of course, Social Security and Medicare are other extremely important funding issues that also need addressing.
The Congressional races are coming up in 2010, I think both parties should come up with their best plans for dealing with health care reforms. They should also explain how much the plans will cost and who will pay for them and how. Then the folks running for office should choose which of the plans they support and run on that.
That will basically turn the 2010 mid-term elections into a referendum on health care reform. People can vote for the single-payer plan or a reform plan that stops short of that. Then based on the results of that election, then Congress will have a sense and maybe even a consensus of what people want.
But what we don’t need is Congressional representatives shutting down debate or maligning folks who are expressing their First Amendment Rights, organized or not.
So Jennifer, I don’t know if that explains why people are angry, but the lack of respect for dissent – on both sides – is a disturbing trend.
Competition in the news business fades
This is not a criticism of AnnArbor.com, just an observation. If there is any major change in the relationship between news competitors it is not better observed than an article on AnnArbor.com this morning, which simply links to a Detroit Free Press sports story.
In the previous model, the sports department would scramble to mine its sources and come up with a story of its own on such a major event. Now it appears the attitude is one of surrender. We got scooped, let's not waste time, we'll just admit we missed a story and run the competition's story.
It's hard for old journalism minds like mine to wrap around this kind of reporting, but I'm willing to believe with the staff shrinkage, probably inevitable.
In the previous model, the sports department would scramble to mine its sources and come up with a story of its own on such a major event. Now it appears the attitude is one of surrender. We got scooped, let's not waste time, we'll just admit we missed a story and run the competition's story.
It's hard for old journalism minds like mine to wrap around this kind of reporting, but I'm willing to believe with the staff shrinkage, probably inevitable.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
"That's the way of that!" Sayings by Red Uleskey
In the month since my father-in-law's death, my sister-in-law, Patricia, has been going through one of the many journals kept by Red. While Red was a simple man, he was a deep thinker and often surprised us with his quips and wit.
So we are getting more of an appreciation of him by reading the daily notes he made in his journal. Not all are originals, but sayings that he decided were important enough to write in his book.
Patty hasn't gone very far through the books, but here are a sample of some of our favorites from his most recent writings. Some will require a paragraph or two of set-up so the reader will understand the context.
Some have a hint of poetry, some of great wisdom and some are just funny. Here's a partial early list. More to come.
In his last year, Red was mostly in his wheelchair. One day his three daughters were sitting around him talking with each other about household issues, shopping lists, etc. Suddenly after a long period of time of him listening to the conversation (and wanting to be wheeled into bed) Red, with a wry grin, said:
"Does anyone care about my problem?"
In discussing his future funeral plans Red was talking about the involvement in his plans of his nephew, Patrick, the funeral director.
"We want to see Patrick eye to eye"
In his last year there were many times that family, lots of them, converged on the small Uleskey household. A 900-square-foot tract home with one bathroom things could get crowded. At times groups would leave for shopping trips or to get away. One time Red said this and later wrote it in his book:
"I am glad they are all here but somewhere else."
During his last year, he had a "pic" line inserted into a vein for use in giving medicine and taking blood samples, or something like that. He offered this gem when told he was getting the line.
"We hope the pic line is not in 'vein'"
Sometimes Red took a break in a nice recliner chair in his Ham radio room, a spare bedroom on the first floor, which he called his "shack." One day his three daughters were searching for him and couldn't find him momentarily in the small home. The women were calling out to each other "Where's Dad?" A man's voice called out from the room:
"Where is your father? He's in the shack to be exact."
Red was undone about all the fuss that had to go on around him in his last year. You could tell he often tired of having people running around getting him things, helping him with his clothes, etc. This was what he wrote in his journal:
"There's only one of me and maybe that's one too many."
Another thing he got fed up with was the many pills and medicines he had to take. Thus this little note penned into the book:
"I am all pilled out."
Some of the items need little or no explanation.
"We're lost but we know where we are"
"There's no place like home"
"Mom's late for mammogram - I think we can squeeze it in"
"I can't afford to get frisky, I've got too much money in the bank"
"Only cry when it hurts"
"What's the difference between a yam and a sweet potato, who gives a yam!"
"Too late we get smart"
"Don't follow too close" a quote from a cemetery stone ("I'll live up to it")
"Iraq - frought for naught" (I believe the misspelling was deliberate - a combination of fraught and fought)
"I can fix anything that works"
"It's a women's prerogative to change her mind, that's why the asylums are 90% full of married men!!"
"That's the way of that"
"Love takes sincerity"
"Life is but a matter of time"
"Don't waste your time unless it improves your mind"
"Enjoy the moment, everyone"
"My body got so old it doesn't tell me anymore about aches and pains"
"No one is exempt from being polite"
So we are getting more of an appreciation of him by reading the daily notes he made in his journal. Not all are originals, but sayings that he decided were important enough to write in his book.
Patty hasn't gone very far through the books, but here are a sample of some of our favorites from his most recent writings. Some will require a paragraph or two of set-up so the reader will understand the context.
Some have a hint of poetry, some of great wisdom and some are just funny. Here's a partial early list. More to come.
In his last year, Red was mostly in his wheelchair. One day his three daughters were sitting around him talking with each other about household issues, shopping lists, etc. Suddenly after a long period of time of him listening to the conversation (and wanting to be wheeled into bed) Red, with a wry grin, said:
"Does anyone care about my problem?"
In discussing his future funeral plans Red was talking about the involvement in his plans of his nephew, Patrick, the funeral director.
"We want to see Patrick eye to eye"
In his last year there were many times that family, lots of them, converged on the small Uleskey household. A 900-square-foot tract home with one bathroom things could get crowded. At times groups would leave for shopping trips or to get away. One time Red said this and later wrote it in his book:
"I am glad they are all here but somewhere else."
