This is really a great article pointing straight to the heart of a situation not only for small publications but also big boys like NYT, WP, USAToday, WSJ, etc. A must read to anybody who likes information.
chiming in from the dirt to say: this is one of the reasons we don't have an "ad sales person". we get the ick from guys in suits & bmws tying to make money off journalism. we aim to pay our talent a wage that values their contribution. nobody's getting rich over here, but on a good month i'm able to send my kids to art camp.
Growing up in Davis, I could count on my picture appearing in the newspaper at least once a year. A photographer would show up to line up the kids on various sports teams or clubs and sometimes appearing to snap a picture of the cool fort we built - along with a short article and names of the creators. Pictures of civic leaders and boards, people behind local events, etc were common. Maybe this kind of coverage is looked down upon, but it is an important feature now missing from our local papers. The local reporting seems to focus on the City Council, land planning, and political controversies and no longer provides an overview of community life.
Growing up in Davis, we read the San Francisco Chronicle and Enterprise. Kind of shocking, when we recently visited Sausalito, to read the greatly-reduced version of today's Chronicle. We do still read the online version of the Bee, and I always look forward to reading the articles by favorites Marcos Breton, Joe Davidson, and a few others. The Bee actually seems to be doing better than the Chronicle, based on the volume of pages, probably because it's part of the McClatchy group. Now that you've started The Wary One, I'll be much more informed, thank you, Bob. (No exclamation mark). I've been following three other writers on Substack since Covid started and am happy I added you to the group.
Local newspapers may not matter to democracy, but local journalists (like your own good self) absolutely do. As a history professor in Georgia, and former editor of The State Hornet (85-86), I was shocked by the words of a student who planned to be a journalist, who was both a lousy writer and bone idle. He was dismissive of the idea that good journalists, like good professors, don't aspire to the corner office. "I don't plan to be a lowly staff writer all my life," he said, with a heaping dose of contempt. He was, of course, a small-town newspaper publisher' s son. I hope with all my heart that he got his comeuppance. And,. Bob, I hope your readers are reading the whole post, and realizing that we don't need sad: We need angry.
Nice to meet you and Wendy on Saturday afternoon. The room was certainly full of positive vibes!
Newspapers and all media these days should have the moral clarity to be able to distinguish between freedom fighters and anti-semitic advocates of terrorism. Except for some strong voices in opinion pieces and letters to the editors, has there be a proper balance?
Uncanny how some of our brains interpret what we think, based upon our biases, rather than what is printed: "...hope for defending our democratic way of life." I read "defUnding". AND "...we'll soon have news deserts all across the country..." Make mine Strawberry Shortcake, if you puleeze.
It was a great event with a great and happy crowd. Wendy is a superstar and a Pulitzer Prize winner named Jack Ohman made a surprise appearance that thrilled the crowd.
This is really a great article pointing straight to the heart of a situation not only for small publications but also big boys like NYT, WP, USAToday, WSJ, etc. A must read to anybody who likes information.
Thank you very much!
It's sad to see so many great journalists get out of the business because greedy owners aren't willing to pay them a living wage and decent benefits.
chiming in from the dirt to say: this is one of the reasons we don't have an "ad sales person". we get the ick from guys in suits & bmws tying to make money off journalism. we aim to pay our talent a wage that values their contribution. nobody's getting rich over here, but on a good month i'm able to send my kids to art camp.
The Dirt. The best thing to happen to Davis journalism in a long time.
Growing up in Davis, I could count on my picture appearing in the newspaper at least once a year. A photographer would show up to line up the kids on various sports teams or clubs and sometimes appearing to snap a picture of the cool fort we built - along with a short article and names of the creators. Pictures of civic leaders and boards, people behind local events, etc were common. Maybe this kind of coverage is looked down upon, but it is an important feature now missing from our local papers. The local reporting seems to focus on the City Council, land planning, and political controversies and no longer provides an overview of community life.
Agreed, Sharla.
Yeah man. Sigh.
A huge sigh. Feel lucky to be getting a second chance with my column.
Growing up in Davis, we read the San Francisco Chronicle and Enterprise. Kind of shocking, when we recently visited Sausalito, to read the greatly-reduced version of today's Chronicle. We do still read the online version of the Bee, and I always look forward to reading the articles by favorites Marcos Breton, Joe Davidson, and a few others. The Bee actually seems to be doing better than the Chronicle, based on the volume of pages, probably because it's part of the McClatchy group. Now that you've started The Wary One, I'll be much more informed, thank you, Bob. (No exclamation mark). I've been following three other writers on Substack since Covid started and am happy I added you to the group.
You're very kind, Robin. I'm thrilled to be included in such fast companyl
Great article. Sad but true.
I'll the true part, but not the sad part, Shelley.
Local newspapers may not matter to democracy, but local journalists (like your own good self) absolutely do. As a history professor in Georgia, and former editor of The State Hornet (85-86), I was shocked by the words of a student who planned to be a journalist, who was both a lousy writer and bone idle. He was dismissive of the idea that good journalists, like good professors, don't aspire to the corner office. "I don't plan to be a lowly staff writer all my life," he said, with a heaping dose of contempt. He was, of course, a small-town newspaper publisher' s son. I hope with all my heart that he got his comeuppance. And,. Bob, I hope your readers are reading the whole post, and realizing that we don't need sad: We need angry.
Annette - There is a place for a bit of anger here.
Hear, hear…my good man!
Thanks for a poignant peak “behind the curtain!”
Not always pretty behind the curtain, Bill.
Viva Las Periodistas!!! 🤛
Viva Periodismo!👊
Viva indeed, Myrna
Nice to meet you and Wendy on Saturday afternoon. The room was certainly full of positive vibes!
Newspapers and all media these days should have the moral clarity to be able to distinguish between freedom fighters and anti-semitic advocates of terrorism. Except for some strong voices in opinion pieces and letters to the editors, has there be a proper balance?
Depends on who you're reading, Mike.
Uncanny how some of our brains interpret what we think, based upon our biases, rather than what is printed: "...hope for defending our democratic way of life." I read "defUnding". AND "...we'll soon have news deserts all across the country..." Make mine Strawberry Shortcake, if you puleeze.
What would Herb E. Caen have written?
Oh my gosh, did I confuse desert and dessert? No, I didn't, but you scared me Sherri. There is no dessert on the desert.
As long as there's sugar, there's dessert.
Bob,
Well done column about local papers. I would hope all in ownership & management would read it & think. Fr Peterson
Thank you, Father. My sentiments exactly.
Maybe they could read Rerum novarum while they're at it.
Good column, Mr. Bob. One of your best.
Sorry I could not make it to see you on Saturday.
It was a great event with a great and happy crowd. Wendy is a superstar and a Pulitzer Prize winner named Jack Ohman made a surprise appearance that thrilled the crowd.