Plagiarism: The original sin of journalism just keeps on going

Poynter discusses the latest episode of plagiarism in the media. You just have to ask how people, in this day in age, believe they can get away with this when everything is so easily checked.

And then this latest example.

Yet another reason I am no longer in the news business

The new AOL online service is apparently adding a few new duties to its editorial reporters. The article at the link shows how difficult it is to be a news person today.

This is why journalism experience matters

Journalism experience does matter and this story illustrates it very well. That said, any Journalism 101 student should know what plagiarism is and how to avoid it.

Another take on the story is here.

Off to the land of Tombstones and a Great Canyon

Not that I have been posting here all that much anyway, but Joan and I are leaving on our next great adventure today so most of the writing and blogging will occur on the Grandmas Recess blog.

Happy trails!

p.s. I finally got around to posting the story of our trip to California back in May on Grandma's Recess.

Spin worthy of a national politician

In announcing its "progress" toward the digital future, the Savannah Morning News buried the fact it is laying off more employees.

Photo chief resigns rather than layoff co-workers

Love a person with principles. Of course, it won't likely save any of his co-workers jobs, but at least he didn't have to do the dirty work.

Sad news, Tom Kowalski, longtime Detroit Lions beat reporter dies at 51

This should have been up on the blog yesterday, but I have been in the Internet darkness for 36 hours because of a "tower" problem. That fixed I need to mark the passing of a great sports writer and a good friend.

Tom Kowalski, who I first met in 1984 when I went to work for the Oakland Press died unexpectedly Monday. No word yet on what caused his death.

I haven't seen Tom much since I left the Flint Journal, but we always joked together when he worked at the Oakland Press and I would see him occassionally when he worked for Booth. While most affectionately called him "Killer" my pet name for his was "Homer," which was a joke about some of his coverage of the Lions.

Of course he was not a "Homer" but he knew I was kidding when I would call him on a positive column about the Lions.

Here's another nice tribute from the Free Press.

RIP, my friend.

Non Sequitur gets it

This Non Seequitur cartoon was just too good not to share.

Every so often someone just gets fed up enough to tell the truth about newspapers

Poynter has a good story about a managing editor who went public, quite undercover, to expose the new owners of his newspaper. Make sure, if you are interested in this topic, to read the links in the Poynter article to the actual essay in the newspaper.

As you can guess the managing editor did not last long at his job after this was published.

Is Patch on the verge of being sold?

This also from Poynter on the future of Patch and its economic impact on AOL.

Hyperlocal or hyperstupid

Poynter has looked at a hyper local experiment at one major newspaper.

Better late than never, charging for the news online

Looks like a decade after they should have started this, newspapers have decided the online content has value too.

Ten years too late, the tune is changing

Really, not going to "do more with less" anymore. Finally a dose of reality.

Pot, meet kettle

This one is pretty funny. The Huffy Post has indefinitely suspended a blogger for borrowing too much from a story. I thought the Huffy Post was all about "borrowing" the work of others - for free - as its business model.

AnnArbor.com puts the clamps on its columnists

The new breed of Booth/Advance editors can't stand controversy. They buckle under the pressure of "offended" readers. Now they have decided to formalize that "buckle."

There are days when I miss being a newspaper reporter/columnist. And then I read this stuff and I'm glad I'm out. For good.

Newsosaur: Print is still king, but the crown is slipping

This article is an look at the print versus digital debate and specifically why newspapers can't go digital, at least not now.

Happy Fourth of July

Marching this morning in the Fourth of July Parade with my American Legion Post. Guess I can mark the parade marching off my bucket list after 11 a.m.

Happy Fourth everyone! Be safe.

Can't wait to read this book

The NY Times reviews a book - "Deal from Hell" - that sounds like my kind of story.

"Branding" and why it sucks

This column is probably the best response to the ludicrous recent trends in journalism. Mr. Weingarten, who I have quoted here before, has it exactly right.

During my last few years at the Flint Journal there was a big push at the Journal emphasizing our "brand." Which was, I think, In Touch, Involved and some other "In" that I can't remember right now. We reporters used to joke - privately - that we should have "Incompetent, Inert and In Trouble." There were a few others, but you get the idea.

We were all told to embrace this new promotion. Well, we see how that all worked out. Don't forget that many of those who thought this was the solution to our problems are still around, or running AnnArbor.com.

Ah corporate America in the new Millenium. The bosses get bonuses for their failure

The Indy Star is the latest victim of backwards journalism thinking. The bosses who lay off the employees get bonuses and raises for their dirty deeds.

Not surprising, just business as unusual.

The story of the "Greatest Paper" and how it died - and squandered $150 million

Received a link via e-mail about the rise and fall of "The National" an experimental national sports newspaper that burst on the scene about two decades ago and then faded into oblivion about 18 months later.

It took with it a number of some of the best sports writers in the country. Except for the short opening, the story is told entirely through the voices of the people who experienced it. For the faint of language there is some infrequent use of obscenities in quotes. If you are offended by strong language, don't click on the link.

The unpardonable journalistic sin claims another writer

Paige Wiser a reviewer/columnist in Chicago has lost her gig over an ethical violation. The older I get the more I wish we could cut folks a little slack over a one-time issue.

Here's another link to information about the story.

Let's not forget that Mitch Albom, an award-winning columnist for the Detroit Free Press got a pass from doing pretty much the same thing when he wrote a column implying he was at an event when he was actually somewhere else.

Like Albom, I think Wiser may have deserved a reprimand, but a second chance.

Here's another link that mentions that she only agreed to cover the event after she got an agreement from her editor to take her children. It was one of her children getting sick that forced her to leave the concert early.

The old mailroom circa 1960s

The "Green" thing, then and now

I really loved this.

In the line at the store, the cashier told the elderly woman that she should bring her own grocery bag because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day."

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. The former generation did not care enough to save our environment."

Her response: "Do you think you are right because our generation didn't have the green thing in its day? Back then, they returned their milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back then.

"In my day, they walked up stairs, because they didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go two blocks. You are right - we didn't have the green thing in my day.