During his last year, he had a "pic" line inserted into a vein for use in giving medicine and taking blood samples, or something like that. He offered this gem when told he was getting the line.
"We hope the pic line is not in 'vein'"
Sometimes Red took a break in a nice recliner chair in his Ham radio room, a spare bedroom on the first floor, which he called his "shack." One day his three daughters were searching for him and couldn't find him momentarily in the small home. The women were calling out to each other "Where's Dad?" A man's voice called out from the room:
"Where is your father? He's in the shack to be exact."
Red was undone about all the fuss that had to go on around him in his last year. You could tell he often tired of having people running around getting him things, helping him with his clothes, etc. This was what he wrote in his journal:
"There's only one of me and maybe that's one too many."
Another thing he got fed up with was the many pills and medicines he had to take. Thus this little note penned into the book:
"I am all pilled out."
Some of the items need little or no explanation.
"We're lost but we know where we are"
"There's no place like home"
"Mom's late for mammogram - I think we can squeeze it in"
"I can't afford to get frisky, I've got too much money in the bank"
"Only cry when it hurts"
"What's the difference between a yam and a sweet potato, who gives a yam!"
"Too late we get smart"
"Don't follow too close" a quote from a cemetery stone ("I'll live up to it")
"Iraq - frought for naught" (I believe the misspelling was deliberate - a combination of fraught and fought)
"I can fix anything that works"
"It's a women's prerogative to change her mind, that's why the asylums are 90% full of married men!!"
"That's the way of that"
"Love takes sincerity"
"Life is but a matter of time"
"Don't waste your time unless it improves your mind"
"Enjoy the moment, everyone"
"My body got so old it doesn't tell me anymore about aches and pains"
"No one is exempt from being polite"
Ken Doctor: 800,000 unwritten news stories this year
Paul Gillin over at Newspaper Death Watch has a 33-minute interview with Ken Doctor about the recent newspaper travails. The audio player is at the end of the story.
Much about the interview I have disagreements with, but there is also much that where he is right on. By his math, with the number of newsroom layoffs there have been 800,000 fewer news stories written in 2009 than in 2005 before the newspaper downturn began.
The fact that he cites Jeff Jarvis as some kind of guru, considering his work on the pathetic MLive.com site is troubling, but he has some decent thoughts about new online ventures.
About 13 minutes into the interview he admits that even with the downturn, 85 percent of a news organization's revenue still comes from the print product. This dirty little secret always gets a passing mention by the folks who tout the online product, but it is still significant that the cuts come in the print product to support the online product and the revenue support is exactly the opposite.
For all the support of online, Ken Doctor rightly points out that an online subscription model probably will not work either.
But he has some good points about how media must move forward. If you have a spare 33 minutes it might be worth your time, especially if you are a news junkie like me.
Much about the interview I have disagreements with, but there is also much that where he is right on. By his math, with the number of newsroom layoffs there have been 800,000 fewer news stories written in 2009 than in 2005 before the newspaper downturn began.
The fact that he cites Jeff Jarvis as some kind of guru, considering his work on the pathetic MLive.com site is troubling, but he has some decent thoughts about new online ventures.
About 13 minutes into the interview he admits that even with the downturn, 85 percent of a news organization's revenue still comes from the print product. This dirty little secret always gets a passing mention by the folks who tout the online product, but it is still significant that the cuts come in the print product to support the online product and the revenue support is exactly the opposite.
For all the support of online, Ken Doctor rightly points out that an online subscription model probably will not work either.
But he has some good points about how media must move forward. If you have a spare 33 minutes it might be worth your time, especially if you are a news junkie like me.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Congress plans to spend $550 million for private jets
Are these Washington clowns serious? After making a huge issue over the auto execs flying into Washington, D.C. on corporate jets, comes this story in the Huffington Post.
So Congress wants to spend $550 million to upgrade their fleet of private jets so they can fly their pointless butts all over the country, on our dime while they tell us we need a health care system far less than what they currently enjoy.
The arrogance of Congress (Republicans and Democrats), in my humble opinion, is everything that is wrong with this country. Let these lawmakers fly sandwiched into coach class on a Northworst (Delta) flight and maybe, just maybe, they might get a taste of what it's like to live in the real world, the one they know nothing about.
We need to throw all the bums out. They defend legislation they haven't read and can't explain, and then criticize and demean the citizens who question them. This is Alice in Wonderland time.
And now another round of billions to help my neighbor buy a new car, also on my dime.
All this and they are surprised they are greeted by a tar and feathers mob at their meet and greet forums when they come home. What a bunch of toads.
I thought protest, organized or not, were a part of what we call the First Amendment. To paraphrase Harry Truman: "If you can't stand the heat, quit trying to burn down the house."
Here's the deal: People want you to explain to them clearly and honestly what it is you are proposing for health care. Until you have read the bills and can do that, don't vote on it.
So Congress wants to spend $550 million to upgrade their fleet of private jets so they can fly their pointless butts all over the country, on our dime while they tell us we need a health care system far less than what they currently enjoy.
The arrogance of Congress (Republicans and Democrats), in my humble opinion, is everything that is wrong with this country. Let these lawmakers fly sandwiched into coach class on a Northworst (Delta) flight and maybe, just maybe, they might get a taste of what it's like to live in the real world, the one they know nothing about.
We need to throw all the bums out. They defend legislation they haven't read and can't explain, and then criticize and demean the citizens who question them. This is Alice in Wonderland time.
And now another round of billions to help my neighbor buy a new car, also on my dime.
