Next in line to the principal's office should be trivisano. Something needs to be done to stop the cancer spew from that man's head.

The article discussing various neighborhood projects this morning was oddly positive for the PD...I don't think I caught any unnecessary negativity in it.  Perhaps that meeting already had some effect?

 

link: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/09/neighborhood_improvements_rais.html

The article discussing various neighborhood projects this morning was oddly positive for the PD...I don't think I caught any unnecessary negativity in it. Perhaps that meeting already had some effect?

 

link: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/09/neighborhood_improvements_rais.html

 

I know. I think, every now and then, someone spikes the water over at the PD, and they actually do some positive reporting. I don't care if it is drug induced .. I'm not complaining.

Not exactly a bastion for pulitzer material now, PeeDee announces a new round of cuts, including some editorial posts

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/10/plain_dealer_to_cut_38_unioniz.html

 

Plain Dealer to cut 38 unionized newsroom jobs

Posted by Sarah Hollander October 07, 2008 19:04PM

Categories: Breaking News, Impact, Real Time News

The Plain Dealer plans to cut 38 unionized newsroom positions by year's end, further whittling the size of its staff.

 

President and Publisher Terry Egger announced the decision to union members Tuesday, blaming worse than expected advertising revenue and hard times ahead for the newspaper industry.

 

 

They should clean house and start over!

 

THAT would be a HUGE improvement.

Channel 8 I-Team reporter Tom Merriman jumps to law firm     

Posted by mnorman October 10, 2008 13:43PM 

 

Ace investigative reporter Tom Merriman didn't need undercover surveillance to see that soon he'd be the last man standing on WJW Channel 8's I-Team. His fellow I-Team investigator Lorrie Taylor returned to consumer reporting several months ago. Investigative reporter Bill Sheil soon will become weekend anchor.

 

Feeling as though the station was not making a long-term commitment to the investigative team, Merriman said he decided to leave Channel 8 at the end of the year to resume his law career.

 

Merriman, who graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1988 and headed up the Ohio attorney general's Cleveland office, joins the Cleveland-based law firm of Landskroner, Grieco & Madden on Jan. 1.         

 

"I've covered this firm as a reporter," Merriman said in an e-mail. "They're great lawyers who do a lot of high-impact, public interest-oriented litigation. Now when people call me, I can not only tell their story, I can put on the gloves and fight for them in court. It's going to be a blast."

 

Greg Easterly, Channel 8's general manager, said he wanted to keep Merriman but that the reporter made a personal decision to leave. Easterly emphasized his "unwavering commitment" to the I-Team, which has been a station franchise for years.

 

Easterly expects Sheil, Taylor and other reporters to contribute investigative reports. He said that Sheil's weekend anchor slot will lend his stories higher visibility and that lots of reporting can be done on weekends.

 

"I realize losing Tom changes the dynamic," Easterly said. The station is considering how to replace him.

 

Merriman said he was offered a one-year extension after his contract expired in September.

 

The St. Ignatius High School graduate returned to Cleveland after Harvard to become a clerk for the late Chief Judge Frank Battisti. After his stint as deputy attorney general, Merriman broke into television journalism in 1995 as an investigative reporter for WEWS Channel 5. He joined Channel 8 in 2001.

 

He quickly earned a reputation for breaking stories with international implications. His series highlighted local imam Fawaz Damra's ties to the 1993 World Trade Center bombings and documented the U.S. military's role in human trafficking.

 

Closer to home, Merriman aired 26 reports in 2004-05 that exposed ghost employees and inflated bus ridership numbers in the Cleveland Municipal School District. The series triggered firings, a criminal conviction and further investigations.

 

Channel 8 lost about 25 people in the months surrounding its sale to Local TV in July, Merriman estimated. Some employees retired before the sale became final to take advantage of Fox's benefits package, he said.

 

Departures among the on-air staff included weekend anchor/reporter Dray Clark and reporters Gary Stromberg, John Damschroder, Angele Ringo and Gary Libertore.

Not all will be replaced, Easterly said.

 

Clark became an anchor in his hometown of Philadelphia after three years at Channel 8. Stromberg retired in April after more than 30 years as a general assignment reporter.

The station closed its Columbus bureau in August. Damschroder, the station's Columbus reporter, was left without a contract after five years at Channel 8.

 

Ringo now anchors at an ABC affiliate in San Diego. She had been here three years.

Libertore is weekend anchor and reporter in his hometown of Utica, N.Y. He had been with Channel 8 for six years.

 

Now Merriman joins the roster of familiar Channel 8 faces that viewers will miss. Merriman has a handshake deal to stay through November sweeps and finish up investigative projects he's working on. His last day will be Wednesday, Dec. 31.

