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Election Endorsements
By JOHN F. KUCZAJ
I finally had a chance to compile a list comparing the Tribune & Sun-Times endorsements to the final results of last month's primary election (check out the attached Excel file). I'm actually surprised at the results.
Before reading on, I suggest you check out Michael Miner's excellent (Hot Type column from March 22nd) about how the Sun-Times' David Radler vetoed many of the endorsements by the Sun-Times' and the Pioneer Press' editorial boards. As someone who is unapologetically a big Sun-Times booster (ironically working in a decidedly pro-Tribune office), this revelation disturbs me deeply. Sure, the paper is hyper-pro-Israel. Sure, each week we are assured on at least one oddly offensive Higgins editorial cartoon. But Radler's actions have the potential to undercut any respectability the paper thinks it has if it continues to occur. Personally, once I saw the Sun-Times endorsement of Lisa Madigan, I was suspect...then I saw the endorsement of Ted Lechowicz, which made me laugh hysterically. I used the Tribune as a guide for the races I wasn't up on.
In all, the Tribune endorsed 121 candidates while the Sun-Times endorsed only 70.
The Tribune included endorsements for judicial races while the Sun-Times only put the recommendation of two review boards...not as helpful.
The Tribune endorsed 49% of the winning Democrats (36 of 73) and 71% of the winning Republicans (34 of 48). When you eliminate the judicial & county board races, the percentages go up to 55% & 76%.
The Sun-Times endorsed 60% of the winning Democrats (25 of 42) and 71% of the winning Republicans (20 of 28). When you eliminate the judicial & county board races, the percentages go up to 63% & 72%.
Of interest is the fact that the Sun-Times and Tribune endorsed the same candidate in 48 races and different candidates in only 21. Does this mean the papers are not as far apart politically as we think? In this Primary Election, they agreed 70% of the time. Maybe it just means that outside of major races, the papers choose along competency lines rather than political ideology. I don't know...maybe some Political Science Major can actually use their degree for one and figure it out.
Anyone Selling Stamps?
By JOHN F. KUCZAJ
Does anyone else smile at the irony of Channel 32 employing an ex-convict who was convicted of a felony for stealing money from all of us taxpayers as the lead analyst on election night?
Yeah...I'm gonna trust this guy.
Added to the irony is the fact that they quickly pulled their lead weather guy off the air just for the accusations that he allegedly hit his wife.
I guess if you're going to commit a crime, it pays to go all the way and be convicted.
Tampering With Success
By JOHN F. KUCZAJ
Channel 11 is revamping Chicago Tonight, making it an hour long and including Bob Sirott in a segment at the bottom of the hour.
I'm not sure I like this idea.
On the one hand, the show runs out of time frequently when things get just interesting. An hour show would enable Phil Ponce to continue...assuming the format is flexible enough.
On the other hand, if the show is rigidly formatted to include Bob Sirott's segment regardless of what happens with the Ponce portion, the show will most assuredly suck because they will be using the good "Chicago Tonight" name to draw people to a different show.
Of course, I'll reserve judgment until this whole thing happens. I'm just worried that Channel 11 will destroy the franchise.
I remember a conversation I had with a News Director years ago about the merits of 30 minute & 60 minute newscasts. The prevailing attitude was that a 30 minute newscast had to move fast to include all the information you wanted to include while a 60 minute show was much slower in order to fill all that time. A 40-45 minute newscast would be ideal. Maybe the Ponce interview segment will run 45 minutes on most nights, leaving the last 15 minutes for Sirott's Sandbox?
Story Idea
By JOHN F. KUCZAJ
As I watched the Academy Awards, I was stunned at the several racist remarks coming from host Whoopi Goldberg. I don't care that Bruce Villanch wrote most of the lame repartee--jokes about "white people" are just as bad as jokes about other races. I suppose "minority" performers feel that it's like some kind of payback, but racism is racism. I'd like to see someone examine why it seems to be just fine to spew comments about "white folks" or "whitey" with impunity yet when Mike North makes a goofy innocuous comment that Antonio Mora should wear a sombrero to look more Hispanic, he's being racist.
I detest double standards.
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