"Back then, they washed and dried all the baby's diapers because they didn't have the throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts - wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. Maybe that's why we didn't have the green thing back then.

"Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house - not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief, not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn't have electric machines to do everything for you. When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

"Back then, they didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. They
exercised by working so they didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. You see, they didn't need the green thing back then.

"They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty instead of using a throw-away cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water.
They refilled their writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But they didn't have the green thing back then."

"Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or rode the school bus instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And they didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

"Isn't it sad… the current generation laments how wasteful the old folks were just because they didn't have the green thing back then?"

A2Politico looks at AA.com nearly two years in

Former Ann Arbor News reporter Tom Gantert re-visits the success, or lack thereof, at AnnArbor.com some 22 months into the experiment on A2Politico.

One example of what I was talking about

One of the key newspaper delivery folks for the Journal gave his two week notice (found this on Facebook) with the new policies at the Journal.

In his Facebook posting the driver noted that when the three-day-a-week Journal started back in June of 2009 he had 859 customers. A year later that number had fallen 154 customers to 705 and as of last Sunday was down 230 customers to 629.

I don't think newspaper management can blame the folks who deliver the newspaper for the decline, but they are paying the penalty for yet more poor business decisions from the folks who yet survive.

This is just my guess, but a lot of those drivers hustle and work hard and over the years have done pretty well financially, many of them have incomes - due to their own efforts - higher than the bosses in the office. There may just be a tad bit of jealousy going on there as well.

In any event, they all deserved better.

One more home delivery day brings bad news for drivers at the Flint Journal

On June 14th the Journal will begin home delivery of the Tuesday newspaper (currently available only at stores). But the change also brings some really bad news for some veteran single copy drivers, some who have been with the paper for more than four decades.

The change will see the end of the careers of many really wonderful people who have loyally delivered the paper. These delivery drivers are the unsung warriors of the newspaper business and they work long and awful hours and back in the day sometimes worked seven days a week.

Termination letters have gone out to about 18 of the single copy drivers and when the Tuesday change occurs the home delivery drivers will also be responsible for bringing the single copy issues to the stores.

You probably will hear a lot about the Tuesday delivery, but you will likely not read much in the paper about the effect it will have on this unique group of workers.

From the best information I have the current situation is that the single copy drivers make 17 cents profit for a daily paper and 49 cents for a Sunday paper. Now the home delivery drivers will get 8 cents a copy for every paper they deliver, even if not sold.

So here's what will happen:

Say a driver gets enough stores to deliver 120 Sundays and the stores sell 100 of them.

Driver gets paid $9.60 to deliver and may have to pick up any unsold and take them back to the FJ.

In the past the same situation the driver would have paid the store its cut, paid the FJ $133, and then made $49 profit for all the work.

Now after the stores gets their cut the FJ collects $1.82 per paper sold or $182 and then pays the driver their $9.60.

Hardly worth the gas at current rates. And there are no buyouts for these long time newspaper delivery folks.

Some of the home delivery folks have already seen drops of up to 1/3 of the subscribers they had when the Journal ended daily publication.

More as I get information.

Memorial Day 8

Memorial Day 7

Memorial Day 6

Memorial Day 5

Memorial Day 4

Memorial Day 3

Memorial Day 2011

Memorial Day 2011

Thank you U.S. Military

Props to the U.S. Military and President Obama for finishing the task started almost ten years ago under President Bush. If you see a soldier, airman, Marine or sailor tell him/her "thanks."

You all know I'm a Navy veteran of Vietnam so I feel an immense pride that it was a group of Navy Seals that ended bin Laden's life and reign. So many men and women have sacrificed to bring about this day and I choose to remember them tonight.

Notice, we will be traveling for the next two weeks and posting will stop probably for the duration so you can save your time and return about May 23.

Jeff Jarvis: Newspapers vs. Digital: We win, you lose

Here's some thoughts on the future of newspapers by Jeff Jarvis.

FJ looking for full-time reporter

There's an opening for a full-time reporter at my old employer.

A discussion of the 'new' journalism

Follow this link to a online discussion on the Lucy Ann Lance Show (WLBY 1290) with Larry Eiler, Eiler Communications; and Charles Eisendrath, Director of the University of Michigan Knight-Wallace Fellows / Former Foreign Correspondent for Time Magazine.

It is about a 40-minute discussion of the status of journalism and journalism education today. As the timer counts down at about 24:30 you will hear a critique of AnnArbor.com and later a defense of print journalism. At about 4:30 there is an additional critique of Newhouse and AnnArbor.com.

When you get to the page at the above link you'll need to scroll down to the April 19, 2011 item and click on the "Click and Listen" tab.

Pulitzer Prize awarded to old fashioned beat reporting

The LA Times won a well-deserved Pulitzer for its work on the Bell, California public employee salary scandal. In its coverage of the prize, Poynter describe the various interactive tools used by the reporters to enhance the story.

What is interesting to me is that many of us suggested to our FJ leaders more than ten years ago that we should use the Internet and website to post the many documents that we were obtaining in investigations. So many times, we gathered information that was interesting, but simply too extensive to use in the printed version of the story.

I know that I had a direct discussion with the current content czar at AnnArbor.com about how we should make those documents available to our readers when we were first discussing how to use the Internet in the early 2000s.

Other reporters had similar suggestions, but what we heard back at the time is that MLive.com was not set up to do that kind of thing. The Michigan Booth group suffered, and continues to suffer, from the limitations of MLive.com and the fact that they can't, or won't, do the kind of linking and attachments that you find on other more sophisticated newspaper websites.

So the same ideas many of us were suggesting back then contributed to a Pulitzer at the Times this week.

Oops, maybe we should have disclosed this conflict of interest a little earlier

If you saw the 60 Minutes piece on Greg Mortenson and his alleged charity rip-off you will appreciate his hometown paper finally acknowledging that one of its editors had a direct connection to the charity.

Here's the Bozeman newspaper's coverage of the controversy after the 60 Minutes piece.

