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freefromeditors

Editors, and how bad ones are ruining the newspaper business

More self-inflicted journalism woundsYesterday

Then there's this decision by the Atlanta Journal and Constitution.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20090104/COLUMNISTS/901040311?Title=Cuts_Dry_Up_Dixie_s_Dew___and_News

More Oakland Press short cutsYesterday

From a reliable Oakland Press source.

Want to get your story or better yet a free advertisement in the Oakland Press?

Here's how; You don't need to be a good writer or photographer.

There are two ways to get free "ink." First, and the easiest, is to just send a fax or email to the editor or city editor. Outline what you want covered. ie; say you have a new business,? it need not be new, just say so.

A used dress shop, a hamburger joint that is cerebrating its first year in business, or say a barber that is retiring after a decade in the same location. All of that is ok, just outline it and almost without a problem a reporter ( or one of the new unpaid "citizen reporters") will take a picture and give a non-factual, one-sided glowing coverage of a story that only you care about.

If you're able this works even better: Supply a decent photograph and a story telling how great your business is. Look! It's done every day in the Oakland Press. If you are in public relations and need to give your client a boost just e-mail your story, all packaged-up to the Oakland Press and, Bingo! there it is on the front page. News content is not a requirement.

Just fill space. Good luck, but you will not need much to be a hero to your company. 'Almost forgot, if your retiring from any job for any amount of years it almost a given you will get a story published. Just ask.

Catpaws.

Don't blame the lower editors

The Oakland Press enlists reporters to train free journalistsYesterday

Thanks to an anonymous, but impeccable source, I have a copy of the e-mail sent from editor Glenn Gilbert of the Oakland Press. Here is the memo, I will comment after:

Subject: citizens unite

From: Glenn Gilbert [mailto:glenn.gilbert@oakpress.com]
Sent: Tue 12/30/2008 1:32 PM

Our first citizens journalism class was a stunning success. We had 45 people in news and seven in sports. Jeff will handle sports, but in news, 29 of the individuals filled out forms desiring to continue in the process.

There is no way to make this work without staff commitment. I would never ask you to believe something that you don't believe in, but I do need your help. Names will be divided up among newsroom personnel. You will be responsible for working with the individual and accountable for their progress and your contacts with them.

Be generous with your time, but time-efficient. You can learn valuable teaching, coaching and management techniques in the process. Some of you who are teaching oriented will enjoy the process. Just remember, those who teach learn. Let me know if you think you can handle more than one or two individuals, or your interest in the process (or even lack of interest if you feel strongly).

(memo ends here)

Ain't this grand, the editor is strong arming his staff to help those who are in line to replace them. And I love his little aside at the end "or even lack of interest if you feel strongly."

Back home, blogging to resumeYesterday

Arrived home late Tuesday and made my way home in a two and one half hour (usually one hour and fifteen minute trip) from Detroit Metro. Freezing rain turned all the freeways into ice rinks. There were accidents everywhere and I-94 eastbound was completely shut down at M-39 for a half hour.

I appreciate all the kind sentiments here and on Facebook about the loss of my brother. The world seems oddly out of place with the loss of my younger brother, but life does go on and my brother, a frequent commenter here under the name "jim's brother", would not want it any other way.

So after I go to work today I will return to blogging. I received a copy of a memo from the editor of the Oakland Press who was literally giddy over the turnout at his first citizen journalist seminar and is now asking all reporters and editors to take on one of two of the reporters to help them learn the ropes.

It would be funny if it wasn't so sad. I'll put the memo up later today. There is also some additional Booth news and that will go up as well. I just don't have time this morning to put it in some readable form.

If you come back this time tomorrow (Thursday) it should be up.

How do you say good-bye to your brother?January 2

Just hours before I arrived here in California my brother, Michael B. Smith, 57, died peacefully in an Auburn hospital. His wife, Barbara had to make the difficult, but correct, decision to remove him from life support on Wednesday, December 31.

He was moved from ICU to a transitional unit in the hospital where he was kept comfortable until he died at 2:30 a.m. New Year's morning. I received the call of his death while checking into my flight at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. My brother had been insistent that I not come to see him, so I guess he got his way in the end.

As I write this I am looking out the window in the office at his home over the beautiful landscape that is the foothills of the Sierra Mountain range. Last night I slept in my brother's room, surrounded by his family pictures. It was the first good night's rest I've had in a week.

I talked to him Wednesday just before he was unhooked from life support to tell him that despite his wishes I was coming to see him. But before we hung up I told him how much I loved him and how much he meant to me. What more can you say?

I will have more to say and write a proper obituary to my brother when I return home. Thank you all for your prayers, we are sad but not without hope. He was in exteme pain and now he is not. Among my closest friends and family who wish to memorialize my brother in some way, spare the flowers and I will be collecting for the Foothill Theatre Co