New Strib: Hip, Now, and Worthless
I emailed this to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune Ombudsman this morning.
Subject: New Strib: Hip, Now, and Worthless
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 07:55:53 -0500
To: readerrep@startribune.comDear Kate Parry:
As of 7:30AM on May 31, the #3 story on the Star-Tribune's lead web page is: "Couric makes today her last on 'Today'."
You have got to be kidding me. Seriously, you should be ashamed of yourselves. You're supposed to be a relevant, serious, actual news outlet. Did you forget that?
Imagine the New York Times putting this filler on their front page--and while you're imagining that, keep in mind that this story would be about 73 times more relevant on the NY Times front page than on the Strib.
Actually, you don't have to imagine. I just did a word search on the NY Times front page, and Couric's name is nowhere in sight.
I know the Strib is trying to "jazz it up" with a new fresh format (which, incidentally, everyone I've talked to pretty much hates to death), but seriously--has it ever occurred to you that you are taking a hit in the credibility department?
My view is, while you may think your format changes have made you all "hip and now," instead you've just become kind of a crummier version of USA Today.
You don't want to be USA Today. People don't buy USA Today, they don't read it, and they don't look to it for real news.
The only thing USA Today is good for, is to clean up coffee spills in one's hotel room.
This is not a model for a serious newspaper.
Please stop sucking.
I just realized, emailing complaints to everyone is a great way to pass the time! I'm looking forward to becoming one of those crazy old cranks that just sits by his typewriter all day and fires off complaints to various organizations.
May 31st, 2006 at 2:26 pm
I absolutely love complaint mail. I’ve even received a threat or two through email about my game writing. I really like sending out hate mail as well. U S A!
June 1st, 2006 at 11:59 am
I love complaint mail too. Did you ever read any of those books with crazy complaint mail that was rumored to be written by Jerry Seinfeld under a pen name? Some of those were pretty good.
June 1st, 2006 at 12:59 pm
Oh wow, I never read that. I must look it up!
June 1st, 2006 at 1:02 pm
here it is. Hooray!
–booj
June 2nd, 2006 at 4:40 pm
USA Today had a really good article about a poll they did about immigration opinions. There was a good analysis of breaking people into four segments. Better than I expected.
June 3rd, 2006 at 1:41 am
i used to get drunk and send hate emails to sites i found through cruel.com. I used my real name and everything! those were the days.