I really love college journalism

Some innovative students found a way around a college directive.

Sometimes only the printed word gets out

From Poynter comes this article about how reporters got the news out when technology was wiped out in an earthquake and tsunami. Contrast that to the time in Flint when it snowed a lot and the publisher made the decision to suspend publishing for a day.

The haves get their "haves" while the "nots" get theirs

This from Gannett about the "shared" sacrifice of top management with their employees.

Wonder what that 'buyout' cost?

The Advance trial on the "job pledge" ended in a confidential negotiated settlement. You know that Advance didn't want to lose that case on its merits. Too many potential suits in that case. Before the settlement there was some juicy testimony that gives a little insight into some of the perks of the "haves" in the Advance family of publishers.

Job pledge suit reveals a lot about Advance

From the mailbag comes this al.com story about a former publisher's suit against Advance Publications. It is an interesting read, including the amount of pay that the publisher received (and continues to receive in retirement) compared to the folks he supervised. You have to believe that Advance didn't want to have that information out. Glad the Press-Register is covering their own story, however. Here's a little more information from another source.

USA Today to give bonus based on "hits"

There is so much wrong from a journalistic standpoint with the idea of rewarding writers for the number of Internet "hits," but I don't have time to list them all now. Sensationalism and relevance come to mind just off the top of my head. Writers should be rewarded, and much better than they are now, but not based on this. (Attribution note: I found this link on Facebook, but can't remember who or when)

Gazette reaches settlement in tax issue

The cost of downsizing apparently was $1.5 million in Kalamazoo. And, surprise, surprise, the paper couldn't reach its own publisher for a comment for its own story. Update: Thanks to an FFE reader we now have the full written statement of the publisher. As a reporter you dislike written responses for comments because there is no chance to ask follow up or other relevant questions of the source. Interesting that a publisher avoids that interchange with his own reporter.

Crime doesn't pay, especially when you create the stories you cover

From time to time you hear about stories where reporters become the story.

Publishers: Stick a fork it in it, publishing is over

This from Reflections of a Newsosaur about a couple publishers who believe the old newspaper model is toast.

Comments become news

One of the troubling aspects of the "new" journalism to me is the idea that the comments on a story are as important as the story itself. It appears that when a story receives many - or outrageous - comments that newspapers believe that becomes news. At my old paper they repost an item on MLive.com that deals just with the comments. In a recent case a story about the increase in the African-American population in Swartz Creek suddenly required a repost when commenters turned the story into a chance to recycle racist stereotypes in the comment thread. You can see what I am talking about here. (Link no longer works - April 14, 2011) Some of the comments on MLive.com were taken down but they remain at this site - at least for now. Let me know if they go dark and I remove the link. To see all the comments click on the "here" link at the bottom of the item above.

AnnArbor.com finally responds to layoffs

The three leaders of AnnArbor.com have come forward (partially) to update the community on their recent layoffs, etc.

It's amazing to me that they needed a year-and-a-half to find out that what people want is crime and breaking local news. Any first year journalism student could probably tell you that, but better late than never.

Keep the comments on the topic and not so much the personalities. Thanks.

Tone down alert

I reluctantly deleted a comment today (one of less than 10 since I began). I've been a little lax lately about the no last names rule, but when the comments get too personal it crosses my line.

Feel free to attack me, or disagree with me, but anonymous comments that take on folks who are not the subject of the post cross my imaginary line.

Sorry.

Best journalism ad ever (Foul language alert)

Mother Jones reported on this ad for the Sarasota newspaper. If they are serious this would be a great place for a reporter. Especially love they enjoy the sometimes angry interaction between reporters and editors. (Hat tip to Kevin M. for the link).

The best news rooms are the ones where there is a real tension between reporters and editors and the weekly, sometimes verbally violent, flare up between a reporter and his/her editor.

Instead of viewing it as a distraction, as was the case at the Journal, it should be viewed as professionals battling for the best product they can publish. As an editor I would never want a reporter who wouldn't battle hard for their work. (Heck, when I was chief editor of The State News I was at least once referred to - to my face - as a "goat brain" by one of my reporters.)

Newspapers should never discourage or punish passion, they should reward it.

A few of my confrontations were show stopping fits of anger (not really proud of all those) but they were out of my desire to produce the hardest and most interesting story I could.

Better reporters than me were constantly battling editors (and company lawyers) to keep in information they felt vital to the readers. Where that is happening, everyone wins.

Job opportunity

My former employer is looking for an editor. Don't tell them I sent you.

More 'good' publicity for AnnArbor.com

Looks like a choice for an editorial board member has met with a bit of controversy over at AnnArbor.com.

Make sure you read the comments under the AnnArbor.com posting.

AP staffers protest contract

Oh, the happy business of journalism today. (Someone at Poynter should have caught the typo in the headline, though).

Another funny from The Onion

Spotted this on Facebook, good satire.

Something for Friday

This is funny on soooo many levels.

Ann Arbor Chronicle on the AnnArbor.com layoffs

The publisher of the Ann Arbor Chronicle does an excellent job of wrapping up the current and past history of the Ann Arbor News/AnnArbor.com situation.

More on AnnArbor.com

Thanks to Ed, late of AnnArbor.com, we have news about the layoffs here. A2politico.com has even more in depth here. I love the description of "Kontent King Tony" and his avoidance of discussing the profitability of AnnArbor.com.

As one who sat through way too many of Tony's meetings, I can only tell you he is a first rate spinmeister. Problem is, no one ever believes the spin.

Clearly the ship is taking on water. With the management team assembled anyone should have seen this coming.

Remember this was going to be a website like no other, it was going to define the new journalism, according to those who started it. Well, let's hope not.

Trouble at AnnArbor.com?

There have been some rumblings that all is not well at AnnArbor.com. This was posted on Sports Journalists. Apparently entertainment, sports and other areas of AnnArbor.com are being effected.

Feel free to contact me at jlsmediaservices(at)gmail(dot)com with further info. Anonymous is fine, but please try to give me some indication of credibility or how you know so I can double check.

