http://www.kingfish1935.blogspot.com/2012/02/just-another-round-at-newspaper.html
The downfall continues.
The downfall continues.
Rick & Bobby Cleveland Offered Buyouts From The Clarion Ledger
- Thread starter ExtremeDog
- Start date
http://www.kingfish1935.blogspot.com/2012/02/just-another-round-at-newspaper.html
The downfall continues.
The downfall continues.
I don't think they have announced if they have accepted yet.
I am fine seeing both of them go. Bobby, has been worthless for years. Nothing like being in the middle of deer and duck season and seeing the entire outdoor page filled with the latest bass fishing lure.
Rick, in my opinion, can write some good articles but he can also be an absolute elitist. Hell, just this week HD6 was giving him hell for retweeting something with Moo-U in the message.
I don't care if both of them go. The Clarion Ledger is a dying breed and really lacks decent stories and decent journalist. It is not the CL's fault, they have been forced to downsize their staff to the point that no original stories can be published. I am still a subscriber to the actual paper and read it cover to cover every morning but it has really gone downhill and I don't see it getting any better anytime soon.
I am fine seeing both of them go. Bobby, has been worthless for years. Nothing like being in the middle of deer and duck season and seeing the entire outdoor page filled with the latest bass fishing lure.
Rick, in my opinion, can write some good articles but he can also be an absolute elitist. Hell, just this week HD6 was giving him hell for retweeting something with Moo-U in the message.
I don't care if both of them go. The Clarion Ledger is a dying breed and really lacks decent stories and decent journalist. It is not the CL's fault, they have been forced to downsize their staff to the point that no original stories can be published. I am still a subscriber to the actual paper and read it cover to cover every morning but it has really gone downhill and I don't see it getting any better anytime soon.
i read it everyday, although its hard to find in hattiesburg sometimes.
rick is the sometimes-interesting homerwho looks like a southern miss alum from a thousand yards
bobby is the eternal white perch fisherman who waxes poetic about the joys of outdoor tranquility and letting bucks walk
i still miss orley hood.
ETA: I edit every post.
rick is the sometimes-interesting homerwho looks like a southern miss alum from a thousand yards
bobby is the eternal white perch fisherman who waxes poetic about the joys of outdoor tranquility and letting bucks walk
i still miss orley hood.
ETA: I edit every post.
He pisses off State fans, Ole Miss fans, Southern fans, JSU fans, Valley Fans, Alcorn Fans, etc. He does this typically by telling the truth, and usually pretty objectively. I've seen him print something about any of the above schools and catch holy hell about it, but if it was a school I didn't care about, ihe really did write rather objectively most of the time.
Mississippians who were raised here and seem to appreciate it. USM homers? Of course. But they do a decent job of disguising it. And Rick writes a pretty good article despite that "above the frey" attitude of his. I too pay for a C-L subscrition and read it cover to cover every day. But if they go, I'll think twice about renewing. All their other "reporters" are short-timers and are here as a stepping stone to a REAL job that pays, say, $30 grand a year!
Newspapers = Buggy Whip Manufacturers
Edited: It's a newspaper post...of course it's edited.
Newspapers = Buggy Whip Manufacturers
Edited: It's a newspaper post...of course it's edited.
Not to mention that Elizabeth Crisp is going to St. Louis??? That would leave Jerry Mitchell and Billy Watkins as their two best writers (with Rick currently being the best by far of the Clarion-Ledger writers) if everyone leaves.
If Rick does leave the Clarion-Ledger, there's a part of me who hopes he succeeds Michael Rubenstein at the Sports Hall of Fame.
If Rick does leave the Clarion-Ledger, there's a part of me who hopes he succeeds Michael Rubenstein at the Sports Hall of Fame.
personally. He may be somewhat objective, but he usually takes one side and he doesn't ever talk about the other side's point of view.
For example- the MSU/USM football series. He basically only talked about why they should play every year- but MSU has good, logical, and legit reasons for not playing them every year. And "MSU is scared" is not the logical and legit reason for that.
He would never mention that USM never played Alabama- a team in our conference- in Hattiesburg. If they won't play them in Hattiesburg, then why should MSU? And his occasional suggestion that MSU should play USM in Jackson was stupid. It was like I told one of my best friends that is a USM fan- if you want to play MSU, step one is to get out of the Alabama series. It never occurred to him that maybe MSU wanted to play other OOC teams and that maybe it was good for USM to play other OOC teams as well. He should have been advocating a two game series home and home every 4-5 years. But that's just a little too creative for Rick.
And then there was the "why MSU should not fire __ even though things are a complete dumpster fire- because you MSU fans with short memories have forgotten that one good season that coach had 12 years ago." articles. You would know that a coach was toast when Cleveland would say that they should be fired.