All this and they are surprised they are greeted by a tar and feathers mob at their meet and greet forums when they come home. What a bunch of toads.
I thought protest, organized or not, were a part of what we call the First Amendment. To paraphrase Harry Truman: "If you can't stand the heat, quit trying to burn down the house."
Here's the deal: People want you to explain to them clearly and honestly what it is you are proposing for health care. Until you have read the bills and can do that, don't vote on it.
Pendragon: Camelot - Booth version
A poster named Pendragon spent some time writing this version of "Camelot" for a comment. It was too good to keep buried.
CAMELOT (Booth Newspapers version)
Back then we never worked too late on Friday
At 37-and-a-half we stopped
The benefits and pay were sweet in my day
In Camelot.
All layoffs were forbidden till forever
They never had to fear a union shop
Our health-care would be paid for, ending never,
In Camelot
Camelot! Camelot!
I know it sounds a bit naïve,
But in Camelot, Camelot
We wanted to believe…
Our pay came three-and-fifty times a year here
The other shoe, it seemed, would never drop
There never seemed a cause for anxious fear here
In Camelot.
Camelot! Camelot!
We always thought we were immune
But in Camelot, Camelot
It ended all too soon.
The pension, we were told, would keep on growing
We’d fill our dippers from the brimming pot
In short, we felt, there’s not
A more congenial spot
For happily-ever-aftering than here
in Camelot.
(Reprise, sung by last surviving Content Director to wide-eyed young intern:)
Each evening, from December to December,
Before your bedtime Twitter post you jot,
Think back on all the tales that you remember
Of Camelot.
Ask ev’ry person if he’s heard the story,
And Tweet it strong and clear if he has not,
That once there was a fleeting wisp of glory
Called Camelot.
Camelot! Camelot!
Now say it out with pride and joy!
“Camelot! Camelot!”
Yes, Camelot, my boy!
Where once we never worked too late on Friday
At 37-and-a-half we stopped…
Don’t let it be forgot
That once there was a spot
For one brief shining moment that was known
As Camelot.
06 August, 2009 18:00
CAMELOT (Booth Newspapers version)
Back then we never worked too late on Friday
At 37-and-a-half we stopped
The benefits and pay were sweet in my day
In Camelot.
All layoffs were forbidden till forever
They never had to fear a union shop
Our health-care would be paid for, ending never,
In Camelot
Camelot! Camelot!
I know it sounds a bit naïve,
But in Camelot, Camelot
We wanted to believe…
Our pay came three-and-fifty times a year here
The other shoe, it seemed, would never drop
There never seemed a cause for anxious fear here
In Camelot.
Camelot! Camelot!
We always thought we were immune
But in Camelot, Camelot
It ended all too soon.
The pension, we were told, would keep on growing
We’d fill our dippers from the brimming pot
In short, we felt, there’s not
A more congenial spot
For happily-ever-aftering than here
in Camelot.
(Reprise, sung by last surviving Content Director to wide-eyed young intern:)
Each evening, from December to December,
Before your bedtime Twitter post you jot,
Think back on all the tales that you remember
Of Camelot.
Ask ev’ry person if he’s heard the story,
And Tweet it strong and clear if he has not,
That once there was a fleeting wisp of glory
Called Camelot.
Camelot! Camelot!
Now say it out with pride and joy!
“Camelot! Camelot!”
Yes, Camelot, my boy!
Where once we never worked too late on Friday
At 37-and-a-half we stopped…
Don’t let it be forgot
That once there was a spot
For one brief shining moment that was known
As Camelot.
06 August, 2009 18:00
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Tigers Win!
A couple old (emphasize old) friends from my Journal days - Kim and Dave - came up with tickets to today's Detroit Tigers game. So I left work after an hour and played hookey all day at the game. Dinner in Greektown and then home. Tigers beat Baltimore 7-3 and Kim caught a fly foul ball off Carlos Guillen's bat in the second inning.
The bare handed catch, which was a ricochet off a nearby patron's stone hands, came just 30 seconds after Dave said we should have brought a mitt because we were sitting along third base in box seats.
Then Kim, holding the ball for maybe 3-4 minutes tapped the young man (10-12) sitting in the seat in front of him and handed him the ball. The kid lit up and I'll bet he never forgets the old geezer who gave up his first and only foul ball he ever caught at a baseball game. Kim is that kind of guy.
That will explain the lack of blogging today.
The game and weather were great and the company was perfect. Somedays should have a frame around them. This was one.
The bare handed catch, which was a ricochet off a nearby patron's stone hands, came just 30 seconds after Dave said we should have brought a mitt because we were sitting along third base in box seats.
Then Kim, holding the ball for maybe 3-4 minutes tapped the young man (10-12) sitting in the seat in front of him and handed him the ball. The kid lit up and I'll bet he never forgets the old geezer who gave up his first and only foul ball he ever caught at a baseball game. Kim is that kind of guy.
That will explain the lack of blogging today.
The game and weather were great and the company was perfect. Somedays should have a frame around them. This was one.
More Advance news over at Inside Out
If you are starved for Advance/Booth news head over to Inside Out today for links that will easily keep you busy for an hour or more.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
A New York Times mega correction
For my friends still laboring in the newspaper vineyard, here is a correction - out of the vaunted New York Times - that will make you feel like you should be working there and not the reporter who wrote the story. This was widely circulated so you may have already seen this.
The corrections were made July 22nd to a story written about Walter Cronkite's death. The mistakes are mind numbingly stupid.
