tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30412896.post1617175969360141751..comments2024-01-05T02:53:03.358-06:00Comments on American Zombie: The Brave Newhouse WorldJason Brad Berryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18421813599753848735noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30412896.post-62391992733651024362012-07-16T15:16:27.961-05:002012-07-16T15:16:27.961-05:00"I’m not sure Newhouse even understands what ..."I’m not sure Newhouse even understands what their own vision is."<br /><br />I read this and the first thing that came to mind is Jindal and John White's "making it up as they go" reincarnation of education in Louisiana. It makes me shudder anticipating the mess both situations will create.<br /><br />The thing that blows me away about the Times Picayune lately is every day there is at least one, usually more letters to the editor by NOLA citizens mourning the loss of their beloved paper. But exactly what is the TP accomplihing by doing this? Rubbing salt in the collective wound, a wound that may not heal? What a slap in the face by Newhouse. <br /><br />Its a done deal - I got my TP bill last week and its official, the price of a paper subscription will change in October. Oh how I wish Warren Buffett or some other benevolent entity would swoop in and kick Newhouse to the motherfucking curb. New Orleans deserves so much better than this...swampwomanhttp://swampwoman.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30412896.post-83382626774188351122012-07-15T23:45:27.112-05:002012-07-15T23:45:27.112-05:00It's brilliant in the fact that you're yel...It's brilliant in the fact that you're yelling the emperor has no clothes. <br /><br />Therefore...it's brilliant.Jason Brad Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18421813599753848735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30412896.post-21906433008358863892012-07-12T20:22:07.412-05:002012-07-12T20:22:07.412-05:00I have thought for decades that the TP is/was one ...I have thought for decades that the TP is/was one of the best papers in the country. My buying and reading papers everywhere I traveled led me to that opinion. There are few papers its equal, especially post-K.<br /><br />I have never understood how a newspaper can make money online by giving away its product. Online advertising is not enough. The NY Times started out online as paid-only, switched to free, and is now back to some free/the rest paid.<br /><br />Online, the TP only has local content to sell. News on any non-local story can be found elsewhere. There is no reason to go to nola.com for it. So how does it make sense to reduce the very staff that produces the content that is salable?<br /><br />It is fantasy for Newhouse to believe that New Orleanians don't realize this. And that assertions that the quality will be the same with reduced reporting staff could ever be true.<br /><br />This isn't anything brilliant, but I had to say it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30412896.post-82257305195308710092012-07-12T14:17:46.877-05:002012-07-12T14:17:46.877-05:00Last Anon...completely agree with you on the first...Last Anon...completely agree with you on the first paragrah, I disagree with you on the last.<br /><br />Gambit has produced some really good stories over the years that woudn't be mainstream fare. But also, it's not really fair to classify it in the same category as fully staffed investigative newsroom and I'm not really sure it needs to aspire to that goal.Jason Brad Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18421813599753848735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30412896.post-13977875643489204212012-07-12T11:16:07.498-05:002012-07-12T11:16:07.498-05:00Jason
What you will wind up seeing and to a point ...Jason<br />What you will wind up seeing and to a point are already starting to see if the local TV websites morphing into a news website. By that I mean the TV story is only 2 minutes but the meat of the story will be on the TV station's website because the website war has begun for TV advertisers since the Times Picayune's website & news coverage imploded.<br /><br />The good news is that we will have 3 (possibly 4 if WGNO ever comes out of its coma)investigative newsources where website print content will matter much more than a brief bullet point TV broadcast. <br /><br />Lastly, I'm not sure why Gambit is so upset about the loss of the Times Picayune's investigative news section. Gambit hasn't done one investigative piece on local politicians since the rag has been around. Gambit is more of a covert political cheerleader rag for the politicians they are in bed with. Maybe when Clancy dies and a new owner takes over then Gambit will be relevant as a local news authority.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30412896.post-37527742906300431732012-07-12T02:55:24.641-05:002012-07-12T02:55:24.641-05:00Anon 1...yes, yes, yes.
