In Cincinnati, Enquirer Executive Editor Tom Callinan argues for holding accountable the city's amazingly secretive public school officials, as they consider hiring a new superintendent; the paper sued administrators last week to force disclosure of public documents. "Without an open process," Callinan quotes Enquirer reporter Kimball Perry, "the district could have interviewed one semifinalist for the job last year unaware of his involvement in a sexual harassment case involving him -- until a citizen did an Internet search using a common search engine and saw the case. After that, he was dropped as a candidate."In Fort Myers, Fla.: News-Press Executive Editor Terry Eberle repeats (most unfortunately) a promise Corporate has broken over and over again for years, across the company: "Bob Dickey, president of Gannett's community newspapers, vowed we would do three things: Reinvest in our content. Reinvest in marketing ourselves and promoting our valuable brand. Create and maintain a world-class sales force that delivers results for our customers."
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Good for Callinan and the Enquirer. This is what local papers are good for and what people will miss if they go away, or their staffs are so decimated they can't do this kind of work anymore.
ReplyDeleteI just wish Wilmington had a weekly editor's column. It'd be entertaining to read David Ledford's repeated attempts to justify the rapidly shrinking newshole, the coverage of Pennsylvania (where many editors and reporters live) to the detriment of Delaware, the lack of "watchdog" journalism or the stated practice of simply ignoring large areas of the state because there's not enough staff.
ReplyDeleteSmells more like an attempt to get more subscribers and another ring as the school board isn't getting advance access to the info either.
ReplyDeleteRegardless, please note that even with access to info last time, "joe" citizen found a problem through a simple internet search, not the Enquirer.
Too bad one of Callinan's staffers was not industrious enough to Google the list of Cincinnati Public School superintendent candidates themselves. Now,that would have made a great story.
ReplyDeleteHere is another missed opportunity for the "investigative" reporting at the Enquirer. Last week the paper broke the story that the Archdiocese of Cincinnati had spent clost to $479,000 on a 3500 sq ft suburban home for the incoming Archbishop. IMO, the REAL story was missed. The home was actually purchased on Feb 13th by Rev. Joseph Binzer, Chancellor of the Archdiocese, and later transferred to the Archbishop. Seems like an attempt on the part of the embattled Archdiocese to keep the transaction out of the public eye. But the Enquirer never told that part of the story...maybe the reporter was on furlough that week.
http://www.cps-k12.org/Board/search/Timeline.pdf
ReplyDeleteWhat's his problem with the school's timeline?
CareerBuilder even has the same deadline of March 15 for applications.
At our newspaper, the EE talks tough about being a First Amendment watchdog -- but when it comes to backing up his words with actions, he says the budget won't allow for the fees involved in a fight.
ReplyDeleteCallinan might write one column a year. Normally he holes up in his corner office and uses his private WC, waiting for 5 o'clock to come around so he can hit the bar.
ReplyDeleteRe Wilmington ignoring large sections of the state: Delaware is the nation's second-smallest state, and it has only three counties. For many years the paper has had a bureau in two of the three counties; the main newsroom (excuse me, LIC) is in the other county.
ReplyDeleteAs part of its commitment to watchdog journalism, the company has closed its bureau in the southernmost county.
Watchdog? Here, doggy. Here, doggy.
Doggy, where are you?
That bureau you speak of, which once had 4-5 reporters, is now down to two. They're both working from their homes.
ReplyDeleteThe only reason the other bureau hasn't closed is because it's in the state capital, and that would just be embarassing.