» Chris Bailey (DH) Su
» Mark Brown (ST) M-Th
» Steve Chapman (T) Su,Th
» Burt Constable (DH) Tu,Th
» Chaya Gil (DH) M
» Chuck Goudie (DH) M
» Deborah Goldstein (DS) Su
» Andrew Greeley (ST) F
» Ray Hanania (DH) M
» Phil Kadner (DS) Su,Tu-F
» John Kass (T) Su,W-F
» Jack Mabley (DH) Su,W,F
» Kristen McQueary (DS) Su
» Rich Miller (DS) Su
» Mary Mitchell (ST) Su,Tu-Th
» Steve Neal (ST) M,W,F
» Robert Novak (ST) Su,M,Th
» John O'Sullivan (ST) Tu
» Clarence Page (T) Su,W
» Debra Pickett (ST) Su,F
» Cindy Richards (ST) W
» Thomas Roeser (ST) Sa
» Ed Schwartz (L) Tu
» Jim Slusher (DH) Th
» Neil Steinberg (ST) F
» Mark Steyn (ST) Su
» Lynn Sweet (ST) M,W,Th
» Laura Washington (ST) M
» George Will (ST) Th,Su
» John Zimmerman (DH) Su
» Eric Zorn (T) Tu,Th,Sa
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SUN-TIMES RULES
All too frequently I run across people who want to debate me about my newspaper preference. I subscribe to the Sun-Times. I grew up in a Sun-Times family. I've always preferred the Sun-Times. Leave me alone.
My explanation is thus:
- I tend to agree with the editorial position of the Tribune more than the Sun-Times and I would prefer to be challenged by a paper whose views are different than mine.
- The broadsheet is a nice format for the 19th Century, here in the 21st Century, I prefer the tabloid (though magazine size would be more ideal).
- Historically, the Sun-Times has had the better sports section.
- I DO read the Tribune online as well as various other online news sites.
And the final reason: Sun-Times investigative stories speak to me.
The "Clout On Wheels" series that started Friday is just such a story. Maybe not the most brilliant, groundbreaking report, but one that I thought ruled! I love the reports that uncover corruption, dirty dealing and questionable ethics in Chicago city government--especially since there's tons of it to be uncovered. Tim Novak and Steve Warmbir did an excellent job uncovering the slime happening under Mayor Daley's watch.
Oh, and one more thing about the newspaper debates: Your reading the New York Times does not impress me, so don't tell me you read the Times as if it's some kind of proof of intelligence. It's not. I'm tired of Journalists and so-called intellectuals looking to the New York Times to find out what is newsworthy and what is not. That kind of sheep-like adoration is bullshit and way undeserved.
According to circulation numbers, the Sun-Times accounts for over 40% of daily newspapers sold in Chicago while in New York, the Times only accounts for roughly 17% of daily newspapers sold. In Chicago, New York Times circulation is less than 10% of the Sun-Times'.
A couple years ago I did a tracking analysis that contained newspaper circulation. We compared the year 2000 to 1975. Want to guess what the number one newspaper in New York was in 1975? It was the Daily News. By a huge margin. In fact, while you may find it impressive that the current daily National circulation for the New York Times tops 1 million, you may find it fascinating to learn that in 1975 the New York Daily News had a circulation topping 2 million...in New York alone!!! The Times had about 1/3 of that. If not for a cataclysmic strike in the 70's that nearly killed the then-Tribune-owned Daily News, it would probably still be number one.
If by now the person I'm debating hasn't been sold--I resort to dropping "Fat Man" and "Little Boy," declare victory and get some ice cream. Of course I speak of Jayson Blair and Howell Raines. I readily point out that the Chicago Sun-Times has never had a news reporter make stuff up in their articles and thus have not even had the chance to have editors marginalize or ignore the offenses. That's a big thing in my eyes. The New York Times published fiction and the editors ignored their own people who tried to warn them. The Chicago Sun-Times makes the city scrap a $40 million program that is revealed to be riddled with corruption.
So there.
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FAMOUS PEOPLE BEWARE! DEBRA PICKETT TAUGHT ME HOW TO TALK TO YOU
Last Wednesday I was one of the 18 people who attended Sun-Times columnist Debra Pickett's Discovery Center class "How to talk to famous people". It was interesting.