A little something until I get home from Florida: Kzoo Gazette getting sued

I know I have been absent from the blog for a month. We are traveling and in Florida (grandmasrecess.blogspot.com if you are into other people's vacations). I promise to get back up and running when I get home, but for now this article about the Kalamazoo Gazette being sued by the city for back taxes may interest you.

It is terrible that the publisher chose a stupid "no comment" when certainly something could be said.

The same people who want everyone else to respond to reporters should never use a "no comment" for its own business.

How about this:

"We have been forced into difficult business decisions based on emerging technology and a difficult recession. Our attorneys will vigorously defend those decisions."

That says basically nothing, but isn't the stupid "no comment" we all hate.

On civility on the Internet

This is a good read and explains my insistence on civility here.

Joan and Jim's Excellent Adventure

For family and friends interested Grandma's Recess is up and running again for our current trip. I will try and blog at FFE, but it may get even slower than it has already been recently.

First installment of Grandma's Recess

When will they ever learn? Another sad tale

Hard to believe that people, especially in a digital age, still think they can invent stories. One of these fine days I'll let FFE readers in on a similar story that happened at the Flint Journal, but was never reported to its readers.

That happened at the Journal at a time when the editors were merciless about corrections and letting the public know about screw ups. But when this one happened, readers were never told. As I said, for another time.

Merry Christmas to all!

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Kate Smith: "God Bless America"

I'm a sap for old movies and this clip from one brought back a story I heard at my U.S. Navy ship reunion. In 1965, a year before I came on board, the USS Cogswell (DD-651) was station ship in Hong Kong. That meant she was acting as the U.S. Naval command for the ships in port for about a week.

While the ship was there, some of the officers met and invited Kate Smith on board for dinner and she came. Later, she invited some of the ship's company to an entertainment venue in Hong Kong for a little partying.

At 4:21 of the clip you will see a familar actor.

Thanks for all those 2010 e-mails

Something funny for the holidays:

Subject: Thanks for all of your 2010 emails!!!

Well this has made my day ~~thanks for reminding me of all the reasons I should be dead!!

As we progress through year 2010, I want to thank all of you for your educational e-mails this year. I am totally screwed up now and have little chance of recovery.

I no longer open a bathroom door without using a paper towel.

I can't have the waitress put lemon slices in my ice water without worrying about the bacteria on the lemon peel.

I can't use the remote in a hotel room, because I don't know what the last person was doing while flipping through the adult movie channels.

I can't sit down on the hotel bedspread, because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed.

I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving alone is picking one's nose.

Eating a little snack sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of Trans fats I have consumed over the years.

I can't touch any woman's purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom.

I MUST SEND MY SPECIAL THANKS to whoever sent me the one about rat poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.

ALSO, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.

I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die for the 1,387,258th time.

I no longer have any money, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program.

I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St. Theresa's Novena has granted my every wish.

I can't have a drink in a bar because I'll wake up in a bathtub full of ice with my kidneys gone.

I can't eat at KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes, feet or feathers.

I can't use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

THANKS TO YOU I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

BECAUSE OF YOUR CONCERN, I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

I no longer buy gas without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer doesn't crawl in my back seat when I'm filling up.

I no longer drink Pepsi or Fanta since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put ‘Under God' on their cans.

I no longer use Cling Wrap in the microwave because it causes seven different types of cancer.

AND THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW I can't boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face. Disfiguring me for life.

I no longer go to the movies because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS when I sit down.

I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.

I no longer receive packages from UPS or Fed Ex since they are actually Al Qaeda agents in disguise.

And I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica, Uganda, Singapore, and Uzbekistan.

THANKS TO YOU I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big black snake could be lurking under the seat and cause me instant death when it bites my butt.

AND THANKS TO YOUR GREAT ADVICE I can't ever pick up $2.00 coin dropped in the parking lot because it probably was placed there by a sex molester waiting to grab me as I bend over.

I no longer drive my car because buying gas from some companies supports Al Qaeda, and buying gas from all the others supports South American dictators.
I can't do any gardening because I'm afraid I'll get bitten by the Violin Spider and my hand will fall off.

If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon, and the fleas from 120 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's best friend's beautician . . .

Oh, by the way.....
A German scientist from Argentina, after a lengthy study, has discovered that people with insufficient brain activity read their e-mail with their hand on the mouse.
Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late.

P. S.: I now keep my toothbrush in the living room, because I was told by e-mail that water splashes over 6 ft. out of the toilet

Love the Jib Jab guys: 2010 A Year in Review

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

The new journalism: Taking money for your opinion

Guess the ethics policies have changed at some newspapers along with the pay.

One young, underpaid journalist had a profane rant to go along with the story. Please be warned the language is harsh and as I already said, profane. If you are offended by that kind of language, please avoid the link.

Some thoughts for a cold 'fall' day

Was listening to a story about deadly wooden, drop-sided cribs this morning and I started jotting about how incredible it is that I am still alive and old enough to collect my pension.

Here's why:

I spent my infant days in a crib with drop sides.
I rode a bicycle without a helmet.
I rode in cars without a child restraint seat.
I lived in a house with lead paint.
I broke thermometers and played with mercury with my bare hands.
I owned a b-b gun.
I was spanked when I was bad, at least once by a teacher. My parents approved.
I played sandlot hardball with no helmets, pads or uniforms. Gasp.
I played tackle football in the park with no pads or helmet.
Somehow I survived. Oh, by the way, we had lots of fun.

Feel free to add your own....

'Aggregation may not be everything" after all

An interesting note from Poynter. Seems like some of the online sites are now going for 'content' who knew?

Lions win: Hell freezes over

We knew it would happen when hell froze over and today the Lions won a game and as you can see, it was frozen in Hell. (That would be Hell, Michigan, a real place in Livingston County.) They have a chapel there for twisted folks who want to start married life in Hell.