For example- the MSU/USM football series. He basically only talked about why they should play every year- but MSU has good, logical, and legit reasons for not playing them every year. And "MSU is scared" is not the logical and legit reason for that.
He would never mention that USM never played Alabama- a team in our conference- in Hattiesburg. If they won't play them in Hattiesburg, then why should MSU? And his occasional suggestion that MSU should play USM in Jackson was stupid. It was like I told one of my best friends that is a USM fan- if you want to play MSU, step one is to get out of the Alabama series. It never occurred to him that maybe MSU wanted to play other OOC teams and that maybe it was good for USM to play other OOC teams as well. He should have been advocating a two game series home and home every 4-5 years. But that's just a little too creative for Rick.
And then there was the "why MSU should not fire __ even though things are a complete dumpster fire- because you MSU fans with short memories have forgotten that one good season that coach had 12 years ago." articles. You would know that a coach was toast when Cleveland would say that they should be fired.
ISo where does that leave the media in Mississippi? If horrible shape, imo. The powers that be are dancing on our bank accounts. We've bought them some nice shoes.
What makes a good newspaper anymore? Todays papers are a rehash of what you learned yesterday thru TV and internet. Gave up on CL a few years ago and let subscription go of Hattiesburg American go last fall (Watered down CL).
Columbus Dispatch comes to mind of a paper that still offers some local color and insight.
What are the best local papers in Mississippi?
What qualities are required for a paper in today's world?
</p>
Columbus Dispatch comes to mind of a paper that still offers some local color and insight.
What are the best local papers in Mississippi?
What qualities are required for a paper in today's world?
</p>
Everyones attitude towards the cl. I grew up reading it and the JDN everyday. Back then, no one cared if it was yesterday's news.
Since the two merged and gannet bought clarion liar, the states major daily has taken a downward turn in quality of coverage. I think they are doing about as well as they can with their social media stuff, given that anyone can now 'cover' the news as it happens and get it out to the rest of the world. But, many of their stories are taken right from the USA today. Not much local coverage there.
Sort of rambling here:
I am a publisher of a community paper in sw Miss. Newspapers ARE a historical record that traditionally readers turn to for believability and further insight into events. I say that because , we publishers put our neck on the line each week to report the happenings in the community, good or bad. Once it is in print, it is on record.
Opening a newspaper each day or week brings a level of excitment -like opening a new little present each day (or week, in my case)-with readers, no matter what news is contained therein. The feeling is unmatched by any other medium.
Here, We focus on community news and sports. Wedding announcements, births, deaths-and you wouldn't believe the number of people that buy a subscription just for the arrest report and legal notices. Of course everyone loves reading the ads.
We have a website that serves as a way to get the breaking news out there, we also have a twitter feed @copiahcourier. The Facebook page is a work in progress, but it's there. We a also planning text alerts and other 21st century technology to catch up. So, our paper is somewhat thriving. We are way ahead of our sister paper in the county and even other weeklies in the region.
Compeition for news and therefore ad dollars is at an all time high. We do have a couple of local upstart websites that can't match our coverage or online readership. We have been only mildly successful at capturing online revenue. Folks round here aren't quite as trusting of the INTERWEBS as in major metro areas. But, we either enhance our approach or get slowly swept away.
Back on the CL, I don't read much that bobby writes, bit I'd hate to see Rick go. No one else will be able to replace him, writing wise or experience wise, and that may cause readership to plummet for the CL.
Since the two merged and gannet bought clarion liar, the states major daily has taken a downward turn in quality of coverage. I think they are doing about as well as they can with their social media stuff, given that anyone can now 'cover' the news as it happens and get it out to the rest of the world. But, many of their stories are taken right from the USA today. Not much local coverage there.
Sort of rambling here:
I am a publisher of a community paper in sw Miss. Newspapers ARE a historical record that traditionally readers turn to for believability and further insight into events. I say that because , we publishers put our neck on the line each week to report the happenings in the community, good or bad. Once it is in print, it is on record.
Opening a newspaper each day or week brings a level of excitment -like opening a new little present each day (or week, in my case)-with readers, no matter what news is contained therein. The feeling is unmatched by any other medium.
Here, We focus on community news and sports. Wedding announcements, births, deaths-and you wouldn't believe the number of people that buy a subscription just for the arrest report and legal notices. Of course everyone loves reading the ads.
We have a website that serves as a way to get the breaking news out there, we also have a twitter feed @copiahcourier. The Facebook page is a work in progress, but it's there. We a also planning text alerts and other 21st century technology to catch up. So, our paper is somewhat thriving. We are way ahead of our sister paper in the county and even other weeklies in the region.