I was totally impressed with Debra's public speaking skills. She's an excellent speaker with a smooth, relaxed delivery. She's also very well read. A couple times she would throw a reference out there that half the room got, followed by something more mainstream that everyone got. She spoke for nearly the whole 2 1/2 hours and not once did I start to nod off, which means something because I usually start nodding off in long meetings at work--even meetings that I conduct. Bottom line is that she made the topic interesting.
Also: not one mention of THE BOYFRIEND
At least not until I brought him up in an after class discussion. I was glad she didn't have "Lunch with..." DVDs to sell, but suggested she could peddle "I am THE BOYFRIEND" t-shirts for the guys. I'll publicly renounce any royalty claim to the idea in the hope she actually does it.
The people who showed up for the talk were an interesting bunch. Most were hoping for some insight that would apply to their career goals. We had some writers, some marketing people, and a performer as well as a few people who were interested in pitching TV Pilot ideas to Hollywood executives. One guy came because he was a big fan of Debra's ( that double-entendre pun was unintentional, but now that I read it--very funny).
Perhaps one day I will apply some of what I learned. I know I've got a slight problem with intimidation--the more I respect and admire someone, the more intimidated I am when meeting them initially. I've frequently toyed with the idea of doing short profile interviews with some journalists here on the CME. I usually talk myself out of it because I would find it difficult to trash someone that I've met and found pleasant in person. Then again, it would be a great opportunity to see some of my favorite newsbabes up close, perhaps even wrapping up the interview with the all-important triad: "Are you single?" "Do you find guys who run unprofitable websites attractive?" And "How about a date?" Then again, that might not be appropriate. Then again, that's never stopped me before. Then again, as I met people in the news industry, I would lose my status as "a regular guy news viewer giving his opinions". See, these are the deep thoughts I have when I'm working out at the fitness center.
Any thoughts on a profile/interview segment?
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SUN-TIMES INCREASES HOME DELIVERY RATE
By: Mike Landon
The Chicago Sun-Times announced a two cent a copy increase in home delivery rates this week, home delivery of the Sun-Times is now a nine cent premium over purchase of the newspaper on the corner. The Sun-Times increase follows a four cent a copy increase in the single-copy rate (price at newsstands) for the Chicago Tribune Sunday newspaper last year.
The Sun-Times increase, which only effects copies delivered Monday through Saturday, will put greater pressure on the newspaper to improve home delivery customer service, a soft area for the newspaper, or risk losing the home delivery customers.
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MUSINGS
Ray Rayner Ruled
Ray retired from his show in 1980 when I was almost 11 years old. I remember watching his show because it was fun and because he had great cartoons-especially the Batman / Superman / Superboy cartoons from the 70's. My most vivid memory of his show was when he'd put the umbrella hat on and call the national weather service for the weather. On the chalkboard he would write the day's weather and then on the side frame of the board, he'd write the abbreviated weather for the rest of the week. I remember thinking how stupid WGN was for not buying him a bigger chalkboard so he didn't have to write on the side of it. I also remember his sports reports, especially the Cubs/Sox hat he could flip around. Good times. I'm sorry to hear he died, but at 84 I can't imagine why some people call it a surprise. Captain Kangaroo died this week too...I never liked that show.
Newsbabe Leaving Chicago
Oh no! Lauren Cohn is leaving Channel 32 to join WCAU-TV (NBC) in Philadelphia. Well, it's good for her, as she'll be a reporter/anchor. She's been vastly underutilized at Channel 32 in her position as the station health reporter. It's a bummer, though--she was in the top 5 of my Chicago Newsbabe list. I'll miss her, but I wish her the best of luck.
Tamron Makes Great Investment
Speaking of Chicago Newsbabes, Tamron Hall just bought a home and the Chicago Tribune outed her.
The Dennis Miller Factor
Two days into Dennis Miller's 8pm CNBC show and things are good so far. I'm a bit uncomfortable to see my favorite pragmatist turn into an unapologetic George Bush supporter, but these things happen I guess. As with all new shows, there are lots of bumps and hiccups right now that will be ironed out in good time. The format is this:
- One-on-one interview for the first 25 minutes (The Governator Monday, John McCain Tuesday).
- News humor.