Here's the text of the correction:
An appraisal on Saturday about Walter Cronkite’s career included a number of errors. In some copies, it misstated the date that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed and referred incorrectly to Mr. Cronkite’s coverage of D-Day. Dr. King was killed on April 4, 1968, not April 30. Mr. Cronkite covered the D-Day landing from a warplane; he did not storm the beaches. In addition, Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969, not July 26. “The CBS Evening News” overtook “The Huntley-Brinkley Report” on NBC in the ratings during the 1967-68 television season, not after Chet Huntley retired in 1970. A communications satellite used to relay correspondents’ reports from around the world was Telstar, not Telestar. Howard K. Smith was not one of the CBS correspondents Mr. Cronkite would turn to for reports from the field after he became anchor of “The CBS Evening News” in 1962; he left CBS before Mr. Cronkite was the anchor. Because of an editing error, the appraisal also misstated the name of the news agency for which Mr. Cronkite was Moscow bureau chief after World War II. At that time it was United Press, not United Press International. (Go to Article)
Here's what the Ombudsman said.
(Hat tip to Newspaper Death Watch for the links)
The corrections were made July 22nd to a story written about Walter Cronkite's death. The mistakes are mind numbingly stupid.
Here's the text of the correction:
An appraisal on Saturday about Walter Cronkite’s career included a number of errors. In some copies, it misstated the date that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed and referred incorrectly to Mr. Cronkite’s coverage of D-Day. Dr. King was killed on April 4, 1968, not April 30. Mr. Cronkite covered the D-Day landing from a warplane; he did not storm the beaches. In addition, Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969, not July 26. “The CBS Evening News” overtook “The Huntley-Brinkley Report” on NBC in the ratings during the 1967-68 television season, not after Chet Huntley retired in 1970. A communications satellite used to relay correspondents’ reports from around the world was Telstar, not Telestar. Howard K. Smith was not one of the CBS correspondents Mr. Cronkite would turn to for reports from the field after he became anchor of “The CBS Evening News” in 1962; he left CBS before Mr. Cronkite was the anchor. Because of an editing error, the appraisal also misstated the name of the news agency for which Mr. Cronkite was Moscow bureau chief after World War II. At that time it was United Press, not United Press International. (Go to Article)
Here's what the Ombudsman said.
(Hat tip to Newspaper Death Watch for the links)
Ann Arbor News alums check in about AnnArbor.com
A person who once worked for the Ann Arbor News checks in from California about AnnArbor.com.
The column captures what a lot of us have tried to express about the over-the-top expectations hyped by its management.
The column captures what a lot of us have tried to express about the over-the-top expectations hyped by its management.
AnnArbor.com: Wringing hands over cheerleading
First time over at AnnArbor.com in a couple days. Lead story: Is Cheerleading too dangerous?
It's based on a U-M study.
Also the murdered swans? Turns out the investigation shows they were most likely hit by a car. No crime, unless the driver was intoxicated.
It's based on a U-M study.
Also the murdered swans? Turns out the investigation shows they were most likely hit by a car. No crime, unless the driver was intoxicated.
Editor and Publisher confirms end to lifetime job pledge
Thanks to Inside Out for posting this link to the Editor & Publisher article.
This is an interesting contradiction as I just heard that the Flint Journal recently hired a new reporter with a familial link to its former editor. So, at the same time they are lining up targets for layoffs, they hire back a FOB. (Friend of Booth)
Trust me, they need more reporters, but what message does it send to the many people you just sent out the door that you hire back someone who lives in Lansing for a job you just had to give up because you were no longer needed.
I'd love to know what the diversity of the various Booth staffs are right now?
This is an interesting contradiction as I just heard that the Flint Journal recently hired a new reporter with a familial link to its former editor. So, at the same time they are lining up targets for layoffs, they hire back a FOB. (Friend of Booth)
Trust me, they need more reporters, but what message does it send to the many people you just sent out the door that you hire back someone who lives in Lansing for a job you just had to give up because you were no longer needed.
I'd love to know what the diversity of the various Booth staffs are right now?
Jack Lessenberry chimes in on AnnArbor.com
Jack Lessenberry has his own thoughts on the new AnnArbor.com website and print product at this Detroit Metro Times article.
Job for Life pledge: Either the pledge, or your life, just got shorter
This morning I've been inundated with a series of comments and off-line tips about the announcement of the end of the lifetime job pledge at Booth papers. That would be the papers who haven't already flushed the pledge through more draconian measures.
Word from Grand Rapids is that it was announced that the job pledge would end in February 2010 and reportedly the publisher of the Kalamazoo Gazette, in a surprise employee meeting, announced the same thing.
If those two papers have dumped the job pledge, you can bet it has ended for the Muskegon Chronicle and Jackson Cit-Pat as well.
This has to be a precursor of more layoffs and salary cuts.
Not really a big surprise. We were always "at will" employees anyway and there have been firings of a questionable nature. In one case the Flint Journal didn't defend a firing of a colleague on its merits, but on the basis that all employees were "at will" and could be let go at any time.
The "lifetime job pledge" was never worth more than the paper it was written on anyway. It was worth something in those years when you could believe "the word" of the people running the company. Today, not so much.
Word from Grand Rapids is that it was announced that the job pledge would end in February 2010 and reportedly the publisher of the Kalamazoo Gazette, in a surprise employee meeting, announced the same thing.
If those two papers have dumped the job pledge, you can bet it has ended for the Muskegon Chronicle and Jackson Cit-Pat as well.
This has to be a precursor of more layoffs and salary cuts.
Not really a big surprise. We were always "at will" employees anyway and there have been firings of a questionable nature. In one case the Flint Journal didn't defend a firing of a colleague on its merits, but on the basis that all employees were "at will" and could be let go at any time.
The "lifetime job pledge" was never worth more than the paper it was written on anyway. It was worth something in those years when you could believe "the word" of the people running the company. Today, not so much.
