Comments on: The Slow Bleed of the Washington Post http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/ 68.3 Square Miles of D.C. News and Opinion Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:05:00 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: curm http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/comment-page-1/#comment-42180 curm Fri, 19 Oct 2007 05:35:01 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/index.php/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/#comment-42180 I see from a prior post by one of your staffers that the City Paper just lost their production staff. I see from a prior post by one of your staffers that the City Paper just lost their production staff.

]]> By: L.E. http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/comment-page-1/#comment-42091 L.E. Thu, 18 Oct 2007 21:38:12 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/index.php/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/#comment-42091 Bathroom sex, drinking urine, tell it to the judge, fetishes for swim caps, all fluff. The story about heavy D was about a nation wide epidemic? I must have missed where you say anything more than the musings of an overweight kid getting chased by cops in a quest to eat. I'm sure the story helped heavy D gain tons of confiedence. If you are reading this in Atlanta please clean house! Bathroom sex, drinking urine, tell it to the judge, fetishes for swim caps, all fluff. The story about heavy D was about a nation wide epidemic? I must have missed where you say anything more than the musings of an overweight kid getting chased by cops in a quest to eat. I'm sure the story helped heavy D gain tons of confiedence. If you are reading this in Atlanta please clean house!

]]> By: Erik Wemple http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/comment-page-1/#comment-42043 Erik Wemple Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:25:10 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/index.php/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/#comment-42043 To Mi-ann and Scott: I generally don't get involved in blog comments, but you folks are addressing me directly. So, here goes: First, I never made any comment about the Post's lack of journalistic victories. I merely pointed out that discussion of that matter would be on the agenda of today's meeting. In fact, I believe they have plenty to celebrate. '07 has been an enormous year, already, for that newsroom. And to Edward Allen: The Post's Walter Reed stories were all published this year, and one of the biggest foregone conclusions in journalism is that it'll win a Pulitzer. Consider also the June series on VP Cheney, an amazing feat. Second, I stand by our own record here at WCP, too. Including the stories mentioned by Mi-Ann and Scott. Childhood obesity is one of this country's biggest problems, and if you can find a better narrative on that subject than "The Battle Over Heavy T," I'd certainly like to read it. As to Scott's point about social issues in the region, did you see last week's cover, "Subprime and Punishment"? That would seem to be right up your alley. Regarding the notion that we're all about puffery: I think that's wrong and unfair. And on my coverage of the Post: Point taken. I think that our media coverage would benefit from focusing on other outlets. But I don't bear any ill will at all toward the Post; I just think that as the region's paper of record, it needs plenty of scrutiny, scrutiny that the ombudsman alone cannot provide. But my main point is this: Though I may not agree with your criticisms, they reflect the fact that you pick up this paper on a regular basis, and for that, I love you more than you can imagine. Without you, I'd REALLY have a tough time looking at myself in the mirror. So despite your gripes about the paper, I hope you continue to check it out. Thanks very much. To Mi-ann and Scott: I generally don't get involved in blog comments, but you folks are addressing me directly. So, here goes:

First, I never made any comment about the Post's lack of journalistic victories. I merely pointed out that discussion of that matter would be on the agenda of today's meeting. In fact, I believe they have plenty to celebrate. '07 has been an enormous year, already, for that newsroom. And to Edward Allen: The Post's Walter Reed stories were all published this year, and one of the biggest foregone conclusions in journalism is that it'll win a Pulitzer. Consider also the June series on VP Cheney, an amazing feat.

Second, I stand by our own record here at WCP, too. Including the stories mentioned by Mi-Ann and Scott. Childhood obesity is one of this country's biggest problems, and if you can find a better narrative on that subject than "The Battle Over Heavy T," I'd certainly like to read it. As to Scott's point about social issues in the region, did you see last week's cover, "Subprime and Punishment"? That would seem to be right up your alley.

Regarding the notion that we're all about puffery: I think that's wrong and unfair.

And on my coverage of the Post: Point taken. I think that our media coverage would benefit from focusing on other outlets. But I don't bear any ill will at all toward the Post; I just think that as the region's paper of record, it needs plenty of scrutiny, scrutiny that the ombudsman alone cannot provide.

