Monday, September 30, 2013

Appleton | That's a lot of investigating already

"You’ll see ... more of the investigative reporting that has become the centerpiece of our front pages almost every day."

-- Publisher Genia Lovett, in a weekend note to readers announcing The Post-Crescent of Appleton, Wisc., will be one of four papers adding local news plus a daily USA Today news section, effective next Sunday, as part of the Butterfly Project test.

Appleton's weekday circulation is 35,986, and Sunday is 52,055, according to the March 31 AAM report. (Look up your paper's circulation.)

17 comments:

  1. I would love to see some examples of this nearly-everyday investigative reporting.

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  2. Today's lead story ...http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20130929/APC0101/309270472/Town-Neenah-under-fire-pulling-school-crossing-guard-video-story

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  3. With what I've seen of Appleton, they sure don't "investigate" the Packers or local government. It must be the "meet the bartender," the Beer Man and gardening.

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  4. The Wisconsin investigative team and the beat reporters do a good amount of enterprise reporting - considering their resources and how thin they're stretched. I've found there's always something new to read each day - if not directly in my town, there's something from the region that's worthwhile.

    I just wish we could take 8+ pages of newshole and do something more worthwhile than yesterday's USAT. That is, whatever newshole is left after those Amish Electric Fireplace ads are inserted.

    Personally, I would rather see another couple pages of comics each day instead of the "5 top" lists that USAT journalism has become.

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    Replies
    1. USAT is coming out with its top 5 uses of Amish Fireplaces, followed by top 10 places to use the Amish Fireplace.

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  5. To be fair, the front page stories on the print edition are one about the opening of the healthcare exchanges on Tuesday and a piece from Wisconsin Gannett Media about a veterans charity that made the "50 worst charities" list piggybacking on a story by the Center for Investigative Reporting. Lovett didn't say the investigative pieces had to originate locally.

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    Replies
    1. I understand. I'm sure you understand that I'm not saying the paper never has investigative/public service reporting. I'm questioning the claim that it appears almost every day.

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    2. Jim gets a taste of his own medicine. The isolated example -- cited as gospel!

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  6. How many of the Gannett reporters in WI report about ALEC and what the free market agenda Koch brothers do in WI?

    Are they allowed to hold Scott Walker accountable for his actions, or have they been told to stand down?

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    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    2. Just a deletion Jim? No explanation? What is offensive about the statement "ALEC may be the last, best hope for America?"

      Anyone? Jim?

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    3. 1:43 Please tell us in detail how this has any specific bearing on Gannett or the news industry's digital transition?

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    4. Fair enough Jim. It doesn't. It was just a tweak for the prior commenter who seems to have a problem with a "free market agenda."

      I kinda wanted to hear back from Todd, to see if he's an anti-capitalist bigot.

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  7. They eliminated their Madison bureau with the last round of cuts. State coverage is now mostly AP. But they still have the hub to promote the local bar scene

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  8. Adding USA Today pages to local papers is just one more move that will speed their declines. I subscribed to USA Today for a short time and was astounded at how bad it had become. I now subscribe to the Wall Street Journal, and the difference in quality is remarkable.

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    Replies
    1. Ditto with the NY Times, which I can get for less than half of what I'd have to pay for the local Gannett rag.

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  9. Let's be realistic about the Madison bureau. It was a failure of the reporters there. The coverage of the Capitol protests in 2011 could have been outstanding, but the 'bureau chief' was checked out.

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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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