 

"I am enormously grateful for the support I have received from the station," he said in an e-mail. "It has enabled me to do the best work of my career."

       

http://www.cleveland.com/morris/index.ssf/2008/10/phillip_morris_what_can_pull_c.html

 

Phillip Morris: What can pull Cleveland off its deathbed?

by Phillip Morris/Plain Dealer Columnist

Tuesday October 28, 2008, 3:07 AM

 

It's too early to put on black suits and start penning eulogies.

 

But it is time to put a signature on the city's living will. It is time to make sure no one signs a municipal "do not resuscitate" order.

 

WTF!?!?! ENOUGH ALREADY!!

 

YOU THINK CLEVELAND IS ALONE IN THIS ECONOMIC MALAIS? GO VISIT THE FORECLOSED SUBDIVISIONS (YES, NOT JUST HOMES) IN LAS VEGAS. TAKE PICTURES OF THE DARK RESIDENTIAL HIGH RISES IN MIAMI. LOOK AT EVERY FORMER INDUSTRIAL POWERHOUSE CITY IN THIS NATION!!

 

GET A GLOBAL VIEWPOINT. GET AN OBJECTIVE VIEWPOINT. GET SOME CONTEXT AND PERSPECTIVE!

^ I know, I was furious when I read that article a little bit ago.  I was going to comment on cleveland.com as well after reading yours, but I decided to wait until I'm less angry so my post is more coherent...

well this is one time I think we should bombard Cleveland.bomb

I'm in.

Scott Rickert, the founder and CEO of the company Nanofilm is convinced that the Plain Dealer is the reason Cleveland isn't like Silicon Valley in terms of technology prosperity.

I'm with you KJP. How many times a year does the PD print the "Cleveland is dead" story? Does anyone at the PD realize that NEO 's economy is transitioning from a manufacturing economy to a service driven one. I very rarely read an insightful article about the local economy, and its transition. It's always the same story sensationalized story. This is not the first time Phillip Morris has written this type of article. I think he wrote something similar earlier this year. To be honest, I avoid the PD as much as  possible, especially after the NCB debacles because I knew these type of articles were coming. Do the idiots commenting think Cleveland is the only city experiencing economic problems?

well this is one time I think we should bombard Cleveland.bomb

 

Just did.

Just hang in there for a few more years, the PD will be out of business with any luck. Of course cleveland.com will still be with us :roll:

 

TOP 25 Daily Papers in New FAS-FAX

 

By E&P Staff

 

Published: October 27, 2008 8:30 AM ET

 

NEW YORK Here are the top 25 daily papers ranked for the six-month period ending September 2008 based on a Monday-through-Friday average, according to the new FAS-FAX from the Audit Bureau of Circulations released today. The percent change compares this period to the same period a year ago.

 

USA TODAY -- 2,293,310 -- 0.01%

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL -- 2,011,999 -- 0.01%

NEW YORK TIMES -- 1,000,665 -- (-3.58%)

LOS ANGELES TIMES -- 739,147 -- (-5.20%)

DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK -- 632,595 -- (-7.16%)

 

NEW YORK POST -- 625,421 -- (-6.25%)

THE WASHINGTON POST -- 622,714 -- (-1.94%)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE -- 516,032 -- (-7.75%)

HOUSTON CHRONICLE -- 448,271 -- (-11.66%)

NEWSDAY -- 377,517 -- (-2.58%)

 

THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC -- 361,333 -- (-5.51%)

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE -- 339,430 -- (-7.07%)

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS -- 338,933 -- (-9.28%)

BOSTON GLOBE -- 323,983 -- (-10.18%)

STAR TRIBUNE, MINNEAPOLIS -- 322,360 -- (-4.26%)

 

STAR-LEDGER, NEWARK, N.J. -- 316,280 -- (-10.40%)

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES -- 313,176 -- (-3.94%)

PLAIN DEALER, CLEVELAND -- 305,529 -- (-8.58%)

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER -- 300,674 -- (-11.06%)

DETROIT FREE PRESS -- 298,243 -- (-6.84%)

 

THE OREGONIAN -- 283,321 -- (-8.45%)

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION -- 274,999 -- (-13.62%)

SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE -- 269,819 -- (-3.00%)

ST. PETERSBURG (FLA.) TIMES -- 268,935 -- (-6.88%)

THE SACRAMENTO BEE -- 253,249 -- (-4.22%)

 

 

This is the same knucklehead that said in one of his columns - "wouldn't it be great if Cleveland had people who did art projects in different neighborhoods!?!"... yeah, they're called Cleveland Public Art - he 1. didn't even know of their existence or 2. obviously, didn't bother to call them to get any information for his column. 

The Plain Dealer is a joke and has been for a long time.