Government bailouts: Finally explained

As loyal readers will know I have been skeptical of gov't bailouts since W started them a couple years ago. It made no sense, but my father sent me an explanation this morning that sort of clears it all up:

"It is a slow day in a damp little Irish town. The rain is beating down and the streets are deserted. Times are tough, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit. On this particular day a rich German tourist is driving through the town, stops at the local hotel and lays a 100 note on the desk, telling the hotel owner he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one to spend the night. The owner gives him some keys and, as soon as the visitor has walked upstairs, the hotelier grabs the 100 note and runs next door to pay his debt to the butcher. The butcher takes the 100 note and runs down the street to repay his debt to the pig farmer. The pig farmer takes the 100 note and heads off to pay his bill at the supplier of feed and fuel. The guy at the Farmers' Co-op takes the 100 note and runs to pay his drinks bill at the pub. The publican slips the money along to the local prostitute drinking at the bar, who has also been facing hard times and has had to offer him "services" on credit. The hooker then rushes to the hotel and pays off her room bill to the hotel owner with the 100 note. The hotel proprietor then places the 100 note back on the counter so the rich traveler will not suspect anything. At that moment the traveler comes down the stairs, picks up the 100 note, states that the rooms are not satisfactory, pockets the money, and leaves town. No one produced anything. No one earned anything. However, the whole town is now out of debt and looking to the future with a lot more optimism.

And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is how the bailout package works."

Happy Birthday to FFE

Hard to believe by Free From Editors is three years old this week. I am amazed, especially considering the drop off in posts recently, how many people come here each day.

Journal-Register Co.: Give it up to the IT and digital folks

This is a long and interesting read from the CEO of the Journal Register Co. on a company that has taken a ruthless approach to journalism. It has turned a lot of its coverage over to upaid, or lightly paid, freelancers and sent production, editing and pre-press functions to gosh-knows-where, but by golly they are making money again.

If the folks being beaten in the galley to row the boat, go with the program they are in line this year to receive an extra week's pay. Wanna bet the officers on deck are getting a lot more?

The one thing I agree with him on is that the industry was slow to see the impact of online. Unfortunately in the company I am most familiar with the people responsible for that lack of vision remain high on the payroll while those under their command are largely on the beach through no fault of their own.

Crain's: The ups and downs of Advance Publications

An FFE reader brought my attention to the following Crain's New York article I missed while I was away. An interesting read about the current status of the Advance umbrella of companies.

Getting caught up on the new round of Booth layoffs

Just back from our trip and catching up on all things newspaper related. I have obtained the following information from a variety of sources and while it is still not complete, we're getting closer.

Grand Rapids – Eight editorial layoffs, including an IT guy laid off a couple weeks before the latest round.

Layoffs were on the copy desk, sports, photo, graphics, metro, entertainment.

Additional layoffs may be coming as the west Booth newspapers reorganize – Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids plan to consolidate sports, entertainment and web content under one umbrella apparently similar to what happened in Flint, Bay City and Saginaw.

Still no coverage of the layoffs and a story about the GR publisher talking to a local organization had a graph or two about the layoffs edited out of the published story. Nice.

Total layoffs at Grand Rapids was about 20 employees.

Unlike previous layoffs, the editor didn’t deliver the bad news personally, but through the department heads. Looks like the “open door” policies the company always prided itself on have slammed shut.

Muskegon lost two editorial employees, I don’t have numbers on the rest at Muskegon. Also I’m not aware of the severance packages offered at any of the three papers.

Lower revenues are being predicted for 2011 for Grand Rapids anway.

Still interesting is that in Kalamazoo, the purported reasons for the layoffs had to do with creating a stronger online presence and yet two of the employees and the managing editor who had the strongest online responsibilities were let go. Apparently there is a push now for editorial employees to post their own work, which would explain the sometimes crude condition of online copy.

One of the reporters laid off at Kalamazoo was the City Hall reporter which at least one source said will likely kill any chance of any responsible reporting on the city’s attempts to recover money lost when it gave tax breaks to the Gazette in exchange for creating more jobs.

Also gone from the Gazette are the religion writer/editor and two hometown editors, including one who had been on medical leave. The circulation manager was also sent packing.

I've also received a report that what remained of the Flint Journal accounting department has also been terminated. No further information was offered.

One of the most troubling parts of all these layoffs and decisions is the lack of transparency and coverage on the pages of the newspapers. Newspapers should set the standard for other companies in being open and honest about what is happening. If not, they should quit calling other businesses for the same information.

All is not well.

All's quiet on the Western (newspaper) front

The only new reports out of the Booth west Michigan cuts was some information that the cuts at the Gazette spared the editor and her husband, also an editorial employee. There have been additional reports that some employees not laid off have taken additional pay cuts, but that is not for sure.

Unfortunately, I will be away from my computer for a week and unable to post. Feel free to send me any information at the e-mail address on the profile for this blog and I'll follow up when I return.

With each round of cuts, I have fewer and fewer sources within Booth. Still waiting to see some coverage or reports out of MLive.com or the local broadcast media. If you see those, please send me links.

Still no word on layoffs at MLive

Not sure if the printed newspapers are reporting the new downsizing, but Sunday's column by the Grand Rapids Press editor mentions a new "Health" section, but fails to mention the employee diet the papers have gone on.

Curious.

In checking local news sites for other reporting about the cuts I found this article from earlier this year about the Kalamazoo Gazette and its problems with the local city over tax breaks it got for a new printing facility. Nothing yet on the recent cuts, however.

The only mention I could find (and admittedly MLive is nearly impossible to search) from the Gazette about the tax issue with the City was this one, which was published two days after the television report. Wonder how they got scooped on their own story?

More information on new Booth layoffs

Here's some information on layoffs at Muskegon Chronicle and Grand Rapids Press at the Paper Cuts website. Still waiting for further information on the cuts at the Kalamazoo Gazette. Feel free to send info to jlsmediaservices(at)gmail(dot) com.

Late update. It looks like at least 7 layoffs at the Kalamazoo Gazette, including a popular managing editor. No word on the security of the editor and her husband, who is also an editorial employee.

