Comments by mvm
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Posted on July 14 at 9:06 a.m.
I still subscribe because I want a full service daily paper on my doorstep. But, I expect local enterprise reporting, not these press release rewrites. And, I expect contextual reporting, not these boring episodic process pieces (this government body met, that government body met). There is an obvious lack of editing, experience, courage and skill in that newsroom. And then there's the wasted use of the editorial page. Rather than serve as a powerful institutional voice for the betterment of the community, it seems like a series of random essays on animal rights and childish, vapid attacks on city hall. The sophomoric logic and Wendy's self interest in those editorials is astonishing. And now complete departure from the facts!?! Wake up, News-Press. Turn over a new leaf. Do something worthy. This can't go on.
Posted on June 30 at 10:07 a.m.
Persuading McCaw to run her business in the public interest seems unlikely. (Who would do it?) JoeHill and RCMeltzer proffer the scenario of a competing newspaper. Newspapers are not attractive investments right now, but I believe the scenario is possible. Is there a significant SBNP replacement waiting to be born? (Or fully realized?) Or is Santa Barbara content with an evolution in on-line journalism?
Posted on June 28 at 1:15 p.m.
What can the community -- the citizenry of Santa Barbara -- do here? Boycott, yes, but that aims to punish the paper. I wonder what the community can do to *rescue* the historical institution that Ms Hamilton and no doubt others would prefer to have survive and thrive. I still believe that a significant community needs significant journalism which requires significant investment. What would be the first step in turning this situation around?
Posted on March 29 at 3:19 p.m.
Nice piece, Charles. Lots to chew.
I did, however, want to offer a polite correction.
It's common to lump many public radio productions under the National Public Radio masthead. Like Xerox, Kleenix and Muzak the brand sometimes becomes generic. NPR is easily associated with the best radio on the dial but the new program doesn't come from NPR.
John Hockenberry's The Takeaway comes from a consortium of other outlets (and not all radio) to take direct aim at NPR' Morning Edition. Imagine the possibilities combining WNYC in New York, with the New York Times and the BBC, distributed by PRI, Public Radio International.
The idea is to create a more conversational news program, very live and less pre-packaged. I believe it arrives in April. It would be great if one of three (imported) public radio signals in Santa Barbara carried it.
M. Marcotte
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Posted on August 20 at 8:46 a.m.
KCLU might have made for a better partner -- they have the professional news department, bring the trusted NPR News brand, cater to the SB community and just bought KIST. KCSB could solve its reliability issues but that would involve a major cultural shift from free-form radio to something both audience-focused and journalistically reliable. It is too bad the most well-resourced news institution in town (the News-Press) is so weak when it comes to providing crisis coverage, especially on radio.
On Independent Announces Emergency Alert Service