 

Remember when Yitzak Rabin was murdered in the 90s?  The Plain Dealer's front page the next day focused more on the Browns leaving than the death of one of the world's most important leaders.

 

 

What can we do to change this?? Is there any practical action we can take to let them know how disgruntled we are?

 

I guess not subscribing is one very clear way. How effective are letters to the editor?

What can we do to change this?? Is there any practical action we can take to let them know how disgruntled we are?

 

I guess not subscribing is one very clear way. How effective are letters to the editor?

 

Good question.  Obviously none of them read this UO thread.

Are you sure about that? ;-)

Are you sure about that? ;-)

 

Well, if they do..

 

STOP PRINTING THIS TRIPE ABOUT CLEVELAND. WE'RE SICK AND TIRED OF IT, AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SELL MORE PAPERS BY THINKING YOUR AUDIENCE IS STUPID. START PRINTING INTELLIGENT, UNBIASED NEWS LIKE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO.

What can we do to change this?? Is there any practical action we can take to let them know how disgruntled we are?

 

I guess not subscribing is one very clear way. How effective are letters to the editor?

 

I changed my subscription to Sundays only. The only reason I do that is for the coupons, so it pays for itself.

I'm just dreading the next Feagler column.  We all know El Smugo is going to say something like this:

 

"Last Friday, National City, a beloved Cleveland institution responsible for thousands of well-paying jobs, was sold to Pittsburgh.  The death of this company will mean thousands of dollars of lost tax revenue, jobs lost, families' lives disrupted, and yet another slam to the city I once loved.  In response, Mayor Jackson decided to party like it's 1999 with the opening of the Euclid Corridor Project.  Hurray, now I can take a bus from East Cleveland to downtown, but only this time in buses that are silver!"

 

And so on and so forth.....

Man .. I just read the comments on cleveland.com.

 

I feel so effing depressed. Something in this city needs to change.

Man .. I just read the comments on cleveland.com.

 

I feel so effing depressed. Something in this city needs to change.

 

The sad part its not City dwellers complaining as one poster pointed out.  Nor does the PD, the city or the county do anything about it. 

Jpop -

 

Cheer up. Most of these people are absolutely clueless. I think most of these people use "cleveland.com" as way to make themselves feel better about their lives. I bet if you looked, it is probably the same twenty or thirty posters making this asinine comments on every negative article posted on "cleveland.com".

"I feel so effing depressed. Something in this city needs to change.

 

What's that guy's name... you know, the guy from India... something about "being the change..." ;-)

Jpop -

 

Cheer up. Most of these people are absolutely clueless. I think most of these people use "cleveland.com" as way to make themselves feel better about their lives. I bet if you looked, it is probably the same twenty or thirty posters making this asinine comments on every negative article posted on "cleveland.com".

 

But would you say this overall mindless negativity is indicative of how most people feel about Cleveland?

 

If so, THAT'S what needs to change. That's what is depressing to me. Because people who are constantly pointing fingers at people, pointing out what's wrong about everyone else but themselves are actually too lazy to do anything themselves. They don't like hearing that change starts with them. And so they blame shift ALL THE TIME.

 

Honestly, I wish these people would leave. Stop f$&king bitching already. You don't like Cleveland? Then get your asses the f$&k OUT! Make room for people who actually love it and care enough to fight for change. I'm sick and tired of listening to people who won't DO anything.

"I feel so effing depressed. Something in this city needs to change.

 

What's that guy's name... you know, the guy from India... something about "being the change..." ;-)

 

ding..ding..ding.  No more calls, we have a winner!

But would you say this overall mindless negativity is indicative of how most people feel about Cleveland?

 

If so, THAT'S what needs to change. That's what is depressing to me. Because people who are constantly pointing fingers at people, pointing out what's wrong about everyone else but themselves are actually too lazy to do anything themselves. They don't like hearing that change starts with them. And so they blame shift ALL THE TIME.

 

Honestly, I wish these people would leave. Stop f$&king bitching already. You don't like Cleveland? Then get your asses the f$&k OUT! Make room for people who actually love it and care enough to fight for change. I'm sick and tired of listening to people who won't DO anything.

 

[glow=red,2,300]Let me first say, this is not a "pick on jpop-tart post".[/glow]

 

But just as you say, you're fed up and so passionate about REAL CHANGE in Cleveland - MOVE TO CLEVELAND.  You need to be apart of the change you want. I don't want to hear a "You say you can't do what you do in NYC in Cleveland" excuse, because it's just that, an excuse.

But would you say this overall mindless negativity is indicative of how most people feel about Cleveland?

 

If so, THAT'S what needs to change. That's what is depressing to me. Because people who are constantly pointing fingers at people, pointing out what's wrong about everyone else but themselves are actually too lazy to do anything themselves. They don't like hearing that change starts with them. And so they blame shift ALL THE TIME.