But my main point is this: Though I may not agree with your criticisms, they reflect the fact that you pick up this paper on a regular basis, and for that, I love you more than you can imagine. Without you, I'd REALLY have a tough time looking at myself in the mirror. So despite your gripes about the paper, I hope you continue to check it out. Thanks very much.

]]> By: scott http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/comment-page-1/#comment-42031 scott Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:29:24 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/index.php/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/#comment-42031 i like both the post and CP immensely but: -the post is a superior paper to about 90 percent of dailies in the country. you really don't know what you've got until you live in a place like dallas or charlotte and you see true journalistic mediocrity. -CP has increasingly struck me as pandering to puff pieces (LNS, sex in the restrooms) and less to highlighting a myriad of social issues in DC/VA/MD. it's a far cry from the CP of the mid to late 1990s but i will concede it is quite often entertaining. -Erik, your constant commenting on the Post betrays a pretty transparent grudge against them, which only makes me assume you have ill will from a past experience with them. as an editor, i think you owe it to yourself and to CP to not keep up with the Joneses so frequently. the Post has an ombudsman and should be called out from time to time, but what I've noticed is a rather constant whining over trivial matters. all in all, DC is a pretty great place for printed media. be thankful. i like both the post and CP immensely but:

-the post is a superior paper to about 90 percent of dailies in the country. you really don't know what you've got until you live in a place like dallas or charlotte and you see true journalistic mediocrity.

-CP has increasingly struck me as pandering to puff pieces (LNS, sex in the restrooms) and less to highlighting a myriad of social issues in DC/VA/MD. it's a far cry from the CP of the mid to late 1990s but i will concede it is quite often entertaining.

-Erik, your constant commenting on the Post betrays a pretty transparent grudge against them, which only makes me assume you have ill will from a past experience with them. as an editor, i think you owe it to yourself and to CP to not keep up with the Joneses so frequently. the Post has an ombudsman and should be called out from time to time, but what I've noticed is a rather constant whining over trivial matters.

all in all, DC is a pretty great place for printed media. be thankful.

]]> By: Mi-ann http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/comment-page-1/#comment-42026 Mi-ann Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:58:22 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/index.php/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/#comment-42026 You really have to admire the guts of an editor who criticizes other papers for lack of Journalistic victories meanwhile his own paper boasts the front cover trophies of bathroom sex, drinking piss, adrian fenty getting mad at something, or a fat kid who is arrested for...too bored to finish reading that one. Wemple, do you stare in the mirror at night and wonder what your life is all about? You really have to admire the guts of an editor who criticizes other papers for lack of Journalistic victories meanwhile his own paper boasts the front cover trophies of bathroom sex, drinking piss, adrian fenty getting mad at something, or a fat kid who is arrested for...too bored to finish reading that one. Wemple, do you stare in the mirror at night and wonder what your life is all about?

]]> By: Edward Allen http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/comment-page-1/#comment-42025 Edward Allen Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:56:12 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/index.php/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/#comment-42025 For Kris: Sorry, Walter Reed was last year, the NYT broke the spying on citizens story, and lead in local water is a hardly perennial given the fact that lead pipes were used in the 19th Century when the city was built. For Kris: Sorry, Walter Reed was last year, the NYT broke the spying on citizens story, and lead in local water is a hardly perennial given the fact that lead pipes were used in the 19th Century when the city was built.