Interesting that just a short time ago employees at one of these papers were told that they "had turned the corner" and that the newspapers were in the black.

Also ironic that while employees were told that newspapers would be transitioned to online publications, at least some of the layoffs came to employees working online. Also mentioned at Paper Cuts site.

Still can find nothing at MLive.com.

New layoffs at Booth

I'm receiving initial reports from a mandatory staff meeting in Kalamazoo this morning that more layoffs have been announced and that the newspaper is transitioning to an 'online first' publication along with some staff restructuring.

As more detailed information arrives, it will be posted.

At the moment, no announcement on M Live.

Big news for Channel 12 in Flint

This will be huge news for my friends at WJRT-TV (Channel 12 in Flint). Disney is selling them, which in my opinion is not a good thing. As a Disney retiree (Oakland Press) they were a good company to work for.

Major changes coming in West Michigan?

There are rumblings that major changes are coming to Booth in West Michigan. No hard facts yet, but apparently some consolidation and staff changes may be on the way.

If you have information and are willing to share it, feel free to e-mail me at the address in my profile.

As always, for your own safety, do not do that from the office.

Making the case for majoring in journalism

Why would anyone major in journalism? Here's an NPR answer. I think it is still a hard sell to convince young people to go into a profession that has a salary structure in reverse. Especially with the cost of higher education today.

Between rent and student loans there won't be much left over for a concert or two, but there may be a need for a second job.

Cancun 2010: Travel blog post up

For our family and friends interested in our recent Cancun trip visit Grandma's Recess for the info.

Red Wings open with win, a great night for hockey

Went to my first Detroit Red Wings opener in 25 years and it turned out to be a 4-0 rout over the Ducks. The following video clip includes a segment with Pavel Datsyk who showed a real good sense of humor. Go Wings!

A perspective on citizen journalists

Leonard Pitts writes a piece on 'citizen journalists.'

MSU 34 - Wisconsin 24

Joan and I went to the MSU-Wisconsin game. Two ranked teams (Wisconsin 11th and MSU 24th) and the Spartans came out on top. Perfect! Quite a few Badger fans there which made it even sweeter.

Why California may be in a little financial trouble

Here is a list (not sure it is complete) of the current agencies funded by the State of California. While some obviously have merit, some of them boggle the mind. Can you say out of control? And this is just one of the 50 states and one can only imagine the list of federal agencies.