 

Honestly, I wish these people would leave. Stop f$&king bitching already. You don't like Cleveland? Then get your asses the f$&k OUT! Make room for people who actually love it and care enough to fight for change. I'm sick and tired of listening to people who won't DO anything.

 

[glow=red,2,300]Let me first say, this is not a "pick on jpop-tart post".[/glow]

 

But just as you say, you're fed up and so passionate about REAL CHANGE in Cleveland - MOVE TO CLEVELAND. You need to be apart of the change you want. I don't want to hear a "You say you can't do what you do in NYC in Cleveland" excuse, because it's just that, an excuse.

 

If you can tell me how I can pay off school loans which are around $90,000 with a job in Cleveland, live alone in Cleveland, not need a car to get around in Cleveland, then by all means, I'm all ears.

 

If not, then shut up with that already. I'm sick of people telling me to move back to Cleveland, like it's that fucking simple. I have very practical concerns before ever making any kind of decision like that, and unless you plan on donating money to the JPop fund, I suggest you shut the fuck up about it.

 

I'm someone who is passionate about Cleveland. Don't question my passion for Cleveland just because I don't live there. If my presence isn't welcome on UrbanOhio because of that, I'll leave in a fucking heartbeat.

"If you can tell me how..."

 

I'll try - and I'm not being a smart@ss for once :-)

 

1. "I can pay off school loans which are around $90,000 with a job"

 

$90K in school loans isn't easy to pay off, no matter where you are. But when you're not spending four figures and up on rent, it's a little easier.

 

2. "live alone in Cleveland"

 

Again, check the rents for a 1-bedroom around here compared to where you are now.

 

3. "not need a car to get around in Cleveland"

 

http://www.riderta.com

http://www.mycitywheels.com

 

And some of us have gone out of our way to look into motion graphics jobs for you - so not everyone is just saying "la dee daa, just move here", and it'd be nice if you could acknowledge that.

 

BACK ON TOPIC, please. :-)

If you can tell me how I can pay off school loans which are around $90,000 with a job in Cleveland, live alone in Cleveland, not need a car to get around in Cleveland, then by all means, I'm all ears.

 

I sense frustration is the real reason you answered the way you did.  You're a lot smarter than to answer with a "passive-agressive" answer.  I don't know your financial status, nor did I mention it, yet people in worse financial situations have moved ahead. Ingenuity leads to success. 

 

I don't know how much you make nor do I care to know, but there are plenty of young professionals, that live in Cleveland with large loans, yet move around easily without a car and still are able to function and socialize professionally and personally.

 

An observation I've made - and this is not aimed at you - is many younger folks want to come out of college or very early in their career want jump to a middle management job making $70k, without earning their dues and truly learning their craft/trade.  All of us had to start at the bottom of the totem pole.  When I was in my early 20's I felt the same way.  Now in my early 40's, it's easier for me to say and do, but I understand. 

 

If not, then shut up with that already. I'm sick of people telling me to move back to Cleveland, like it's that f$&king simple. I have very practical concerns before ever making any kind of decision like that, and unless you plan on donating money to the JPop fund, I suggest you shut the f$&k up about it.

Others have said this to you as well, then maybe they are on to something.  Nobody here is trying to tell you what to do, but your previous comments and concerns raise that flag.  No move is simple and to suggest that my genuine comments reduce it to that are not fair or accurate.

 

You're not the first person to do something that you didn't like to advance your career.  Early on in my career at SOHIO, I had to commute to Seattle WA, & Columbia SC every week, for damn near two years. [You kids know how much I dislike the South and Columbia is the root of that hate!] and on occasion, I would have to go to Anchorage, AK & Houston, TX.  I hated it, but because I knew that working on those to PR projects I would get a promotion, be labeled as an affective team player and affectively communicating our plans with those cities community development based organizations and city/county governments would win over a sh!tload of contacts that I have to this day. 

 

Sometimes, you have to make that sacrifice, if you're truly that passionate.  I wasn't making a lot of money, I wasn't living the fabulous life.  I couldn't afford jack sh!t.  That is why I learned how to fix stuff, started dumpster diving and bought a house that looked like it was straight out of a horror movie.

 

I'm someone who is passionate about Cleveland. Don't question my passion for Cleveland just because I don't live there. If my presence isn't welcome on UrbanOhio because of that, I'll leave in a f$&king heartbeat.

Reread what I wrote.  I never questioned your passion or love of the city.

 

What I'm saying is there is always someone out there that has a bigger story or worse hardship than you.  But if you really want to do something, you'll find a way to make that dream a reality.