]]> By: peter http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/comment-page-1/#comment-42024 peter Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:51:53 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/index.php/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/#comment-42024 I agree with Brian P. The City Paper does a very good job on the issues it covers, but it only picks and chooses and doesn't pretend to cover everything. Not that the CP should care what I think, but I enjoy reading the CP. The CP also has been around long enough that it seems to finance a free paper with ads. Maybe this is the business model the Post should consider. Billionaire Anshutz is trying it with frighteningly right-wing tab, and also seems viable. My quibble with the Post is that it drops the ball on very important local stories. Take the recent AOL layoffs/relocations, which should prompt endless stories on what this means for local governments, the future of high-tech in the Wash. region, impact on an already depressed real estate market in AOL-heavy Ashton suburbs, and what is going to happen with AOL's prime and pretty office space, plus expected sob stories from laid-off AOL employees finding new jobs or talking about failed careers. How about what happened to AOL's (very wealthy) founders, and where they are now. But it's a local story, and Post really doesn't care. I agree with Brian P. The City Paper does a very good job on the issues it covers, but it only picks and chooses and doesn't pretend to cover everything. Not that the CP should care what I think, but I enjoy reading the CP. The CP also has been around long enough that it seems to finance a free paper with ads. Maybe this is the business model the Post should consider. Billionaire Anshutz is trying it with frighteningly right-wing tab, and also seems viable.
My quibble with the Post is that it drops the ball on very important local stories. Take the recent AOL layoffs/relocations, which should prompt endless stories on what this means for local governments, the future of high-tech in the Wash. region, impact on an already depressed real estate market in AOL-heavy Ashton suburbs, and what is going to happen with AOL's prime and pretty office space, plus expected sob stories from laid-off AOL employees finding new jobs or talking about failed careers. How about what happened to AOL's (very wealthy) founders, and where they are now.
But it's a local story, and Post really doesn't care.

]]> By: Kris http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/comment-page-1/#comment-42022 Kris Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:42:31 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/index.php/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/#comment-42022 WHAT??? Edward Allen, the Post broke the stories about lead in DC waters, the Bush admin's spying on citizens, and the plight of injured veterans when they return. The only reason most people know what Walter Reed is, is because of Post stories. There are a lot of areas where they can improve, but I would not claim the the Post lacks journalistic victories... WHAT??? Edward Allen, the Post broke the stories about lead in DC waters, the Bush admin's spying on citizens, and the plight of injured veterans when they return. The only reason most people know what Walter Reed is, is because of Post stories. There are a lot of areas where they can improve, but I would not claim the the Post lacks journalistic victories...

]]> By: Brian P. http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/comment-page-1/#comment-42021 Brian P. Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:30:58 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/index.php/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/#comment-42021 The Post's slow bleed has been sadly fascinating. I think that it has followed the wrong strategy of trying to retain the same scope at lower cost. The result has been a paper that is sadly adrift in incompetence that occassionally rises to mediocrity. I think the better strategy would have been to focus on doing a small set of things really well. For example, the Post has an absolute advantage in reporting on what the government is doing. If it would fire everyone else and just do that, I think it would find itself very profitable again. The Post's slow bleed has been sadly fascinating. I think that it has followed the wrong strategy of trying to retain the same scope at lower cost. The result has been a paper that is sadly adrift in incompetence that occassionally rises to mediocrity. I think the better strategy would have been to focus on doing a small set of things really well. For example, the Post has an absolute advantage in reporting on what the government is doing. If it would fire everyone else and just do that, I think it would find itself very profitable again.

]]> By: Dave McKenna http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/comment-page-1/#comment-42020 Dave McKenna Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:25:03 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/index.php/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/#comment-42020 The Washington Post's writers "are going to get stiffed next year on health-care costs"? Once again, City Paper beats the Post to the punch! The Washington Post's writers "are going to get stiffed next year on health-care costs"? Once again, City Paper beats the Post to the punch!

]]> By: Edward Allen http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/comment-page-1/#comment-42011 Edward Allen Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:56:19 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/index.php/2007/10/18/the-slow-bleed-of-the-washington-post/#comment-42011 I cancelled the Post after they cut back on their stock tables a few years ago, and I've discovered a whole new magical world of news via the Web that the Post never touched. No more boring budget impasse stories or endless tomes on earmarks and bridges to no-where that go no-where. I occasionally read the Post online, and wonder where are these "journalistic victories" you write about. Prize committees seem to agree with me, since the Post hasn't won anything significant recently. They've gone to sleep while their readers (in my case for almost 40 years) have gone to the Web. I cancelled the Post after they cut back on their stock tables a few years ago, and I've discovered a whole new magical world of news via the Web that the Post never touched. No more boring budget impasse stories or endless tomes on earmarks and bridges to no-where that go no-where. I occasionally read the Post online, and wonder where are these "journalistic victories" you write about. Prize committees seem to agree with me, since the Post hasn't won anything significant recently. They've gone to sleep while their readers (in my case for almost 40 years) have gone to the Web.

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