Journalism prof gives sneak peek at the next semester
The professor in the next term is teaching the Seven Laws of Journalism.
He doesn't mention the 8th law of Booth journalism: To get hired without any competitive process be related to someone at or near the top of leadership.
He doesn't mention the 8th law of Booth journalism: To get hired without any competitive process be related to someone at or near the top of leadership.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Inside Out: More inside stuff
Inside Out has several new posts worth looking at, including the news that Newhouse has again appointed the son of a former leader to take over his late father's CEO position at the company.
Newhouse/Advance/Booth have become a glorified employment agency for the children of its leaders. Ever wonder why their fortunes have sunk?
Newhouse/Advance/Booth have become a glorified employment agency for the children of its leaders. Ever wonder why their fortunes have sunk?
Monday, August 3, 2009
More on the online universe and copyright
David Simon: Newspapers must charge for online content
A frequent reader sent along a link to a column by famed cop reporter David Simon about the future of newspapers, journalism and the need to charge for online content.
A brief review AnnArbor.com
It's been a little over a week since AnnArbor.com made its entrance online. Late last week a friend dropped off copies of the first two print editions and I had a chance over the weekend to go through them.
The print product is graphically very attractive (except for the stupid Frenchman with a beret logo that is supposed to be an acorn). The layout is pleasing and the photos and graphics very nicely displayed. It is a much more attractive product than the Flint Journal, in my opinion.
Where it suffers is that its content is much the same as what we've already read on the online version of AnnArbor. com. But at least in the print product it's all in one place and easier to find.
Anything I say about the online version of AnnArbor.com will likely be discounted by my comments in the run up to its debut. The product is weak, I don't think any reasonable analysis could conclude otherwise.
There have been breaking news stories, but I have yet to see a decent follow up (interviews with victims or their families, etc.) to any of them. The news stories disappear rapidly and unless you get out you mining tools to dig into the site you won't see them again.
The killing of two swans had the potentially to light up the website, but the original story disappeared off the blog roll quickly. It did reappear later again, but if I were in charge, that swan story would have been up front for a day or two. Like any animal abuse story it was attracting a lot of attention and comments. It has rolled off the top of the page (above the fold in dead tree talk) again this morning.
Many of the stories appear to be rewrites or expansions of press releases from the City of Ann Arbor or the University. That may change as time goes on, but for the first week, the one where you are trying to convince people you are the real deal, it looked pretty trite.
If there is a strong point for AnnArbor.com it is in the sports department. The sports writing seems good and they are covering the run up to Michigan football pretty well. I have enjoyed the articles and if anything helps the online traffic, it will likely be sports.
As for the site itself, it has a boring appearance and looks much like my Facebook page or any number of feeds, except it has a lot more wasted space. Again, my perspective is from one who likes a newspaper format where the best story is on top and the rest is inside.
I tried linking to a quirky video produced by Jordan Miller and got flak from her about not giving her an additional written credit (Her name was already listed in the credits for the You Tube video posted). I won't make that mistake again. In the world where bringing traffic to your site is the name of the game, a simple "thank you" for posting something that brings people to your site is sufficient. You will not see any more links to items on AnnArbor.com here at Free From Editors.
So I like the print product appearance and am kind of 'meh' about the online product. It certainly was not the ground-breaking site promised by the chief content czar. I'll check in there from time-to-time to see if they have improved. But for now, I'm not going there on a regular basis anymore.
You don't have to take my word for it, just look at the comments about the site at the site.
The print product is graphically very attractive (except for the stupid Frenchman with a beret logo that is supposed to be an acorn). The layout is pleasing and the photos and graphics very nicely displayed. It is a much more attractive product than the Flint Journal, in my opinion.
Where it suffers is that its content is much the same as what we've already read on the online version of AnnArbor. com. But at least in the print product it's all in one place and easier to find.
Anything I say about the online version of AnnArbor.com will likely be discounted by my comments in the run up to its debut. The product is weak, I don't think any reasonable analysis could conclude otherwise.
There have been breaking news stories, but I have yet to see a decent follow up (interviews with victims or their families, etc.) to any of them. The news stories disappear rapidly and unless you get out you mining tools to dig into the site you won't see them again.
The killing of two swans had the potentially to light up the website, but the original story disappeared off the blog roll quickly. It did reappear later again, but if I were in charge, that swan story would have been up front for a day or two. Like any animal abuse story it was attracting a lot of attention and comments. It has rolled off the top of the page (above the fold in dead tree talk) again this morning.
Many of the stories appear to be rewrites or expansions of press releases from the City of Ann Arbor or the University. That may change as time goes on, but for the first week, the one where you are trying to convince people you are the real deal, it looked pretty trite.
If there is a strong point for AnnArbor.com it is in the sports department. The sports writing seems good and they are covering the run up to Michigan football pretty well. I have enjoyed the articles and if anything helps the online traffic, it will likely be sports.
As for the site itself, it has a boring appearance and looks much like my Facebook page or any number of feeds, except it has a lot more wasted space. Again, my perspective is from one who likes a newspaper format where the best story is on top and the rest is inside.
I tried linking to a quirky video produced by Jordan Miller and got flak from her about not giving her an additional written credit (Her name was already listed in the credits for the You Tube video posted). I won't make that mistake again. In the world where bringing traffic to your site is the name of the game, a simple "thank you" for posting something that brings people to your site is sufficient. You will not see any more links to items on AnnArbor.com here at Free From Editors.
So I like the print product appearance and am kind of 'meh' about the online product. It certainly was not the ground-breaking site promised by the chief content czar. I'll check in there from time-to-time to see if they have improved. But for now, I'm not going there on a regular basis anymore.