I have not been supportive of the Plain Dealer since the "Quiet Crisis" series.  The paper really has done very little in regards to letting the unknowing local-public know of the positive changes in the Cleveland economy.  Besides the "regionalism" debate, I challenge anyone to bring up one positive dialogue the paper began which actually benefited the region within the last ten years.  The publication, in my opinion, has little worth to the region; in fact, if the Plain Dealer were to go out of business tomorrow, I personally wouldn't give a Sh!t and would actually be happy (though I would feel bad for the workers).

 

I've thought about what it would take to start a newspaper which had a different focus than what the PD has.  I've let people know over and over again- that if you keep telling a child that the child is ugly, over and over, the child will start believing that he or she is ugly.  Look at the local regional public of Cleveland- which has been told for YEARS by this news publication that the City of Cleveland is:  fat, overweight, crime-ridden, decaying, declining in population, polluted, and corrupt among other things.  This explains the ignorance of the majority of  individuals who post at the .bomb site. 

 

It's time for a daily publication in this town that does not just focus on the negatives constantly, one that can change the negative views of locals on the mother-city, one that can start constructive dialogues which will benefit the region.  The PD is not this paper.

Oldmanladyluck.  AMEN..AMEN!

 

That should be sent - AS IS - to the publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the PD with copy going to the Mayor staff and city council.

I understand jpop's frustration with the comments on "cleveland.com". Most days I feel the same way. I think Clevelanders are inherently negative about their city. Think about it, Cleveland became the butt of national jokes in the seventies and our sports teams consistently fall short. Some of you may think this is not significant, but is not. Pittsburgh has experienced the same economic decline, but the region takes pride in the city. I think the Steelers gave the city one thing to rally around when things got rough. It gave people something to cheer about and be proud of. We really haven't had that over the last thirty years, and when you really think about it, very little has gone Cleveland's way. The NCB deal is another bad break for the city. Finally, our region has lost thousands of good paying jobs. Most people of venture on this site understand the economic complexities of NEO. We understand our region is transitioning from a region wholly dependent on manufacturing. We see the positive changes. Unfortunately, the average Clevelander has no idea. All they see are then negative headlines. The older I get, the more I realize most people do not critically think about the issues.

I understand jpop's frustration with the comments on "cleveland.com". Most days I feel the same way. I think Clevelanders are inherently negative about their city. Think about it, Cleveland became the butt of national jokes in the seventies and our sports teams consistently fall short. Some of you may think this is not significant, but is not. Pittsburgh has experienced the same economic decline, but the region takes pride in the city. I think the Steelers gave the city one thing to rally around when things got rough. It gave people something to cheer about and be proud of. We really haven't had that over the last thirty years, and when you really think about it, very little has gone Cleveland's way. The NCB deal is another bad break for the city. Finally, our region has lost thousands of good paying jobs. Most people of venture on this site understand the economic complexities of NEO. We understand our region is transitioning from a region wholly dependent on manufacturing. We see the positive changes. Unfortunately, the average Clevelander has no idea. All they see are then negative headlines. The older I get, the more I realize most people do not critically think about the issues.

 

I think I can understand their frustration, though. The city of Cleveland is filled with people who are still on the blue-collar side of things. As the economy changes, these people probably feel pretty left out. They're the ones who "lose", so to speak. Maybe it's a lack of education, maybe it's laziness .. I dunno. But even though I don't necessarily agree with them, I can understand. They might feel like no one cares.

People who live a good distance from Pittsburgh claim to be from Pittsburgh, while people from Beachwood say they're from Beachwood.  Not across the board but it's a notable tendancy.  The anti-urban mindset didn't take over Pittsburgh like it did here.  Sir2gees makes a good point about sports success-- it does draw people together, and we could use some of that.

 

My belief is that the people who fixed sports so the patriots could win after 9/11, followed by the red sox, white sox, and probably phillies breaking their "curses," are saving up a good one for us.  Maybe a trifecta.

I understand jpop's frustration with the comments on "cleveland.com". Most days I feel the same way. I think Clevelanders are inherently negative about their city. Think about it, Cleveland became the butt of national jokes in the seventies and our sports teams consistently fall short. Some of you may think this is not significant, but is not. Pittsburgh has experienced the same economic decline, but the region takes pride in the city. I think the Steelers gave the city one thing to rally around when things got rough. It gave people something to cheer about and be proud of. We really haven't had that over the last thirty years, and when you really think about it, very little has gone Cleveland's way. The NCB deal is another bad break for the city. Finally, our region has lost thousands of good paying jobs. Most people of venture on this site understand the economic complexities of NEO. We understand our region is transitioning from a region wholly dependent on manufacturing. We see the positive changes. Unfortunately, the average Clevelander has no idea. All they see are then negative headlines. The older I get, the more I realize most people do not critically think about the issues.

