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If there was a better day to announce the formation of the Chicago News Cooperative, I can't think of it. On Thursday, a day after Mayor Daley's budget address -- one where his solution to a $500 million deficit was to raid every kitty, rainy-day fund and savings account the city has available
Can the Chicago News Cooperative Succeed?
huffingtonpost.com - 4 weeks ago - 378 views
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Nota bene: The kidnapping story that graced the front pages of both major papers that day was not even posted to the Windy Citizen as far as I know.
I saw that photo on both papers, and while I'm sure whatever the story is about is tragic and moving, I fail to see how it was truly important and not just an effort to tug at the heart strings and sell papers to concerned parents.
Again, I'm sure it's a sad, moving tale, whatever it is, but I don't know that it was interesting. Certainly on one thought it interesting enough to share here.
I actually was home sick that day, so not in on the Page 1 meeting of the minds, but I can pretty much assure you that a cynical ploy to sell papers was not at the top of the agenda. Don't get me wrong, we like to sell papers, but this was more about power of presentation than a "tug at heart strings."
Agreed, the Daley story is huge. Should there have been a home for it on 1? I would argue yes. Valid criticism.
There are very valid reasons to put that story on page one. I have no doubt that years of experience and data show that a cover like that will move more papers out of a news stand. You can't fault businesses for doing their best to be a success. But when those paths converge in a way that both papers focus in on the same emotional pull story, I think that speaks to the value of having other voices in the mix whose model doesn't rely on grabbing people's attention on the sidewalk.
Brad, you'll never catch me arguing there should be fewer news outlets - of varying sizes, scales and coverage - in Chicago. Quite the opposite. This city - and its government - needs all the watchdogging it can get.
But here's some food for thought: a year or so ago, before the Trib redesign to marketplace confusing single copy tabloid, you likely would have only seen this treatment on one paper. This is a common enough occurrence in the New York tabloid realm - convergence of coverage up to and including headline, image and cover design.
That's right, it wasn't posted here. I'd like to take a moment to pat ourselves on the back for that one and conclude that we have a higher caliber of reader :-) I don't know if that's what it means, but I'll just go ahead and pretend that for now.
By the way, my favorite part of Dan's HuffPo write-up was without a doubt where he referenced the Trib's descent into mediocrity and linked that text to Chicago Now. Classic.
I thought it was classic too. But probably for different reasons. He's blogging for free at HuffPo and he's an "Assistant Professor" at Columbia College Chicago and calls ChicagoNow mediocre.
Probably the best example of the pot calling the kettle black I've come across in a long time.
The best analysis of the CNC I've seen was by a blogger at Gawker.
http://gawker.com/5387797/new-york-times-hires-gang-who-killed-chicago-t...
First of all, Dan doesn't write for HuffPo regularly I don't think, unlike ChicagoNow bloggers. Also, what about being a journalism prof at Columbia smacks of mediocrity? And finally, Dan has done other things besides blog for HuffPo and teach at Columbia that recommends him as a person whose opinion is worthy of being heard on this topic.
And yes, the Gawker blogger hit the nail on the head with his assessment.
Brad, I've seen the studies of stories that moved papers. For the most part, the Chicago Tribune studies found movements of less than a thousand sales on most stories. That doesn't include big sports stories or historic moments such as 9/11.
Good to see you posting, craignewman! Fellow Windy Citizens look forward to you sharing some of your favorites & weighing-in on the discussion threads.
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