Comments on: And they said Paris was burning… http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/10/and-they-said-paris-was-burning/ The blog of the mystery writer, screenwriter and CEO of Pajamas Media Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:35:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jeff M http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/10/and-they-said-paris-was-burning/#comment-75559 Jeff M Sun, 12 Mar 2006 14:22:47 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/10/and-they-said-paris-was-burning/#comment-75559 Drudge reports this morning that the New York Times is planning to <a href="http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/april-fools-no-nyt-stocks/" rel="nofollow">drop its Mon-Fri stock listings</a>. The long spiraling decline continues... Drudge reports this morning that the New York Times is planning to drop its Mon-Fri stock listings. The long spiraling decline continues…

]]> By: RKV http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/10/and-they-said-paris-was-burning/#comment-75558 RKV Sun, 12 Mar 2006 12:35:17 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/10/and-they-said-paris-was-burning/#comment-75558 Expect product quality to go down. Having personally been through this process (admitedly in another industry) less is not more, less is less. Less staff (even low productivity staff) means less research, and less reporting. Period. Expect an increase in editorial masquerading as news (as if there isn't too much of that going on already). It's easier to potificate without benefit of facts, than it is to develop hard news. The WAPO <i>could</i> improve its quality and competitive position by engaging the blogosphere (think Michael Yon or Evan Maloney, hell, think big and think carrying Pajamas Media) but that isn't going to happen. Expect product quality to go down. Having personally been through this process (admitedly in another industry) less is not more, less is less. Less staff (even low productivity staff) means less research, and less reporting. Period. Expect an increase in editorial masquerading as news (as if there isn’t too much of that going on already). It’s easier to potificate without benefit of facts, than it is to develop hard news. The WAPO could improve its quality and competitive position by engaging the blogosphere (think Michael Yon or Evan Maloney, hell, think big and think carrying Pajamas Media) but that isn’t going to happen.

]]> By: Kevin Peters http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/10/and-they-said-paris-was-burning/#comment-75557 Kevin Peters Sat, 11 Mar 2006 18:50:55 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/10/and-they-said-paris-was-burning/#comment-75557 Jim: The newspapers that change their hidebound traditions will survive. The ones that continue to write for only 20% of the population will flop. Ah, the glories of capitalism. When their are alternatives that provide better content the population will run to them. When any buisness ignores their consumers and tries to call them idiots for not slavishly buying their tripe they will flop. Some newspapers will survive. But only the ones who change. Jim:
The newspapers that change their hidebound traditions will survive. The ones that continue to write for only 20% of the population will flop. Ah, the glories of capitalism. When their are alternatives that provide better content the population will run to them. When any buisness ignores their consumers and tries to call them idiots for not slavishly buying their tripe they will flop. Some newspapers will survive. But only the ones who change.

]]> By: Jim,MtnViewCA,USA http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/10/and-they-said-paris-was-burning/#comment-75556 Jim,MtnViewCA,USA Sat, 11 Mar 2006 17:31:11 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/10/and-they-said-paris-was-burning/#comment-75556 PowerlineBlog posts a related article on possible consolidation of Minn/StPaul papers. It is a shame to watch the demise of newspapers, but they have become so arrogant and elitist that one only hopes that the process goes "faster, please". PowerlineBlog posts a related article on possible consolidation of Minn/StPaul papers.
It is a shame to watch the demise of newspapers, but they have become so arrogant and elitist that one only hopes that the process goes “faster, please”.

]]> By: Kevin Peters http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/10/and-they-said-paris-was-burning/#comment-75555 Kevin Peters Sat, 11 Mar 2006 15:11:40 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/10/and-they-said-paris-was-burning/#comment-75555 Roger: Should the press go after their own corporate boards and upper management for not trimming their high salaries and tell them to ignore concerns about falling stock prices rather then lay off workers. That was their song and dance when covering other corporate shakeups and layoff's. Roger:

Should the press go after their own corporate boards and upper management for not trimming their high salaries and tell them to ignore concerns about falling stock prices rather then lay off workers. That was their song and dance when covering other corporate shakeups and layoff’s.

]]> By: Ray http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/10/and-they-said-paris-was-burning/#comment-75554 Ray Sat, 11 Mar 2006 08:42:45 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/10/and-they-said-paris-was-burning/#comment-75554 Reminds me of the fagawi bird (as in "where the fagawi?"), that flies in ever smaller circles until it disappears within itself. Reminds me of the fagawi bird (as in “where the fagawi?”), that flies in ever smaller circles until it disappears within itself.

]]> By: Laurence Simon http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/10/and-they-said-paris-was-burning/#comment-75553 Laurence Simon Sat, 11 Mar 2006 08:17:11 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/10/and-they-said-paris-was-burning/#comment-75553 (Crosses fingers) Toles? (Crosses fingers) Toles?

]]> By: RBMN http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/10/and-they-said-paris-was-burning/#comment-75552 RBMN Sat, 11 Mar 2006 07:36:31 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/10/and-they-said-paris-was-burning/#comment-75552 From: UPDATE: 'Post' Publisher, Editor, Explain Job Cuts By Joe Strupp Editor & Publisher March 10, 2006 http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002156960 excerpts: <blockquote>NEW YORK The Washington Post's top Newspaper Guild leader said today the paper's plan to cut at least 80 newsroom jobs will make it tougher to cover news, especially with the Post's expanding multimedia approach. E&P first reported the cutbacks this morning. Late this afternoon, Publisher Bo Jones distributed a memo (first posted on the Romenesko site), which reads: "This Spring The Post is planning to offer voluntary retirement incentive programs in the News, Commercial, and Production Departments. The details of these programs are still being worked out, and we will let you know when they are finalized. They will cover certain exempt staff and certain Guild-covered employees. [...] <b>Other cost savings also being discussed at the meetings included likely travel cutbacks and foreign-bureau spending reductions, but little if any impact on Iraq War coverage.</b></blockquote> Note, "little if any impact on Iraq War coverage." I guess that's true for all their editorial content masquerading as news--not just Iraq coverage. From:
UPDATE: ‘Post’ Publisher, Editor, Explain Job Cuts
By Joe Strupp
Editor & Publisher
March 10, 2006
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002156960

excerpts:

NEW YORK The Washington Post’s top Newspaper Guild leader said today the paper’s plan to cut at least 80 newsroom jobs will make it tougher to cover news, especially with the Post’s expanding multimedia approach. E&P first reported the cutbacks this morning. Late this afternoon, Publisher Bo Jones distributed a memo (first posted on the Romenesko site), which reads: “This Spring The Post is planning to offer voluntary retirement incentive programs in the News, Commercial, and Production Departments. The details of these programs are still being worked out, and we will let you know when they are finalized. They will cover certain exempt staff and certain Guild-covered employees.

[...]

Other cost savings also being discussed at the meetings included likely travel cutbacks and foreign-bureau spending reductions, but little if any impact on Iraq War coverage.

Note, “little if any impact on Iraq War coverage.” I guess that’s true for all their editorial content masquerading as news–not just Iraq coverage.

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