 

I think I can understand their frustration, though. The city of Cleveland is filled with people who are still on the blue-collar side of things. As the economy changes, these people probably feel pretty left out. They're the ones who "lose", so to speak. Maybe it's a lack of education, maybe it's laziness .. I dunno. But even though I don't necessarily agree with them, I can understand. They might feel like no one cares.

 

I agree with you wholeheartedly.  Unfortunately we have to find a way to get the word out to these people that they have to adapt and change with the times or they are going to be left in the dust.  The steel plants aren't going to open in mass again.

I've thought about what it would take to start a newspaper which had a different focus than what the PD has.

 

Shhh...  So have I.

That "blue collar" wall of mentality is so ingrained here.

 

Blue Collar vs. White collar is now more prevalent than Eastside vs. Westside.

I understand jpop's frustration with the comments on "cleveland.com". Most days I feel the same way. I think Clevelanders are inherently negative about their city. Think about it, Cleveland became the butt of national jokes in the seventies and our sports teams consistently fall short. Some of you may think this is not significant, but is not. Pittsburgh has experienced the same economic decline, but the region takes pride in the city. I think the Steelers gave the city one thing to rally around when things got rough. It gave people something to cheer about and be proud of. We really haven't had that over the last thirty years, and when you really think about it, very little has gone Cleveland's way. The NCB deal is another bad break for the city. Finally, our region has lost thousands of good paying jobs. Most people of venture on this site understand the economic complexities of NEO. We understand our region is transitioning from a region wholly dependent on manufacturing. We see the positive changes. Unfortunately, the average Clevelander has no idea. All they see are then negative headlines. The older I get, the more I realize most people do not critically think about the issues.

 

I think I can understand their frustration, though. The city of Cleveland is filled with people who are still on the blue-collar side of things. As the economy changes, these people probably feel pretty left out. They're the ones who "lose", so to speak. Maybe it's a lack of education, maybe it's laziness .. I dunno. But even though I don't necessarily agree with them, I can understand. They might feel like no one cares.

 

I agree with you wholeheartedly. Unfortunately we have to find a way to get the word out to these people that they have to adapt and change with the times or they are going to be left in the dust. The steel plants aren't going to open in mass again.

 

I hope not.

Why not?

Just hang in there for a few more years, the PD will be out of business with any luck. Of course cleveland.com will still be with us :roll:

 

TOP 25 Daily Papers in New FAS-FAX

 

By E&P Staff

 

Published: October 27, 2008 8:30 AM ET

 

NEW YORK Here are the top 25 daily papers ranked for the six-month period ending September 2008 based on a Monday-through-Friday average, according to the new FAS-FAX from the Audit Bureau of Circulations released today. The percent change compares this period to the same period a year ago.

 

USA TODAY -- 2,293,310 -- 0.01%

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL -- 2,011,999 -- 0.01%

NEW YORK TIMES -- 1,000,665 -- (-3.58%)

LOS ANGELES TIMES -- 739,147 -- (-5.20%)

DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK -- 632,595 -- (-7.16%)

 

NEW YORK POST -- 625,421 -- (-6.25%)

THE WASHINGTON POST -- 622,714 -- (-1.94%)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE -- 516,032 -- (-7.75%)

HOUSTON CHRONICLE -- 448,271 -- (-11.66%)

NEWSDAY -- 377,517 -- (-2.58%)

 

THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC -- 361,333 -- (-5.51%)

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE -- 339,430 -- (-7.07%)

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS -- 338,933 -- (-9.28%)

BOSTON GLOBE -- 323,983 -- (-10.18%)

STAR TRIBUNE, MINNEAPOLIS -- 322,360 -- (-4.26%)

 

STAR-LEDGER, NEWARK, N.J. -- 316,280 -- (-10.40%)

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES -- 313,176 -- (-3.94%)

PLAIN DEALER, CLEVELAND -- 305,529 -- (-8.58%)

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER -- 300,674 -- (-11.06%)

DETROIT FREE PRESS -- 298,243 -- (-6.84%)

 

THE OREGONIAN -- 283,321 -- (-8.45%)

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION -- 274,999 -- (-13.62%)

SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE -- 269,819 -- (-3.00%)

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Long-time reader, first-time poster.

 

First off, I want to say that I find this board to be a tremendous resource. The discussion here is usually fun and always informative. I never post because I write for The Plain Dealer, many of my articles are re-posted here, and I feel very strongly that I must avoid even the appearance of being opinionated or biased on any of these topics. If that makes me a troll, so be it.

 

And it it makes me unwelcome here, so be that. KJP and I know each other from the business, and I think he could vouch that I'm a pretty decent guy. Either way, I don't expect that I will become a regular poster, but I wanted to chime in -- just this once.

