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>Sad Truth is right on the money. The only thing I >would add -in regards to why BCTers are so defensive - >is that even in those days when the BCT was producing >exceptional reporting and writing, it never got any >respect. You would tell people where you worked and >they'd say something like "The Beaver County Times? Is >that a weekly?" > > >>Here's why: >> >>The strong reaction from BCT defenders is rooted in >>the fact that this once was an exceptional news >>product, that it was actually better than it should >>have been. >> >>There was an executive editor who understood that >>in-depth local news is a product that the local >>newspaper can deliver better than any other source for >>a market like Beaver County. During his tenure, the >>paper practiced exceptional journalism, dedicating >>more resources, for example, to enterprise projects >>than papers four times its size. Yes, I worked there >>then, and it was a marvelous, inspiring place to work, >>and it was a robustly profitable business. I have >>worked at five other newspapers across the country, >>and the BCT was so far beyond the others it would make >>your head spin. >> >>But the current publisher and executive editor have >>none of the vision, business acumen, or journalistic >>ability to continue the earlier success. They vastly >>overreacted to trends and made decisions based on fads >>and fear. And they simply don’t understand their >>market or the product they could have developed to >>counter the trends shaping the business today. >> >>By the way, small suburban newspapers in other regions >>are proving that there still is a local news business >>model that works even in this changing environment. >>But, instead, the BCT executive editor and publisher >>made an extraordinarily bad series of decisions >>(starting with the actual hiring of the executive >>editor) that highlighted their complete ignorance of >>the market and subscriber base. >> >>So the strong reaction of the BCT defenders comes from >>those of us who knew the peak to which this newspaper >>climbed, and who have witnessed the subsequent >>precipitous decline caused by the incompetence of the >>publisher and the executive editor. >> >> >>>Strange. None of the people who contribute hostile >>>posts against BCT critics seem to "work there." They >>>just happen to be "in the business" and "live in >>>(BCT's) circulation area." I find that a most >>>interesting coincidence. >>> >>>Some previous threads regarding BCT have included >>>attacks against anyone daring to criticizing the >>>paper, and a few individual posts have been >>>belligerent to the point of violating the rules of >>>this forum. I too am curious as to why partisans of >>>the BCT react in a more extreme way than the >>>often-slammed PG'ers and Trib staff. >>> >>>Enlighten us, will you? >>> >>>>This may disappoint you, but I don't work there. I'm >>>>in the business and live in their circulation area. >I >>>>happen to think they do a good job with the >resources >>>>they have and they're -- by far -- the best of the >>>>suburban papers. >>>> >>>>Toast? The paper makes money. Can't cover anything? >>>>Two of their cuts were editors and one was a >>>>part-timer in sports. >>>> >>>>But then you're not really interested in dealing >with >>>>facts, are you? Not amazing. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>What is your greater point? BCT is toast in any >>case. >>>>>You can only cut editorial so far and then you're >>>>>unable to cover anything. >>>>> >>>>>I must say, the defensiveness of folks there >>>continues >>>>>to be mind-boggling. The product deteriorates, >>>>>management cuts jobs and STILL the last few >standing >>>>>remain ready to rumble. >>>>> >>>>>Amazing. >>>>> >>>>>>I was talking about editorial approach, not >>business >>>>>>plan. >>>>>> >>>>>>BTW, City Paper is not a stand-alone entity. It's >>>>part >>>>>>of a media company that owns two underperforming >>>>radio >>>>>>stations: >>>>>> >>>>>><a rel=nofollow target=_blank >>>>>>href="http://www.steelcitymedia.com/">http://www.s >t >>e >>>e >>>>l >>>>>c >>>>>>itymedia.com/</a> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>>Ah, love the oversimplification. >>>>>>> >>>>>>>How can you compare a mediocre appendage like >>"Go," >>>>>>>which you say you didn't like, which was attached >>>to >>>>>a >>>>>>>strictly local newspaper owned by a troubled >>>company >>>>>>>(be it due to TV stations or the Ellwood City >>>>Ledger) >>>>>>>with a stand-alone entity like City Paper, >>>>>distributed >>>>>>>REGIONALLY in several counties and not attached >to >>>a >>>>>>>local paper serving an aging, rust-belt >>community? >>>>>>>You can't. >>>>>>> >>>>>>>Apples and oranges. >>>>>>> >>>>>>>>BCT actually turns a profit. Calkins has gotten >>>>into >>>>>>>>trouble overextending itself with things like >>>>buying >>>>>>>>the Ellwood City Ledger and some TV stations. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>"Go!," which I didn't like, was distributed >>mainly >>>>>in >>>>>>>>Pittsburgh and aimed at the college crowd. City >>>>>>Paper, >>>>>>>>which is similar in philosophy, seems to be >doing >>>>OK >>>>>>>>in "an aging rust belt region." Ah, love the >>>>>>>>generalities. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>It's a money-losing piece of crap. Time was, >if >>>>>you >>>>>>>>>said that, some of the loyalists would hop on >>>over >>>>>>>>>here and fling insult after insult. It's clear >>>>now >>>>>>>>>that the whole thing it smoke and mirrors, a >>>>>>mediocre >>>>>>>>>entity with no future, awaiting extinction in a >>>>>>>county >>>>>>>>>losing population. You don't do a publication >>>like >>>>>>>>>"Go" in an aging rust belt region. >>>>>>>>>The fact they even tried says something about >>the >>>>>>>>>stupidity of the owners and managers. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>I think were Scaife not in the midst of his >>messy >>>>>>>>>divorce, he'd have already had Ralphie and a >few >>>>>>more >>>>>>>>>of his Trib Totally Medicore minions pay the >BCT >>>>>>>brass >>>>>>>>>a visit. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>Let's see, I'm looking at Saturday's BCT web >>>>>>site... >>>>>>>>>>four of the six top stories are police or >fire. >>>>>One >>>>>>>>of >>>>>>>>>>the others is a story about the Medical >>Center's >>>>>>>>>>expansion that is two days late... moved >>>Thursday >>>>>>on >>>>>>>>>>the Pittsburgh Business Times web site. >>>>>>>>>>Things are bad in the news industry >everywhere, >>>>no >>>>>>>>>>doubt. But if the BCT made half the >committment >>>>to >>>>>>>>>>news it does to sports and cockamamie design >>>>>>>schemes, >>>>>>>>>>it wouldn't be in such bad shape.

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