Compeition for news and therefore ad dollars is at an all time high. We do have a couple of local upstart websites that can't match our coverage or online readership. We have been only mildly successful at capturing online revenue. Folks round here aren't quite as trusting of the INTERWEBS as in major metro areas. But, we either enhance our approach or get slowly swept away.
Back on the CL, I don't read much that bobby writes, bit I'd hate to see Rick go. No one else will be able to replace him, writing wise or experience wise, and that may cause readership to plummet for the CL.
I worked in state government/politics about 15 years ago in Jackson. Even then, it was tough to get coverage of some of the BS going on in the legislature or to "shine a light" on some of those idiots who were robbing the state for their own little fiefdoms. With all the cuts at the C-L, I can only imagine there's almost no coverage any more. We all may despise the media sometimes, but they're usually the only ones who can keep politicians somewhat honest.
Hopefully, the blogosphere in Jackson can pick up some of the slack, but I wouldn't count on it. Having no (or less) viable media outlets is not good news for the community.
Hopefully, the blogosphere in Jackson can pick up some of the slack, but I wouldn't count on it. Having no (or less) viable media outlets is not good news for the community.
He would never mention that USM never played Alabama- a team in our conference- in Hattiesburg. If they won't play them in Hattiesburg, then why should MSU
Does Alabama have a home and home with UAB? With La Tech? with Middle Tenn? Tulane?
You aint Alabama
Does Alabama have a home and home with UAB? With La Tech? with Middle Tenn? Tulane?
You aint Alabama
Auburn, Tennesse, Florida, Georgia, LSU, KENTUCKY, and South Carolina.
Heck, Ole Miss only went there four times.
So again, I say why should we go to Hattiesburg? Because guess what- we're not UAB, Tulane, La Tech, or MTSU either.
And it's not a coincidence that the series picked back up within ten years of you ending your series with Alabama. So, looks like I hit the nail on the head and the guy paid to write sports for a living was wrong.
Heck, Ole Miss only went there four times.
So again, I say why should we go to Hattiesburg? Because guess what- we're not UAB, Tulane, La Tech, or MTSU either.
And it's not a coincidence that the series picked back up within ten years of you ending your series with Alabama. So, looks like I hit the nail on the head and the guy paid to write sports for a living was wrong.
WPDawg said:
Quality of writing and investigative reporting.
Almost no investigating gets done at the CL. They don't have enough staff for it. Many times they fail to seek answered to obvious questions in their stories. I read a half page article once on a fatal wreck on I-20. No word of how many cars involved, how many injured, or what the cause was - not even a mention that this info was still being investigated by authorities.
I heard they're instructed to write at a 7th grade level (#jacksonproblems), so that rules out quality of writing. Although a few there manage to write well in spite of that.
And it doesn't matter if the buyouts have been accepted or not. The next step is to be laid off ungracefully.
Its over. The CL as you know it is finished. Hard to imagine that the CL, which is a shell of its former self, could become yet again a shell of its current self. They continue to find new ways to suck.
Good for you. Hope your sucess continues. I was a fanactical paper reader. Had to have my fix every day of what was happening elsewhere but the delivery of that news is way faster now with electronic media.
I love the small town papers that stick to the local stories like you mentioned. People like to read about people they know in the paper, so it would seem there is still a market for keeping up with local happenings from weddings and bake sales to little league baseball and who caught a big bass last week. Plus local politics can not hardly be found on the internet. Cant see much future in daily papers. As they reach their demise, it has to be a benefit for someone like you in picking up advertising/sales flyers etc...
I love the small town papers that stick to the local stories like you mentioned. People like to read about people they know in the paper, so it would seem there is still a market for keeping up with local happenings from weddings and bake sales to little league baseball and who caught a big bass last week. Plus local politics can not hardly be found on the internet. Cant see much future in daily papers. As they reach their demise, it has to be a benefit for someone like you in picking up advertising/sales flyers etc...
I went from working four years at the Reflector into several years as a sports editor in South Mississippi. We would usually have a 3-section paper on Sundays for our 7,000 circulation paper. That is now the average size of the Clarion-Ledger on a regular daily basis.
Even when there is a reason for extended coverage (such as last April's tornadoes} they may add two pages of wire photos rather than more in-house reporting. It's not a surprise, considering that mostof the storiesare just reprints from other Associated Press papers across the state.
Ithink that the Commercial Appeal covers North Mississippi better as the Sun-Herald and the Times-Picayune does a better job on South Mississippi (even on their internet sites).
If there is one goal in life I have before I pass it is to get my father to stop holding on to news habits (national news at 5:30, local news each night at 6:00 AND 10:00, and the C-L EVERY day -- all of which is nothing more than repeats of stories already covered ad nauseum by the internet and each other) and consider using the electronic media more. I think in his case it is more out of habit than out of the desire to become informed.