Anon 2....I love you. I ...Anon 1...yes, yes, yes.<br /><br />Anon 2....I love you. I don't know who you are, I don't want to know.<br /><br />But the fact that you started off width Occams' razor and then stated the hidden thesis of that post was brilliant. I didn't think anyone would understand what I was saying...because I never came out and said it. <br /><br />Wow...whoever you are...I am humbled.Jason Brad Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18421813599753848735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30412896.post-91326983813191038212012-07-11T14:35:37.026-05:002012-07-11T14:35:37.026-05:00Don't forget about Allen Johnson. He used to ...Don't forget about Allen Johnson. He used to be the head writer for Gambit and went big time with Bloomberg News. Still based here, he is an investigative reporter known to deliver solid punches at NOPD and on other crime matters. He also has a regular column at New Orleans magazine and can sometimes be seen on WYES' Informed Sources. And, no, I am not Allen Johnson.... I just read his stuff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30412896.post-53561998993141654162012-07-11T14:29:44.550-05:002012-07-11T14:29:44.550-05:00Don't forget about Allen Johnson. He used to ...Don't forget about Allen Johnson. He used to be the head writer at Gambit and now freelances primarily with Bloomberg news. He also has a column with New Orleans magazine. He also is an investigative reporter, especially on NOPD matters. He can deliver a solid punch or two. And, no, I am not Allen Johnson.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30412896.post-18344540998376740482012-07-11T13:53:31.217-05:002012-07-11T13:53:31.217-05:00I know that Mr. Occam would tell us never to assum...I know that Mr. Occam would tell us never to assume deviousness when common stupidity will suffice to explain a decision. But I find it difficult to believe that ANYONE could really be stupid enough to actually think what is going on with the T-P is a good business decision. To do so, you'd have to believe the following:<br /> <br />- It's a good business decision to voluntarily give up a profitable monopoly market in order to "concentrate" on a market which (a) has virtually no natural capital barrier to entry, (b) is incredibly crowded and competitive, and (c) puts you in direct competition with one of the most highly regarded and valuable companies in the world (Google).<br /><br />- It's a good business decision to abandon the business model that uses essentially all of your organization's considerable existing skills (see: Pulitzers, multiple) in order to "concentrate" on one in which your limited forays to date have resulted in <i>universal derision</i>. <br /><br />- It's a good business decision to make a move that angers and alienates your entire customer base. Is there any historical precedent for such a decision to turn out to be profitable in the long run?<br /><br /> I just don't think it's believable that anyone is that stupid. So if this move wasn't really made for profit motive, it begs the question: what is the point of purposely destroying the T-P? If the worry was really legal liability as AZ has suggested in the past, wouldn't it have been easier (and more effetive) to just sell the paper?<br /><br />I can't figure it out. I can't even come up with a reasonable-sounding theory. Maybe someone else can?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30412896.post-38014250666331030672012-07-11T11:03:34.096-05:002012-07-11T11:03:34.096-05:00I am very to see how Hammer and McCarthy will be u...I am very to see how Hammer and McCarthy will be used at WWL. Because along with fellow TP alum Perlstein, WWL now has an investigative team of 3, and this is in addition to its regular reporters. This makes it a (comparatively) resource-rich local TV news operation -- certainly richer than the others. Is it possible that, rather than be ordered to turn a package at 5, 6 and/or 10, they will be allowed to develop stories and do real investigative pieces that aren't just for sweeps? Maybe even some long-form stuff? <br /><br />And please add to your list of news manipulators the occasional GM (ret.) who might insist that producers devote precious newsblock time to stories about his wife's pet cause, or who might not-so-subtly ensure that reporters handle his good friend the mayor with kid gloves. Sweet. And the public is never the wiser. That's why I love the blogs. At least you know what's up. And if there's subterfuge, well -- no one ever promised you there wouldn't be.<br /><br />Good piece. Thought-provoking. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com