California Academic Performance Index (API) * California Access for Infants and Mothers * California Acupuncture Board * California Administrative Office of the Courts * California Adoptions Branch * California African American Museum * California Agricultural Export Program * California Agricultural Labor Relations Board * California Agricultural Statistics Service * California Air Resources Board (CARB) * California Allocation Board * California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority * California Animal Health and Food Safety Services * California Anti-Terrorism Information Center * California Apprenticeship Council * California Arbitration Certification Program * California Architects Board * California Area VI Developmental Disabilities Board * California Arts Council * California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus * California Assembly Democratic Caucus * California Assembly Republican Caucus * California Athletic Commission * California Attorney General * California Bay Conservation and Development Commission * California Bay-Delta Authority * California Bay-Delta Office * California Biodiversity Council * California Board for Geologists and Geophysicists * California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors * California Board of Accountancy * California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology * California Board of Behavioral Sciences * California Board of Chiropractic Examiners * California Board of Equalization (BOE) * California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection * California Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind * California Board of Occupational Therapy * California Board of Optometry * California Board of Pharmacy * California Board of Podiatric Medicine * California Board of Prison Terms * California Board of Psychology * California Board of Registered Nursing * California Board of Trustees * California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians * California Braille and Talking Book Library * California Building Standards Commission * California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education * California Bureau of Automotive Repair * California Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair * California Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation * California Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine * California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services * California Bureau of State Audits * California Business Agency * California Business Investment Services (CalBIS) * California Business Permit Information (CalGOLD) * California Business Portal * California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency * California Cal Grants * California CalJOBS * California Cal-Learn Program * California CalVet Home Loan Program * California Career Resource Network * California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau * California Center for Analytical Chemistry * California Center for Distributed Learning * California Center for Teaching Careers (Teach California) * California Chancellors Office * California Charter Schools * California Children and Families Commission * California Children and Family Services Division * California Citizens Compensation Commission * California Civil Rights Bureau * California Coastal Commission * California Coastal Conservancy * California Code of Regulations * California Collaborative Projects with UC Davis * California Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth * California Commission on Aging * California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers Compensation * California Commission on Judicial Performance * California Commission on State Mandates * California Commission on Status of Women * California Commission on Teacher Credentialing * California Commission on the Status of Women * California Committee on Dental Auxiliaries * California Community Colleges Chancellors Office, Junior Colleges * California Community Colleges Chancellors Office * California Complaint Mediation Program * California Conservation Corps * California Constitution Revision Commission * California Consumer Hotline * California Consumer Information Center * California Consumer Information * California Consumer Services Division * California Consumers and Families Agency * California Contractors State License Board * California Corrections Standards Authority * California Council for the Humanities * California Council on Criminal Justice * California Council on Developmental Disabilities * California Court Reporters Board * California Courts of Appeal * California Crime and Violence Prevention Center * California Criminal Justice Statistics Center * California Criminalist Institute Forensic Library * California CSGnet Network Management * California Cultural and Historical Endowment * California Cultural Resources Division * California Curriculum and Instructional Leadership Branch * California Data Exchange Center * California Data Management Division * California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission * California Delta Protection Commission * California Democratic Caucus * California Demographic Research Unit * California Dental Auxiliaries * California Department of Aging * California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs * California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board * California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control * California Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating) * California Department of Child Support Services (CDCSS) * California Department of Community Services and Development * California Department of Conservation * California Department of Consumer Affairs * California Department of Corporations * California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation * California Department of Developmental Services * California Department of Education * California Department of Fair Employment and Housing * California Department of Finance * California Department of Financial Institutions * California Department of Fish and Game * California Department of Food and Agriculture * California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) * California Department of General Services * California Department of General Services, Office of State Publishing * California Department of Health Care Services * California Department of Housing and Community Development * California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) * California Department of Insurance * California Department of Justice Firearms Division * California Department of Justice Opinion Unit * California Department of Justice, Consumer Information, Public Inquiry Unit * California Department of Justice * California Department of Managed Health Care * California Department of Mental Health * California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) * California Department of Personnel Administration * California Department of Pesticide Regulation * California Department of Public Health * California Department of Real Estate * California Department of Rehabilitation * California Department of Social Services Adoptions Branch * California Department of Social Services * California Department of Technology Services Training Center (DTSTC) * California Department of Technology Services (DTS) * California Department of Toxic Substances Control * California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) * California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVets) * California Department of Water Resources * California Departmento de Vehiculos Motorizados * California Digital Library * California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Certification Program * California Division of Apprenticeship Standards * California Division of Codes and Standards * California Division of Communicable Disease Control * California Division of Engineering * California Division of Environmental and Occupational Disease Control * California Division of Gambling Control * California Division of Housing Policy Development * California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement * California Division of Labor Statistics and Research * California Division of Land and Right of Way * California Division of Land Resource Protection * California Division of Law Enforcement General Library * California Division of Measurement Standards * California Division of Mines and Geology * California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) * California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources * California Division of Planning and Local Assistance * California Division of Recycling * California Division of Safety of Dams * California Division of the State Architect * California Division of Tourism * California Division of Workers Compensation Medical Unit * California Division of Workers Compensation * California Economic Assistance, Business and Community Resources * California Economic Strategy Panel * California Education and Training Agency * California Education Audit Appeals Panel * California Educational Facilities Authority * California Elections Division * California Electricity Oversight Board * California Emergency Management Agency * California Emergency Medical Services Authority * California Employment Development Department (EDD) * California Employment Information State Jobs * California Employment Training Panel * California Energy Commission * California Environment and Natural Resources Agency * California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) * California Environmental Resources Evaluation System (CERES) * California Executive Office * California Export Laboratory Services * California Exposition and State Fair (Cal Expo) * California Fair Political Practices Commission * California Fairs and Expositions Division * California Film Commission * California Fire and Resource Assessment Program * California Firearms Division * California Fiscal Services * California Fish and Game Commission * California Fisheries Program Branch * California Floodplain Management * California Foster Youth Help * California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) * California Fraud Division * California Gambling Control Commission * California Geographic Information Systems Council (GIS) * California Geological Survey * California Government Claims and Victim Compensation Board * California Governors Committee for Employment of Disabled Persons * California Governors Mentoring Partnership * California Governors Office of Emergency Services * California Governors Office of Homeland Security * California Governors Office of Planning and Research * California Governors Office * California Grant and Enterprise Zone Programs HCD Loan * California Health and Human Services Agency * California Health and Safety Agency * California Healthy Families Program * California Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau * California High-Speed Rail Authority * California Highway Patrol (CHP) * California History and Culture Agency * California Horse Racing Board * California Housing Finance Agency * California Indoor Air Quality Program * California Industrial Development Financing Advisory Commission * California Industrial Welfare Commission * California InFoPeople * California Information Center for the Environment * California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank) * California Inspection Services * California Institute for County Government * California Institute for Education Reform * California Integrated Waste Management Board * California Interagency Ecological Program * California Job Service * California Junta Estatal de Personal * California Labor and Employment Agency * California Labor and Workforce Development Agency * California Labor Market Information Division * California Land Use Planning Information Network (LUPIN) * California Lands Commission * California Landscape Architects Technical Committee * California Latino Legislative Caucus * California Law Enforcement Branch * California Law Enforcement General Library * California Law Revision Commission * California Legislative Analyst's Office * California Legislative Black Caucus * California Legislative Counsel * California Legislative Division * California Legislative Information * California Legislative Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Caucus * California Legislature Internet Caucus * California Library Development Services * California License and Revenue Branch * California Major Risk Medical Insurance Program * California Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board * California Maritime Academy * California Marketing Services * California Measurement Standards * California Medical Assistance Commission * California Medical Care Services * California Military Department * California Mining and Geology Board * California Museum for History, Women, and the Arts * California Museum Resource Center * California National Guard * California Native American Heritage Commission * California Natural Community Conservation Planning Program * California New Motor Vehicle Board * California Nursing Home Administrator Program * California Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board * California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board * California Ocean Resources Management Program * California Office of Administrative Hearings * California Office of Administrative Law * California Office of AIDS * California Office of Binational Border Health * California Office of Child Abuse Prevention * California Office of Deaf Access * California Office of Emergency Services (OES) * California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment * California Office of Fiscal Services * California Office of Fleet Administration * California Office of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Implementation (CalOHI) * California Office of Historic Preservation * California Office of Homeland Security * California Office of Human Resources * California Office of Legal Services * California Office of Legislation * California Office of Lieutenant Governor * California Office of Military and Aerospace Support * California Office of Mine Reclamation * California Office of Natural Resource Education * California Office of Privacy Protection * California Office of Public School Construction * California Office of Real Estate Appraisers * California Office of Risk and Insurance Management * California Office of Services to the Blind * California Office of Spill Prevention and Response * California Office of State Publishing (OSP) * California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development * California Office of Systems Integration * California Office of the Inspector General * California Office of the Ombudsman * California Office of the Patient Advocate * California Office of the President * California Office of the Secretary for Education * California Office of the State Fire Marshal * California Office of the State Public Defender * California Office of Traffic Safety * California Office of Vital Records * California Online Directory * California Operations Control Office * California Opinion Unit * California Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN) * California Park and Recreation Commission * California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) * California Performance Review (CPR) * California Permit Information for Business (CalGOLD) * California Physical Therapy Board * California Physician Assistant Committee * California Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services * California Policy and Evaluation Division * California Political Reform Division * California Pollution Control Financing Authority * California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo * California Postsecondary Education Commission * California Prevention Services * California Primary Care and Family Health * California Prison Industry Authority * California Procurement Division * California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) * California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) * California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) * California Real Estate Services Division * California Refugee Programs Branch * California Regional Water Quality Control Boards * California Registered Veterinary Technician Committee * California Registrar of Charitable Trusts * California Republican Caucus * California Research and Development Division * California Research Bureau * California Resources Agency * California Respiratory Care Board * California Rivers Assessment * California Rural Health Policy Council * California Safe Schools * California San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission * California San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy * California San Joaquin River Conservancy * California School to Career * California Science Center * California Scripps Institution of Oceanography * California Secretary of State Business Portal * California Secretary of State * California Seismic Safety Commission * California Self Insurance Plans (SIP) * California Senate Office of Research * California Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Certification Program * California Small Business Development Center Program * California Smart Growth Caucus * California Smog Check Information Center * California Spatial Information Library * California Special Education Division * California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board * California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) * California Standards and Assessment Division * California State Administrative Manual (SAM) * California State Allocation Board * California State and Consumer Services Agency * California State Architect * California State Archives * California State Assembly * California State Association of Counties (CSAC) * California State Board of Education * California State Board of Food and Agriculture *California Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) * California State Children's Trust Fund * California State Compensation Insurance Fund * California State Contracts Register Program * California State Contracts Register * California State Controller * California State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) * California State Disability Insurance (SDI) * California State Fair (Cal Expo) * California State Jobs Employment Information * California State Lands Commission * California State Legislative Portal * California State Legislature * California State Library Catalog * California State Library Services Bureau * California State Library * California State Lottery * California State Mediation and Conciliation Service * California State Mining and Geology Board * California State Park and Recreation Commission * California State Parks * California State Personnel Board * California State Polytechnic University, Pomona * California State Railroad Museum * California State Science Fair * California State Senate * California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS) * California State Summer School for the Arts * California State Superintendent of Public Instruction * California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) * California State Treasurer * California State University Center for Distributed Learning * California State University, Bakersfield * California State University, Channel Islands * California State University, Chico * California State University, Dominguez Hills * California State University, East Bay * California State University, Fresno * California State University, Fullerton * California State University, Long Beach * California State University, Los Angeles * California State University, Monterey Bay * California State University, Northridge * California State University, Sacramento * California State University, San Bernardino * California State University, San Marcos * California State University, Stanislaus * California State University (CSU) * California State Water Project Analysis Office * California State Water Project * California State Water Resources Control Board * California Structural Pest Control Board * California Student Aid Commission * California Superintendent of Public Instruction * California Superior Courts * California Tahoe Conservancy * California Task Force on Culturally and Linguistically Competent Physicians and Dentists * California Tax Information Center * California Technology and Administration Branch Finance * California Telecommunications Division * California Telephone Medical Advice Services (TAMS) * California Transportation Commission * California Travel and Transportation Agency * California Unclaimed Property Program * California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board * California Unemployment Insurance Program * California Uniform Construction Cost Accounting Commission * California Veterans Board * California Veterans Memorial * California Veterinary Medical Board and Registered Veterinary Technician Examining Committee * California Veterinary Medical Board * California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board * California Volunteers * California Voter Registration * California Water Commission * California Water Environment Association (COWPEA) * California Water Resources Control Board * California Welfare to Work Division * California Wetlands Information System * California Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch * California Wildlife Conservation Board * California Wildlife Programs Branch * California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) * California Workers Compensation Appeals Board * California Workforce and Labor Development Agency * California Workforce Investment Board * California Youth Authority (CYA) * Central Valley Flood Protection Board * Center for California Studies * Colorado River Board of California * Counting California * Dental Board of California * Health Insurance Plan of California (PacAdvantage) * Humboldt State University * Jobs with the State of California * Judicial Council of California * Learn California * Library of California * Lieutenant Governors Commission for One California * Little Hoover Commission (on California State Government Organization and Economy) * Medical Board of California * Medi-Cal * Osteopathic Medical Board of California * Physical Therapy Board of California * Regents of the University of California * San Diego State University * San Francisco State University * San Jose State University * Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy * State Bar of California * Supreme Court of California * Teach California * University of California * University of California, Berkeley * University of California, Davis * University of California, Hastings College of the Law * University of California, Irvine * University of California, Los Angeles * University of California, Merced * University of California, Riverside * University of California, San Diego * University of California, San Francisco * University of California, Santa Barbara * University of California, Santa Cruz * Veterans Home of California