 

Regardless of your opinions of The Plain Dealer -- and you are entitled to them -- please realize that this is a group of professionals, the vast majority of whom work hard and don't sit at their desks all day thinking of ways to snub Cleveland in print. If our paper ever died, hundreds would be out of jobs -- a loss not quite as impacting as National City's or Eaton's, but a loss nonetheless. And although I don't think I could ever convince so many people here otherwise, this paper has repeatedly charted the newsworthy progress of organizations and developers.

 

Until today's news about the Flats East Bank, our newspaper had put that project on the front page numerous times, usually in the context of it being a key piece of the city's future. Few if any of those stories addressed the unforeseen possibility that a sour economy could idle progress there. And it will be front-page news tomorrow, I'm sure, because of this latest twist.

 

I've noticed that prime newspaper real estate on Saturday and Sunday A2 has gone toward spotlighting fun things to do in Cleveland and interesting people you should know.

 

I understand we'll get the jabs when we mention Cleveland's poverty (true) and economic challenges (true) and crime (true). I can't speak for my colleagues, but I try to be conscientious about taking unfair digs. I'm sure I've done it before, however unintentionally. And I'm sure others find the whole, tired "poor city gets big new project" angle enticing every time.

 

As for Phil Morris, he's a columnist -- paid to offer his opinion and spark debate. He obviously did that here. Maybe I read the offending column differently than most -- and I am friendly with Phil, though not close with him -- but I found it to be an emotional piece written strongly. He put to words some of the same ugly worries that surely have been on many of our minds.

 

Anyhow, I'm not here to stick up for Phil. My point (sorry for rambling) is that while I can't change your mind about The Plain Dealer, I hope you realize that we, like you, are passionate about what we do for a living. Thirty-eight of us represented by The Newspaper Guild will lose our jobs by Christmas in corporate-ordered layoffs. Some of you are cheering that.

 

We can't be the newspaper everyone wants us to be. Our news reporters can't be cheerleaders for projects, nor should we be naysayers. You must expect that we will scrutinize land deals and check on city and county corruption. And unfortunately with a growing coverage area but shrinking staff, we won't get to every groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting in your neighborhood.

 

Can we do better? Who in their job couldn't? In the spirit of making this constructive, I hope you will note my e-mail address (hgomezATplaind.com). I consider forums like UO, local blogs and other local publications to be great resources for my reporting. It's clear that many of the people who post here are smart, successful people. If you have a constructive comment about something I'm doing, or better yet, a news tip (sorry for the plug, KJP), please touch base.

 

With that, I appreciate this tremendous forum and hope you'll go easy on me in your responses.

 

Much respect.

Welcome HJG,

:wave:

---

 

We can't be the newspaper everyone wants us to be. Our news reporters can't be cheerleaders for projects, nor should we be naysayers. You must expect that we will scrutinize land deals and check on city and county corruption. And unfortunately with a growing coverage area but shrinking staff, we won't get to every groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting in your neighborhood.

 

I understand we'll get the jabs when we mention Cleveland's poverty (true) and economic challenges (true) and crime (true). I can't speak for my colleagues, but I try to be conscientious about taking unfair digs. I'm sure I've done it before, however unintentionally. And I'm sure others find the whole, tired "poor city gets big new project" angle enticing every time.

 

I cannot speak for anyone else, but precisely how the article below is written is why so many people are fed up with the PD's "doom and gloom" style.

 

Here is a prime example of my (and I'm sure others) frustration

Cuyahoga commissioners give developer $500,000 break on Ameritrust Tower deal

Posted by JKroll October 28, 2008 17:58PM

 

Cuyahoga County commissioners on Tuesday approved a $500,000 break for a developer whose plan to renovate the downtown Ameritrust Tower is on shaky ground.

 

The K&D Group was given an eight-month extension, free of charge, to close the deal to buy the tower and surrounding buildings for $35 million. The firm previously agreed to pay $500,000 at the end of October if it needed more time.

 

On the same day the $522 million Flats East Bank project was put on ice in Cleveland, commissioners decided they were better off waiving K&D's fee than risk losing a buyer for the site at East Ninth Street and Euclid Avenue. (For more coverage of Cleveland development issues, go to cleveland.com/economy.)

 

"We don't have any choice," said Commissioner Tim Hagan.

 

K&D, of Willoughby, told the county that the national banking crisis prevented it from finding financing for its $200 million renovation of the property.

 

The county acquired the downtown buildings in 2005 for $25 million as a place for a new administration building. K&D agreed to buy the site in April after commissioners decided they couldn't afford the new headquarters.

