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This Issue from John Kuczaj, the Chicago Media Examiner:
• Trib dissing David Greising?
• Who's the New Ann Landers?
• Kobe, the victim
• Sun-Times corrects editorial
• David Radler's letter
• Chicago Newsbabes
I seem to have an easier time getting this column out on Wednesdays, so voila! Wednesday it is from now on.
Greising Griping
In last week's Hot Type, Michael Miner wrote about how the Tribune has apparently moved David Greising's column off the front of the business section to page 2. I'm not sure how to take the news of the move. At first I was angry because it seemed like a bad thing. Then as I read on and thought about it, the move didn't seem like a big deal at all. Then I picked up a Tribune and looked at the sections, realizing that moving Greising off the front was goofy.
I'm one of those non-business-types who started to read David Greising, though admittedly I discovered him through his appearances on Chicago Week in Review on Channel 11. As you may have noticed, I liked him so much; I put a link to his columns on the CME as well. Miner describes him perfectly when he wrote, "...And because Greising wrote clearly and gracefully and was smart, witty, and fair, the column was a great success."
My first reaction was "Tribsters were doing it again! Can't they get anything right???". Then, I calmed down and jettisoned the Jay Mariotti imitation. However, I was still a little bummed that the Trib was dissing David Greising seemingly in the same way they dissed Skip Bayless out the door. Of course, in the case of Bayless, it was addition by subtraction, but if the Tribune loses David Greising, they lose talent.
As I read on, I started to think that column placement really doesn't matter to me. Mostly it doesn't matter because I rarely pick up a Trib--I usually read the online edition. If the newspaper is moving the column off page one as a design issue, then this is NOT a diss of Greising. It's a bit disappointing, but it's not a slap in the face.
However, when I actually looked at the Tribune, I can see that the move is silly. Very silly. The design move to have a column on the front page of every section except the main section looked really good. Making the Business section an exception looks silly.
Final analysis: Greising isn't being dissed or demoted, he's just the unfortunate collateral damage in a design decision. I hope he doesn't leave the paper.
That having been said, a few words about research. Research is my day job. I've been in research for over 11 years now. I believe that the worst kind of research is a survey of your own customers. The idea of polling your own customer base in order to see how you can make them more pleased with your product seems like a good idea, but you are talking about working with a corrupted database from the start. The fact that you have a base of customers is a good thing, you shouldn't mess with it. Asking your customers how you can do better just invites silliness by making them think of ways to change your product even if they are pleased with it. Miner was right when he wrote, "Great newspapers don't let readership surveys tell them what to do. They act on their convictions and expect readers to catch on and catch up." That idea applies to not just newspapers, but all media. I've seen it many times in the Television business that I work. I have been involved in it. I have seen lots of research in my career and have not been hesitant at all to call bad research bad when I see it.
That having been said, I haven't seen the Tribune surveys, so I can't tell if they are unimpeachable or not.
In television, there are two classic research stories that illustrate how all surveys cannot be trusted. The first involved TV news research. Whenever someone does a study to see what the viewer wants in a news show, it almost always comes back saying that they don't want the sensational news, they want a family-friendly newscast that has longer stories and more substance than style. Nearly every TV station that has ever listened to that response has failed miserably. Were the respondents lying? Not necessarily. More than likely, they were saying what they thought they should say. No one wants to get up in the middle of the room and say that they want more sex and violence on TV, but when they get home they turn on "Sex and the City" and "The Shield". The second classic research story involves Wrestling. In the late 1980's, when the WWF first hit mega-popularity, their ratings were high and merchandising was huge. Yet, when surveys were done and the question "Do you watch wrestling?" would come up, no one would admit to watching wrestling. Rather than give a truthful answer, they gave the answer they thought the research company wanted to hear.
Research is good, but you can't be over-dependent on it and it can't always be trusted.
