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Tuesday, April 02, 2013
31 comments:
Jim says: "Proceed with caution; this is a free-for-all comment zone. I try to correct or clarify incorrect information. But I can't catch everything. Please keep your posts focused on Gannett and media-related subjects. Note that I occasionally review comments in advance, to reject inappropriate ones. And I ignore hostile posters, and recommend you do, too."
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I will be offline much of time: from about 3 p.m. ET until well past midnight. As soon as possible, I'll read, approve and post your comments.
ReplyDeleteWhat's happening with the publishers' meeting -- and what is Project Butterfly?
ReplyDeleteWow, what a concept, Dave. The Twitter of opinion columns. Pulitzer worthy indeed.
ReplyDeleteFolks,
When a big story breaks, readers clamor for details. Sometimes context and analysis are even more important, especially in that one to three hours after the news breaks when the story arc is peaking online.
I’m excited to announce a new analysis column, USA Today First Take, which will provide expert analysis and writing on a breaking story in real-time format. I’m even more excited to announce that front page editor John Siniff has agreed to take this column on, in addition to his current duties editing our most important enterprise and feature pieces.
John’s experience at USA Today makes him perfect for the job. He’s edited our long-form journalism. He’s edited our short-form in terms of headlines, layouts and refers on the front page. And he’s edited our Opinion pieces as Forum Editor for the editorial page. He’s a writer’s editor.
First Takes will be no longer than 250 words, and designed to be assigned right as news breaks and published within an hour or so after that, for maximum online impact. John tried one himself when the new Pope was announced a few weeks ago. A home run online and so good that four Gannett newspapers put it on their front pages the next day. All written within an hour of the announcement.
John will assemble a stable of our best writers and commentators to go to for the pieces when news breaks in any of our areas of coverage. But we’ll also consider anybody who wants to try, especially if they have some unique expertise on the subject at hand.
It’s a rollicking daily exercise that will combine our best writing and analysis with our most popular news – real-time.
Stay tuned for more as this develops and please join me in congratulating John Siniff on his new responsibilities.
Cheers. Dave
250 words?
DeleteGosh Jim you really are old school. You got out just in time.
DeleteThis is Callaway "get the message?" note number 3 to the 100 USAT newsroom people thinking about the buyout. He probably has more teed up.
DeleteNow, I'm really going to show my stripes: 250 words would be about seven newspaper column inches right?
DeleteSo did those Gannett papers pick the USAT story, reported and written in under an hour, because they were told to do so? Had no choice because they didn't get AP? Had to have a story that didn't jump?
DeleteOr did they just not consider anything else that was more thoughtful?
What a crock of horseshit. his
DeleteThis guy's On Fire! That's because he's full of hot air!
DeleteExpert analysis in 7 inches or less.
DeleteSort of a like a doctor saying, "You're sick" and walking out of the room.
AP dropping 'Illegal Immigrant' from stylebooks, and for those who adopt it, will not help this industry’s declining credibility.
ReplyDeleteMore so as all stylebook followers will keep describing others by the acts they commit, that is unless Jane Doe will no longer be called a bank robber, but someone who has propensity to rob banks.
In the end, they’re still a bank robber and as Janet Napolitano confirmed last week, they are immigrants who are here illegally, hence, “illegal immigrants.” A definition our system of Justice rightly describes as illegal alien.
Frankly, what the AP has done is absurd and Gannett and others shouldn't play.
By your logic, anyone arrested and accused of a crime is guilty. If Jane Doe is arrested, then she's a bank robber. If someone is arrested, then he is an illegal immigrant. There's a big difference between being accused of a crime and being convicted of one. What the AP has done recognizes that difference.
DeleteI'd like to see him send more emails that tally up how many followeres we have on Twitter.
Delete9:18
DeleteWhat a crock of shit.
You rob a bank,you are not arrested therefore you didn't rob the bank, and are you not a "bank robber".Oh Brother.
@9:18 pm’s logic is what’s twisted as they ignore the larger discussion which is the AP and others flexing their agenda setting powers to remove the usage of “illegal immigrants” even for those who’ve been convicted. That’s the point.
DeleteFrankly, if any change is made – which it shouldn’t, then let’s go with how Leno aptly described them: undocumented Democrats.
Yeah, like don't call the Sandy Hook guy a killer because he was never arrested or convicted.
DeleteIf it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.
DeleteThat is unless it’s an illegal duck, then you can’t call it one according to the AP.
It’d be hilarious if it weren’t such an outrageous, naked attempt to make all the illegal acts they commit more palatable.
UnDuckumented Fowl
DeleteCallaway is the Least Interesting Man in the World. Callous, shallow and inarticulate, to boot. Management by memo.
ReplyDeleteThis guy lacks the decency and balls to tell people to their face that they no longer fit into whatever half-baked illusions he and his silent partner Kramer have for this product.
Just to illustrate USA's incompetence...they give a store 15 to 20 USA's a day when they only sell between 5-8. They give another 3-5 when they sell 10-15 when they get them. New stops come up and they don't get put on our manifests so the carriers have to find them elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteIf they can't get simple draw numbers right I can only guess as to what other mistakes/over sights/ignores they do.
Draw setting has always been a problem for USAT. One and keep in mind it's only one of the many reasons draws are not correct; carriers don't always get their returns into the system on time and accurately, causing the draws not to be correct. The Draw Forecast system works well when everything is done properly and on time. Take a look at what you may be doing and make sure you are doing everything right on your end.
DeleteGannett publishers - dozens and dozens of them - sat there incredulous in Tysons when Kate Marymount unveiled the long-awaited Butterfly Project this afternoon.
ReplyDeleteBe afraid. Be very afraid.
What is the butterfly project?
DeleteDave, just because you rattle off drivel about Cyprus or Cabinet posts doesnt make you an expert. So why expect an editor, non beat reporter or other "expert" to weigh in on any breaking news or event they wouldnt know the first thing about covering? Save the bloviating for Fox News.
ReplyDeleteWho knew that refers are considerd short form journalism? Sounds like a Usat U. Class in the making. Callaway, you are a genius!
ReplyDelete"Butterfly Project"? Please tell me that's a late April Fool's joke. (Although I fear it's serious.) And I thought "Project Firefly" was bad. Jim, anybody, more details?
ReplyDeleteButterfly Project: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=The%20Butterfly%20Project
ReplyDeleteThere's no way Gannett can stop cutting itself. The bleeding feels so good.
DeleteHis columns were worth reading.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.postcrescent.com/article/20130402/APC0101/304020446/Passing-personality-Tom-Richards-left-legacy-humor-fans-family
So this is Dave's twisted logic. The cover story is dead. But the cover story editor's experience makes him perfect for this new job. If experience at Usa Today is a goof thing, why are they getting rid of all the experienced people there?
Delete