 

The county would recoup the $500,000, plus $30,000 in interest, if K&D buys the site before July.

 

There was no need to even mention the FEB in this story.  Another example is the HL opening. [RTA's HealthLine debuts -- minus fareboxes, plus jaywalkers]  The writer ( Karen Farkas) highlighted all the bad, yet never told the entire reason why the HL was created or why it would benefit the residents of the city of Cleveland.  So many think it just a bus route and the Plain Dealer has done nothing to show both sides of the story and set the facts straight.  The heading alone sets the tone that its "bad" and a waste of money.

 

The PD, as I read it, does not provide a fair or balanced approach.  They are not a champion of NEOhio and write as if they are ashamed to be The CLEVELAND Plain Dealer yet happy to be just the Plain Dealer.

 

In my opinion, the Plain Dealer does very little to showcase all the good that is in this city, yet makes it a point to highlight and blow out of proportion anything that goes sour.

 

Does the Plain Dealer even monitor the comments made after its articles?  It's the wild wild west over there.  You let people go on, and on, and on. Yet nobody, not the author of an article, interacts with the posters to set the record straight.  Is there any moderation? 

 

I'd like to say, with all due respect, the Plain Dealer has lost it's integrity and credibility.

^ I don't want to get into a back and forth on every issue, since it's not my place to speak for the paper. These opinions are mine and mine alone.

 

But I think with regards to the FEB mention in the Ameritrust story, the relevance is a nod to the fact that commissioners, mindful of these tough times as illustrated by the FEB suspension, felt it was better to keep hope alive with K&D rather than risk looking for another buyer.

 

With respect to the HealthLine story, I think a search of UO archives and PD archives would show our paper has written extensively about its history, from start to finish. By the time the ribbon was cut, we had already told readers the story of how this project came to be.

 

Again, just my thoughts.

 

As someone who has been attacked personally in the comments section on Cleveland.com, I feel your frustration. In this "wild wild west", I think we're still trying to feel out what is the best way to encourage online interaction. I will say that I don't think we should censor someone there because they offer an unintelligent or even misinformed opinion. And if we spent all day correcting each little misguided notion, when would we have time to publish a newspaper?

 

 

Welcome HJG.  I think I speak for everyone when I say that I hope you become a regular poster.

 

One quick note I'd like to make.  I think that the PD, with an ever-increasing eye towards their online entity, place much greater emphasis now on "shock journalism" and sensationalistic headlines.  While these tactics may generate more clicks and impressions and page views, which in turn equals greater revenue, what the PD does not seem to consider, or worse, even care about, is the untold damage this does to the city's already-fragile psyche.

^ I don't want to get into a back and forth on every issue, since it's not my place to speak for the paper. These opinions are mine and mine alone.

 

In no way am I asking you to be a representative for the PD.  I'm expressing my opinion as to how (I think a majority of people feel) the paper is viewed.

HJG, thank you for your posts. Whether or not you will be posting again in the future, I appreciate your response and speaking up.

 

Personally, I think it's more the emotional involvement that I feel the PD places in so much of its reporting. Ideally, the press should be 100% objective in its reporting. I know that's probably not realistic, but the media's job is to report the news. Nothing more. I'm not trying to tell you your job, but I still feel like the PD has lost its way in this area, and has sold itself out to borderline sensationalistic headlines. It shouldn't matter if it's county corruption or the Flats development. The PD should never take a stance outside of reporting all the FACTS, and the facts ALONE, behind a story. I can't say the PD is faithful in this area.

 

Also, since you're a PD reporter, I personally feel it's difficult for you to not be biased regarding the PD's reporting. I take your comments with a grain of salt, to an extent, even though they're hugely appreciated. I just don't believe your opinion of the PD is completely on target.

HJG, thanks for your message. I am equally frustrated because I can no longer write about certain topics, namely anything about downtown or about regional issues. Sun is going back to being intensely local, and leaving the downtown and regional stuff to the PD. From a business perspective, it makes sense since Newhouse owns both the PD and Sun. It wouldn't make sense for two media companies with the same owner to be competing for readers.

 

That does not put me at ease. For all of my 15 years at Sun, I've been taught to compete with the PD and try, as best as I can at a weekly paper, to scoop the daily PD. Now I cannot compete with you. So when I see the PD being overtly negative at the expense of positive coverage (yes, I will stick to that stance), it's very frustrating for me.

 

I will come up with a quiz that I doubt most Clevelanders can accurately answer because I don't believe they are getting the accurate information from their local media. I may put it in my Sun column, where I still have some latitude in coverage. Perhaps you can share my quiz at the PD offices and see if staff persons answers most of the questions correctly. Stay tuned.....

HJG - welcome and thanks.  That was an unnecessary and very appreciated post.