For my copy editor friends: Why we don't need them anymore

The Poynter Institute took a look at the current trend of reducing copy editors at newspapers. Gene Weingarten at the Washington Post also takes a humorous look at it.

This from the New York Times.

In case you missed The Play

On the road again. Destination: Ludington

First post is up from our current trip over on Grandmas Recess. Also picked up a copy of the Ludington Daily News. Two small sections for 75-cents and no TV section. Sheeesh.

On the road again, Grandma's Recess to fire up

We will be heading out Wednesday for a two-week camping vacation now that all the kiddies and their parents are back home. That means Grandmas Recess will be up and running tomorrow night. I will also include some photos and a brief story on our trip to Indianapolis last weekend. The delay in that had to do with me leaving the digital camera home and having to use a disposable film camera. Film is at the store and should be picked up today.

With an American Legion blood drive that I oversee today and an all-day Family Literacy Center Board retreat, I won't get to it until tomorrow.

If I come across some newspaper news while we are on our trip I'll put that up on Free From Editors.

Off topic: Something funny for today.

With our frequent visits to a Buffalo nursing home this was a delightful prayer that has more and more meaning as I get older and older.

The future of news: Print or palm device?

Here's what the New York Times said about a new newspaper avenue in USA Today. (Hat tip to my sister-in-law, a great newsie in her own right for sending this along).

Under the category: Bad News

Not sure I agree with the assessment that newspapers will be gone by 2022, but here's the article.

Newspaper warning labels

How about this idea: Warning labels for newspapers.

A word from the President

A friend forwarded this to me and I thought it was pretty funny. It would apply to most Presidents, by the way.