You don't have to take my word for it, just look at the comments about the site at the site.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
An interesting perspective on reporting and reporters
This LA Times column did a nice job of talking about an issue not usually discussed.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Another journalism jobs site
Thanks to Inside Out for yet another link for folks looking for journalism jobs.
Reporter John Clark and gangster Mickey Cohen a story from the "Front Page"
My father, no slouch in the writing department, sent along a newspaper related story from his past. His father and mother (my grandfather and grandmother) rented a small apartment in Los Angeles to John Clark, a newspaperman.Most of what follows is in my father’s words. (photo at left is Mickey Cohen)
“John Clark and Mickey Cohen”
Location: A small downtown office at the Los Angeles Daily News.
The time: Early to middle 1950s.
John Clark: John was an excellent newspaper man who had at times, held positions of city editor, but his hard drinking would get him fired or demoted from time-to-time. He would dry out and get his job back. At the time of this incident John was a rewrite man at the Daily News and a feature writer. Don’t imagine newspapers hire rewrite men any more. A good rewrite man could take the basic five W’s from a reporter in the field calling from a public pay phone (are any of those left?) and create a major front page story continued on inside pages. As I already said, he was an excellent writer. John was assigned to create a week’s feature on local mobster, Mickey Cohen.
Mickey Cohen: Mickey was a well known mobster with close ties to the Mafia. As a front Cohen operated a men’s clothing store on the Sunset Strip just east of Beverly Hills. His office was in the back of the store (never heard of anyone actually buying men’s clothes there) where he took care of his business. At one time while leaving a Sunset Strip night club, a sniper from across the street took a shot at him with a rifle. The shot missed Cohen but blew away a body guard. Cohen always insisted he was simply a small business man selling men’s clothes. Right, a small businessman who needed a body guard. Another time his armored Cadillac had been ambushed and there were five or more bullet holes in the driver’s door. None of the projectiles got through the outer steel. Another question, why would a simple small business man need an armored car? Anyway, when asked about the holes in his car door, Cohen shrugged and speculated that the damage was the result of vandals with a drill.
OK, so now you know the players – or almost all of them in this saga. The series on Cohen began in the Daily News on a Monday and continued each day through Friday. In the articles that were anything but flattering to Cohen, John Clark made reference to Cohen’s age and almost each time there was a different age published as no one actually knew his real age.
After three installments, John received a personal call from Cohen who complimented John on the “excellent” feature, but complained about the incorrect references to his age. Cohen told John he would send a couple associates over to show the reporter his birth certificate to clear up the confusion.
That afternoon, two guys straight out of central casting, for gangsters and hit men entered John’s small office at the paper. These were the days when anyone could walk off the street and enter any office or department in a newspaper. Heck, when I was a young “tub thumper” (Note from Jim: A public relations person in the old days, it's meaning today is quite different) I would enter the offices and deliver my stories directly to the city editor.
Back to the story, the two men sat across the desk from John, said nothing for a long pause, then one leaned across the desk and with his face close to John’s said, and these are the actual words, “Mickey wants you should take a vacation to Bermuda!” At that they rose and walked out of his office and the newspaper. One of the two never said a word. Oh, by the way, John never did see a birth certificate.
John lived in a small apartment in Los Angeles owned by my mother and father (Note from Jim: My grandfather and grandmother) where my brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Mona, also lived. We had become friends with John and heard all this first hand from him. At the time he was divorced from his wife due to his drinking.
Epilogue: Not too long after this “event” John drowned in a fishing accident, falling from his boat in a lake up in the Sierras. It was considered simply a case of a drunken fisherman falling out of his boat and never connected to Mickey Cohen.
Jim’s Note: Found the following in a clip that I googled from another reporter at the Daily News who also interviewed Mickey Cohen:
“JONES: People used to cook stuff on a hotplate back there, their lunches and stuff like that. And there was always coffee going. When I was first there, I used to have to come in at 4 o'clock in the morning and start the coffee. Well, there one guy, a great rewrite man named John Clark, but he was a drinker. And you'd have to call him and wake him up, because you couldn't depend on is alarm clock to wake him up. You'd have to call him and be sure he was alert and on his feet so he could get to work. That was part of my job, to start the coffee and get a hold of John Clark, so he could come in on the early shift. He was due in at 5 on the early morning rewrite.”
There’s another long Los Angeles Times story that mentions the above and includes this great description of the Daily News. (Sounds like a place me and a lot of my friends in the business would have loved to work at):
"There were five papers," says Joe Saltzman, a journalism professor at USC. "At that time, you would get drunk and screw up and get fired, but it wasn't a big deal because you would go to another newspaper. But to get to the Daily News was what everybody wanted to do. Everybody who wanted to be a hard-drinking, tough newspaperman--and that included women--would go to the Daily News. It was a newspaperman's paper. These people were in the mold of the 'Front Page' kind of reporters. They drank a lot, they cursed a lot, they worked all kinds of hours. They didn't care about any authority. They were out to get the L.A. Times, which they considered the conservative enemy of newspapers."
Any paper of the era could have made the "Front Page" claim, but few were a self-styled champion of the downtrodden, the irreverent enemy of blunderbuss authority.
"The Daily News loved to find ways to make fun of the Los Angeles elite, the power brokers," Wagner says. "I don't mean bring someone down with investigative journalism or a big expose. It was almost as if there was a competition among reporters and staff--'How can we embarrass so-and-so today? What can we do to humble this arrogant person?' So if they caught some city official picking his nose, I can assure you that that photograph would be in the paper."
On another search I found the following short segment in a story about the history of the Daily News:
RINGER: Have you heard of John Clark?
...