Ann Landers is Dead, Long Live Ann Landers
The Sun-Times and the Tribune both have new advice columnists. One is Amy and one in Ellie--I don't remember which one is which. I also can't remember which one is Ann Landers replacement, since Ann Landers was in both papers. Actually, if they were looking for a replacement for Ann Landers--no practical experience, talk out of the side of their mouth, have a goofy real name and totally messed up personal life? Why not just hire Mary Jo Buttafuoco?
She Was Asking For It, Right?
After two weeks of the legitimate & illegitimate press attacking the alleged victim of Kobe Bryant's alleged rape, it's good to see some rational columns. Check out Kristen Fischer's article on ESPN.com.
Do You Know Where Your Little Boys Are?
Did anyone else find the Sun-Times' Friday July 25th editorial odd? "Press on, Father Mike" was a follow-up of an editorial from the week before.
Follow up? Actually, it was a correction.
The previous week, after reporting on a storeowner who was suing Rev. Michael Pfleger for harassing him, the Sun-Times wrote an editorial suggesting that perhaps Pfleger & his group of alleged activists are perhaps too heavy-handed with some shopkeepers. This corrected editorial said, "But after witnessing the offensive conditions of some neighborhood stores with Pfleger and determining that he doesn't single out anyone (all 65-plus shops in the area are visited by his group, including the big chain stores and supermarkets), we feel obliged to say we were too critical of him."
Interesting.
I'd like to take the Sun-Times' word on this, but which word do I trust? What are these alleged "offensive conditions"? Why must all the stores in the area be subjected to inspections by a self-appointed, self-righteous group? If these stores are in such bad shape, why do people still shop there? What was it that caused the Sun-Times to change their tune? Was it pressure? Blackmail? Or an honest change of heart?
Way too many questions left unanswered to sway me, I'm afraid. I'd like to trust a Catholic Priest, but in recent years, it's been shown that many of them like to molest kids, drive drunk, and act as if they are above the law. Priests are just like everyone else-they are human, they make mistakes, and they are frequently wrong. I think if the Sun-Times is going to change their stance on an issue, the readers deserve a better explanation than "Oh, nevermind, we were wrong."
Sun-Times Aggrieved
The Tribune (Disclosure: I work for a non-Publishing arm of the Tribune Company) did a story about some alleged shady dealings by Hollinger CEO Conrad Black on Sunday the 20th. The Tribune isn't the only place I've read that something less-than-kosher may be going on at Hollinger, but I certainly hope the company isn't in the financial trouble I hear it may be in. That having been said, David Radler sent a letter-to-the-editor response to the article to the Tribune, that, of course, was not printed. On July 28th, Michael Cooke sent the letter to Romenesko's MediaNews. Check it out: "Sun-Times attacks Tribune's "lies and distortions".
Newsbabes
Steve Dahl made an appearance on the WGN Morning News last week and gave his "Top 10 Chicago Newsbabes" list. Several people emailed me saying he ripped me off. Thanks, but I think not. Sure, I've quoted my informal Top 10 list for years, but I've done nothing official. Well, not yet at least. Wait & see. Besides, I think we should credit the old "RedBlazer.com" with the internet newsbabe list idea (anyone remember that website). Anyway, he's got a nice list and I like how he changed it on the fly to put Marcella Raymond on top since she was poolside with him in his yard.
IN THE CURRENT CHICAGO RED FACE:
- Bush Wants to Aid Liberians
- Blago & Jesse White Budget Battle to be Decided in Rusty Chainsaw Fight
- France Eliminates "e-mail" from Language
- Mayor Cancels Plans To Rollout Chicago's First Drive-Through Farmer's Market
- Frasier's Eddie to run for California Gov
- I-TEAM SPECIAL REPORT: Wilford Brimley not checking his blood sugar often!
- Diddy, will he?
- JAY MERRYMAN: Tribsters act un Tribster-like
- Cool Again: Deadly Anorexia
Check it out at: www.chicagoredface.com.
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