[Screenshot shows video still of writer Paul Daugherty]
The Cincinnati Enquirer has launched a new promotional campaign through videos on local cable TV and YouTube that feature reporters talking about why they do what the do.
"The goal of the campaign," says the Poynter Institute's Jeff Sonderman, "is to show confidence, inspiration and passion from the real people who make up the Enquirer," according to Mark Woodruff, vice president of market development.
Sonderman continues: "The company wants the public to see it is serving an important and active role in the community, that it offers value to consumers and advertisers, and is enthusiastic while going through a transformation."
Related: one of the videos, featuring sports writer Paul Daugherty.
It is going to be very interesting to see who the Enquirer features because there are few people in the newsroom who are satisfied with their lot in life. The pick of Daugherty is not a bad one. He works from home, seldom, if ever, comes into the newsroom and pretty much does what he wants. He should be happy.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to note that yesterday during the weekly news planning meeting, Editor Carolyn Washburn threw a hissy-fit. Apparently unhappy with the stories her editors were pitching she tossed them all out of the room and told them to come back when they had worthwhile stories. The information center staff hates her. Most people are keeping their heads down and their mouths shut because they don't want to vault to the top of any layoff list. Many folks are dusting off their resumes and readying them for the start of a new year.
"The goal of the campaign," says the Poynter Institute's Jeff Sonderman, "is to show confidence, inspiration and passion from the real people who make up the Enquirer," according to Mark Woodruff, vice president of market development.
The goal of the real people who make up the Enquirer is to keep off Washburn's radar and find jobs they can be inspired and passionate about plus rebuild their confidence in their professional decision-making skills, something that's been stripped from them since Washburn arrived a year ago.
Not from Cincy, but good for Washburn for demanding quality stories. If it's all crap, make sure the editors and reporters know they need to do better.
ReplyDeleteI wish our editors (in a NJ paper) gave a damn about the quality the newsroom people produced. Instead, they just put the least shitty things on the front page and pat themselves on the back.
The Executive Editor should be demanding quality work. One of the problems, though, is that EE's, at least at larger papers, are gone much of the time. Either at corporate, visiting another site or doing some kind of "outreach" or reader engagement.
ReplyDeleteThey're really absentee bosses and when they come back and throw a hissy fit it does nothing for either quality or morale because they don't demand the same standards every day.
That's assuming the EE has some standards and is just responding to some advertiser's complaint or an email from a soccer mom or saw something on TV that piqued her interest.
As far as vaulting to the top of the layoff list goes, please I'm so ready. Put me on it. Being laid off would be the best thing for me.
These videos, which are being shown on local cable as ads for the Enquirer, are already creating hard feelings in some quarters of the newsroom. Three have been made so far, starring Krista Ramsey, Laura Baverman and Daugherty. It's true that Daugherty has the been situation at the Enquirer: highly paid, works from home, covers what he wants and is accountable to no one. He knows as much as anyone at the paper that he's almost doing them a favor by staying.
ReplyDeleteAs the staff decreases, the paper is trying to create personality journalism. Online, both Daugherty and Baverman have their own blog sites - Daugherty's Morning Line and Baverman's Enterchange.
As for Washburn, she has risen to the top by unquestioningly doing what she is told. She reports to the imperious Buchanan, and the fact that she threw a fit about Sunday content indicates that she's under pressure about the paper's direction. It's all just more evidence that the Enquirer continues to struggle both in circulation and revenue. Sad.
Washburn can do all the demanding she wants, but she doesn't have the backup to carry out quality journalism.
ReplyDelete"The real people who make up the Enquirer."
ReplyDeleteAs opposed to the fake people who make up Gannett management?