Even when there is a reason for extended coverage (such as last April's tornadoes} they may add two pages of wire photos rather than more in-house reporting. It's not a surprise, considering that mostof the storiesare just reprints from other Associated Press papers across the state.
Ithink that the Commercial Appeal covers North Mississippi better as the Sun-Herald and the Times-Picayune does a better job on South Mississippi (even on their internet sites).
If there is one goal in life I have before I pass it is to get my father to stop holding on to news habits (national news at 5:30, local news each night at 6:00 AND 10:00, and the C-L EVERY day -- all of which is nothing more than repeats of stories already covered ad nauseum by the internet and each other) and consider using the electronic media more. I think in his case it is more out of habit than out of the desire to become informed.
Alabama never plays at La Tech, Middle Tennessee, Tulane, or Houston. But MSU has, therefore it's not a stretch to suggest they also play in Hattiesburg. Just saying...Todd4State said:
ill be through with it. easy decision.
ill get my news from another paper or from online.
i find myself almost wishing it would happen.
Rick has his bias, but his experience with Mississippi sports is unmatched. I just hope he continues to write for another in-state publication.
Everyone here has their opinion on him. To me, that shows that we all read him. Why wish him away?
ill get my news from another paper or from online.
i find myself almost wishing it would happen.
Rick has his bias, but his experience with Mississippi sports is unmatched. I just hope he continues to write for another in-state publication.
Everyone here has their opinion on him. To me, that shows that we all read him. Why wish him away?
UAB, Tulane, and Houston are all what I call alumni road trip games. Our fans enjoy them, they're often times winnable - and it makes sense to schedule them for that reason. You could almost put MTSU in that catagory as well- it's only 50 miles or so from Nashville.
Also, we did not play La Tech or MTSU on the road while the USM/Bama series was still going on. Or anyone else like that. The college football landscape has changed- you had Kentucky playing WKU at a neutral site last year.
In fact, no other SEC teams besides MSU and Ole Miss have gone to Hattiesburg to play. Again, if Kentucky won't go to Hattiesburg, why should MSU? MSU may not be Bama, but we have a better record against them than you do the past 20 years.
Our record against C-USA under Dan is 4-1- the one loss was by a TD to Houston in a game that was controversial. Including the Croom era and the Dan Mullen era- we are 10-4 against C-USA since 2004. You are 2-16 against the SEC since 1995- and 0-7 since Croom started at MSU.
And to be clear- I'm not against playing USM in Hattiesburg at all. What I am against is playing USM every year home and home. The series should be twice every four to five years home and home.
Also, we did not play La Tech or MTSU on the road while the USM/Bama series was still going on. Or anyone else like that. The college football landscape has changed- you had Kentucky playing WKU at a neutral site last year.
In fact, no other SEC teams besides MSU and Ole Miss have gone to Hattiesburg to play. Again, if Kentucky won't go to Hattiesburg, why should MSU? MSU may not be Bama, but we have a better record against them than you do the past 20 years.
Our record against C-USA under Dan is 4-1- the one loss was by a TD to Houston in a game that was controversial. Including the Croom era and the Dan Mullen era- we are 10-4 against C-USA since 2004. You are 2-16 against the SEC since 1995- and 0-7 since Croom started at MSU.
And to be clear- I'm not against playing USM in Hattiesburg at all. What I am against is playing USM every year home and home. The series should be twice every four to five years home and home.
is normally the same thing as being told to hit the door ... laid off. They probably have no choice other than to accept it (or leave and accept nothing).<div>
</div><div>It's not just the Clarion Ledger. Newspapers in mid-sized cities everywhere are really hurting. I know the Huntsville Times is the same as the C/L in its deterioration (and the Huntsville News bit the dust several years ago) and the Birmingham paper is only a glimmer of what it once was.</div><div>
</div><div>The only newspapers that I know of that are still like they once were are in large cities ... like the LA Times, the NY Times, Washington Post, etc.</div><div>
</div><div>They're victims of the electronic age.</div><div>
</div><div>
</div>
</div><div>It's not just the Clarion Ledger. Newspapers in mid-sized cities everywhere are really hurting. I know the Huntsville Times is the same as the C/L in its deterioration (and the Huntsville News bit the dust several years ago) and the Birmingham paper is only a glimmer of what it once was.</div><div>
</div><div>The only newspapers that I know of that are still like they once were are in large cities ... like the LA Times, the NY Times, Washington Post, etc.</div><div>
</div><div>They're victims of the electronic age.</div><div>
</div><div>
</div>
It would be a no-brainer for me anyway. If anybody wants to pay me not to work, I'm more than happy to take it. If they don't take it, they're going to be given a severence package in 6 months to a year anyway, and it won't be as good as the buyout was.