RINGER: He was a rewrite man, and absolutely wrote the cleanest copy you ever saw. He drowned himself in MacArthur Park, in about four feet of water, falling out of one of those little boats. He was a very strange guy. (A little different story than what my Dad recalled).
On another search I found the following short segment in a story about the history of the Daily News:
RINGER: Have you heard of John Clark?
...
RINGER: He was a rewrite man, and absolutely wrote the cleanest copy you ever saw. He drowned himself in MacArthur Park, in about four feet of water, falling out of one of those little boats. He was a very strange guy. (A little different story than what my Dad recalled).
From another website on Mickey Cohen: Mickey Cohen, head of Los Angeles gambling rackets, maintained a host of powerful friends, including Frank Sinatra - who once appealed to him to get mobster Johnny Stompanato to stop dating Ava Gardner. Depicted by Harvey Keitel in the 1991 film "Bugsy" and by Paul Guilfoyle in 1997's "L.A. Confidential."
Nieman Journalism Lab checks in on AnnArbor.com
Turns out we all misunderstood the content czar when he said that the new site would be "something we had never seen before."
He didn't mean it would be spectacular or ground-breaking, he actually meant it would be the opposite of that.
I think he was successful then.
He didn't mean it would be spectacular or ground-breaking, he actually meant it would be the opposite of that.
I think he was successful then.
Second job gets sports reporter in trouble
A New England newspaper sports writer is facing charges for allegedly running a prostitution ring.
His bosses will no doubt be upset that he used "Craig's List" for advertising his services. See how Craig's List is killing newspapers. Even newspaper employees use the free online services.
His bosses will no doubt be upset that he used "Craig's List" for advertising his services. See how Craig's List is killing newspapers. Even newspaper employees use the free online services.
This morning at AnnArbor.com
When you try to access AnnArbor.com this morning this is what you get:
"AnnArbor.com is temporarily unavailable.
AnnArbor.com is temporarily unavailable. During routine maintenance, we experienced a problem with our servers that we're working to resolve as quickly as possible. Please check back for additional updates. For those of you who have signed up for the newsletter, we'll send you an email as soon as the site is back up. We apologize for any inconvenience."
A wise person once said you only get one chance to make a first impression. This first impression is not good. You have to wonder if anyone at Advance or Booth is now regretting the choices of who they put in charge of this endeavor.
Don't say we didn't warn you. (Update: 10:20 a.m. - AnnArbor.com back up)
"AnnArbor.com is temporarily unavailable.
AnnArbor.com is temporarily unavailable. During routine maintenance, we experienced a problem with our servers that we're working to resolve as quickly as possible. Please check back for additional updates. For those of you who have signed up for the newsletter, we'll send you an email as soon as the site is back up. We apologize for any inconvenience."
A wise person once said you only get one chance to make a first impression. This first impression is not good. You have to wonder if anyone at Advance or Booth is now regretting the choices of who they put in charge of this endeavor.
Don't say we didn't warn you. (Update: 10:20 a.m. - AnnArbor.com back up)
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
This child has been raised right!
Notice how the child laughs and enjoys "Mary Had a Little Lamb" but cries when she hears the University of Michigan fight song. These parents are doing a great job. Found this on Facebook.
Some journalism job resources
A hat tip to Inside Out for the following journalism job sites. An answer to a poster's recent plea.
The Write Job
Paid Content
Media Jobs Daily
Michigan Press Association
Media jobs
Media pro
Use Twitter for next job
Journalism crossing
Journalism jobs on Career Builder
Inside Out
The Write Job
Paid Content
Media Jobs Daily
Michigan Press Association
Media jobs
Media pro
Use Twitter for next job
Journalism crossing
Journalism jobs on Career Builder
Inside Out
Some AnnArbor.com notes
Some problems over at AnnArbor.com has readers concerned. Also there is a little dissatisfaction with the comment moderation policy, which seems to be in flux.
First they said they would simply delete comments without notice, but now appear to be leaving behind a bunny trail of notes where comments were removed.
It's beginning to look like we have a premature launch.
First they said they would simply delete comments without notice, but now appear to be leaving behind a bunny trail of notes where comments were removed.
It's beginning to look like we have a premature launch.
On break-ins and professors
Yesterday, someone who knows that I worked for a California police department back in the 1970s asked me what my thoughts were on the whole Professor Gates business in Cambridge.
I have no clue what happened in Cambridge last week between Sgt. Crowley and Professor Gates. Yes, it sounds like police may have over reacted, but on hearing the 911 tapes there may be more to the story.
Our President stepped into the controversy with both feet, even though, 1, he was not there, and 2, he probably has no idea of what police procedures are when one is sent to a breaking and entering in progress call.
So, while I'm not going to weigh in on the Cambridge controversy, let me give you a real life example of why police may have done what they did, from my own experience and those of my former officer colleagues.
When I worked in Atherton* (California) we worked in a very rich environment. Million dollar homes, and remember this was the 1970s, were the norm and the residents were primarily multi-millionaires or even a couple billionaires.
During absences, the residents would leave a "vacation check" at the police department which required officers to check the homes on each shift to make sure they were secure. Early one morning (about 1 a.m.) I was riding with a sergeant and we pulled into a "vacation check" driveway and noticed a side door open that had not been noted as open during the last shift.
We radioed the dispatcher to make sure no one had arrived home early and learned no one had called. Walking through the door with our flashlights we were almost immediately confronted by a man coming down the hall in the dark. The sergeant pulled his weapon and ordered the man to the floor while I radioed for additional help.
Once the lights were turned on we quickly learned that the man we had just spread eagled on the floor at gunpoint was the CEO of a very successful company that if I used the name you would know.