- Short commentary on one topic (Tuesday's was on the many credit card applications mailed to his home).
- The Varsity Panel for 25 minutes (the panel consists of 3 smart people-authors/pundits/activists).
- To end the show--a parting joke.
The big problem so far is Dennis' inability to cleanly referee the Varsity Panel as they start talking over each other. One thing that I've been liking about the panel this week so far is Naomi Wolf. Seriously, I am totally embarrassed to find out that I had never heard of her before. I'm liking her viewpoints AND she's a total hottie. Now when people ask me what I'm looking for in a woman, I can say " a Naomi Wolf-type: intelligent, opinionated, and scorching hot, baby!" Anyway. I'm liking Dennis' show.
Naked News
In case you hadn't heard, a news anchor in Youngstown, Ohio resigned from her job after photos of her vacation to Key West were posted on the internet. A couple news-oriented websites--Newsblues most prominently--seemed to have some kind of moral struggle with posting the pictures. Newsblues went so far as to have a vote among the members. Ya see, on her vacation, Catherine Bosley decided to enter a wet t-shirt competition. As the series of photos show, she gleefully stripped down to nothing, revealing a very horrendous looking boob-job as well as close-cropped grooming habits. Check out the story here (and yes, I picked the Beaver County Times for the irony). Anyway, I'm amused that some of the news-oriented websites had protracted battles with their consciences. Meanwhile, the pics are posted elsewhere, so the question is moot. If you're curious, check out the pics here or here.
No, I have no shame.
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LETTERS TO THE CME
Received 1/25/2004 From Mike Landon on the graphic photo/ BJ discussion:
I don't usually talk much to picture editors, however, it seems to me that the Trib and the Sun-Times land on peoples breakfast tables. There needs to be a level of taste about that moment, when a product enters the home. That table and the moment, often shared with children. The horror of the 9/11 attacks aside, and I suspect most editors would argue that they were in a special class of news item. Every day newspapers have access to vivid photos that are not appropriate for that moment.
Television news, on the other hand... I never watched it as a kid. (As an aside, not being very interested in car crashes, major fires and minor armed robbery, I still don't) My child doesn't watch it (she will occasionally watch SNL's Weekend Update or the Daily Show. Last time she watched W/U with me she didn't even know about the Las Vegas weddings of Britney Spears). The BJ was a poor editorial choice. But, children hear worse on WKQX every morning.
The key difference between shock jocks and a news program being, viewers and listeners are looking for some level of gravitas from news programs. The audience of WKQX and other shock shows seek that "entertainment."
Perhaps it's the way of things to come: an inevitable decline of TV news to the level of the least common denominator. Instead of squirrels on skis, we can look forward to a new regular close: the Man on the Street piece of a couple who just "did it" in the vestibule of a church.
Or am I just too cynical?
Received 1/26/2004 on Ray Rayner
Among adults of a certain age who grew up in the Chicago area, the Ray Rayner show is a fondly, if hazily remembered institution. On one message board, I read many references to Ray as a 'best friend', and he was. His was my favorite show, and the reason, I think, is that he gave kids the freedom to be completely silly. His art projects always looked terrible, Chelveston the Duck always wanted to bite him, and everything he did was just a little bit off. But that's what made it so much fun. In a time when kids were still admonished to behave, be polite, and stay quiet (all of which are fine virtues), he gave us a chance to let loose, and he was always there with a joke, a story, or a gentle reminder to zip up your coat for the walk to school. (Yes, kids really did walk to school back then!) He was accessible, and honestly joyful, and hysterically funny. I already missed his show; I'm very sorry that he's gone. (S.D.)
Received 1/25/2004 on Jay Mariotti
Couldn't agree with you more on Jabroni Mariotti...
But apparently media executives are blind to his braid-dead, talent-free, humorless appeal. As you've probably heard, the Mariotti scourge continues across the airwaves: he's getting his own radio show on ESPN-1000 (already home to the insufferable Jim Rome), replacing the smart, funny Tony Kornheiser show.
I would say Mariotti is the embodiment of the Peter Principle, yet he inexplicably continues to get new jobs. The horror, the horror.... (M.S.)
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ASK THE CME
No queries came in this week.
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OUT OF THE BOX
Due to the lateness of this issue, I once again have to push my "out of the box" commentary back.
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