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| The tent was full, but did not contain a rep from the local daily. |
I just looked at its online edition and there is no mention of the ground-breaking. I heard a number of people--prominent people--at the event asking the same question. The rest of the news media was there and even I--no longer a member of the daily mob of media--was in attendance at what I think we all considered to be a major event. In less than a week, the local daily has pretty well bagged on Local Colors and this event.
Not good, boys and girls. Not good at all.
Being you were there, what's the buzz on what's going to happen to the old building on site? I'm hoping it will remain, but I'm guessing it won't.
ReplyDeleteHeather: The building will be renovated and used, from what the developer says. It was salvaged, partly because the Preservation Foundation pushed for its renovation.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shocker. Most journalists want scoops. Dan gets a scoop and complains about it. Can't believe the RT didn't show up to take a picture of someone shoveling dirt.
ReplyDeleteDusty: I suspect that in your world, the little (and shrinking, with good reason) local daily is always right. No accounting. No community responsibility. And this wasn't about dirt. It was about a major economic development project, probably the biggest story in that area in a month or more.
ReplyDeleteSix short paragraphs with no quotes--but with an inexplicable by-line--were posted online at 10:22 p.m. Saturday. No photos. Lead story everywhere else. Barely a note in the local daily.
ReplyDeleteShrinking how? In circulation? That's a given. How's there website numbers? My guess is that there web presence is growing.
ReplyDeleteGroundbreaking is a PR event and not necessarily news. Did anything about the project change at the event? Anything new to report other than a pile of dirt had been shoveled by a guy in a suit?
I'm not saying they're perfect. Even my friends at the paper admit to imperfections. But with you it's the same old song and dance. They miss something, you make a huge deal about it. What do you hope to accomplish with the constant criticism? Nothing good I'd imagine, and that's what I take issue with.
Shrinking as in circulation declining 10 percent a year. That's significant an symptomatic of more than a bad economy. Every news organization in the region of any significance was at this event an presence at these events has to do with more than simple news judgement. It shows the organization knows the significance and cares.Ignoring it means either bad news assessment or a lack of caring about the community. I can tell you that people who are deeply involved in the community took note of the lack of coverage--business people who pay the paper's bills. Your opinion sounds very much like you'd fit well with the exec staff: arrogant, defensive, unconcerned.
ReplyDeleteShrinking 10 percent a year but how much is the website growing? I don't know, but it's got to offset a lot of that.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of things to complain about in the world, yet you only choose one, The Roanoke Times. It's a grudge, pure and simple.
I guess I am arrogant, can't argue with the assessment of an expert.
How do you know the website is growing at all? I'm sure it is because it's free and there is little data to suggest that websites for newspapers are profit generators, which is the point of publishing. ABC's numbers on the paper's circulation are the bible of the industry. If you believe that the local daily's lack of coverage of certain events--important events--is the only thing I see wrong in the world, you're not paying attention. At all.
ReplyDeleteI know your stance Dusty and I think we've had enough of an exchange for you to make your point. We'll stop now.
ReplyDeleteWe'll stop now because you'll refuse to publish my comments. I doubt you'll keep your own vilifying statements in check.
ReplyDeleteDusty: Your comments have all been published, including the one that says I don't publish your comments. But this exchange stops now.
ReplyDeleteDan "The Final Word" Smith
ReplyDelete