"I was going to call first thing in the morning to tell you I was home," the man said sheepishly. Then he said something about how he really didn't believe that we closely checked the homes.
In the end he learned a lesson and the sergeant and I later shook our heads at how close we came to a more serious situation. Like what if the homeowner mistook us for a burglar and picked up his gun and we saw that first thing as we walked through the door.
So stuff happens.
Also, there were many times in my police career where officers confronted someone in a house where they supposedly lived only to learn that a wife or girlfriend had a restraining order keeping them away due to domestic violence. All that has to be checked out before you simply dismiss a breaking and entering call and move on to the next call.
So when Professor Gates went off about being questioned in his own home, that is understandable. But when Sgt. Crowley insisted on investigating further before dismissing the call as unfounded, to me and other police officers that is also clearly understandable.
Life behind a police windshield or badge, looks much different than it does from the outside.
The best advice I always give people is that when a police officer asks you to do something, even if you think it is outrageous, just go with the flow and deal with the outrageous later.
*Sorry about the wikipedia reference, but only source I could find in a hurry today.
I have no clue what happened in Cambridge last week between Sgt. Crowley and Professor Gates. Yes, it sounds like police may have over reacted, but on hearing the 911 tapes there may be more to the story.
Our President stepped into the controversy with both feet, even though, 1, he was not there, and 2, he probably has no idea of what police procedures are when one is sent to a breaking and entering in progress call.
So, while I'm not going to weigh in on the Cambridge controversy, let me give you a real life example of why police may have done what they did, from my own experience and those of my former officer colleagues.
When I worked in Atherton* (California) we worked in a very rich environment. Million dollar homes, and remember this was the 1970s, were the norm and the residents were primarily multi-millionaires or even a couple billionaires.
During absences, the residents would leave a "vacation check" at the police department which required officers to check the homes on each shift to make sure they were secure. Early one morning (about 1 a.m.) I was riding with a sergeant and we pulled into a "vacation check" driveway and noticed a side door open that had not been noted as open during the last shift.
We radioed the dispatcher to make sure no one had arrived home early and learned no one had called. Walking through the door with our flashlights we were almost immediately confronted by a man coming down the hall in the dark. The sergeant pulled his weapon and ordered the man to the floor while I radioed for additional help.
Once the lights were turned on we quickly learned that the man we had just spread eagled on the floor at gunpoint was the CEO of a very successful company that if I used the name you would know.
"I was going to call first thing in the morning to tell you I was home," the man said sheepishly. Then he said something about how he really didn't believe that we closely checked the homes.
In the end he learned a lesson and the sergeant and I later shook our heads at how close we came to a more serious situation. Like what if the homeowner mistook us for a burglar and picked up his gun and we saw that first thing as we walked through the door.
So stuff happens.
Also, there were many times in my police career where officers confronted someone in a house where they supposedly lived only to learn that a wife or girlfriend had a restraining order keeping them away due to domestic violence. All that has to be checked out before you simply dismiss a breaking and entering call and move on to the next call.
So when Professor Gates went off about being questioned in his own home, that is understandable. But when Sgt. Crowley insisted on investigating further before dismissing the call as unfounded, to me and other police officers that is also clearly understandable.
Life behind a police windshield or badge, looks much different than it does from the outside.
The best advice I always give people is that when a police officer asks you to do something, even if you think it is outrageous, just go with the flow and deal with the outrageous later.
*Sorry about the wikipedia reference, but only source I could find in a hurry today.
I love it when Congressmen are honest
Rep. John Conyers (about 2:30 into this video) admits he not only hasn't read the health care bill, but doesn't want to because not even two lawyers could make sense of it. Wow! (This speech has a very Sarah Palinesque quality to it). This will make you very glad you didn't have a ticket to the Press Club yesterday.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Little help for an unemployed journalist
Tonight I received the following comment:
"I have a question. Where is a good place to go to look for journalism jobs - the few there are? I know about journalismjobs.com and MPA. Are there any other good places to look? Jim, since you have a lot of followers here who are looking for work, maybe a post suggesting some places to look? That would be great for everyone."
The temptation for many will be to dismiss this comment and encourage this person to consider a career at Applebee's, but if you know some way to help or can offer some direction to this person it might help more than just one person.
I haven't been looking for journalism work, frankly that fired has been extinguished, but my first bit of advice would be to look outside of Michigan, if possible. The market here for anything, especially newspapers, is poor and will be for a long, long time. But journalism now covers more than just newspapers, so if you have a suggestion, please leave one.
"I have a question. Where is a good place to go to look for journalism jobs - the few there are? I know about journalismjobs.com and MPA. Are there any other good places to look? Jim, since you have a lot of followers here who are looking for work, maybe a post suggesting some places to look? That would be great for everyone."
The temptation for many will be to dismiss this comment and encourage this person to consider a career at Applebee's, but if you know some way to help or can offer some direction to this person it might help more than just one person.
I haven't been looking for journalism work, frankly that fired has been extinguished, but my first bit of advice would be to look outside of Michigan, if possible. The market here for anything, especially newspapers, is poor and will be for a long, long time. But journalism now covers more than just newspapers, so if you have a suggestion, please leave one.
Sarah Palin: A poet
I think Conan and Shatner are on to something. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's speech was poetry. You'll have to suffer through a 30-second commercial first.
Inside Out: Interesting post
Maybe I'm just becoming a link list for Inside Out, but there is a pretty good post over there this morning on the tale of a newly hired journalist who replaced a popular veteran one.
Also a story about another newsman who was "laid-off" but the paper was vague in its announcement leaving the impression he had "retired."
Read them both here.
Also a story about another newsman who was "laid-off" but the paper was vague in its announcement leaving the impression he had "retired."
Read them both here.
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