Frats vs. Geeks
From headquarters:
Star Tribune article acknowlegdes the departure of colleague Steve Perry, editor of City Pages, who was often critical of Minneapolis' so-called minor-major. City pages devotes a cover story and supplement to the Strib's hasty and reportedly cheap sale.
From the trenches:
Steve Perry gets into a electro-mediated row with Monica Moses over a not-for-publication letter to the editor, which, to everyone's surprise *irony*, wound up on the local blogosphere.
The Star Tribune's farewell to Perry reads more like a "don't let the door hit you..." missive than a news report. Perry is described as an "idiosynchratic" editor who was resistant to corporate interference and "never pulled punches." Another account might describe this person as idealistic and possessed of journalistic integrity and Strib personnel as toadying sycophants. Both views are biased, but only one of them didn't appear in the most widely circulated daily in the region. The title of the article implies unforseeable suddenness in Perry's departure, that he was unceremoniously dumped in favor of a rising star from Cleveland. Only later is it revealed that Perry's departure has appeared imminent for just over a year. The reporting also contains a hint of self-reference buried in a literary flourish. "The whirlwind turn of events has left the staff of the award-winning weekly shellshocked. Yet change is the new norm in the Twin Cities, which recently has seen media properties and staff flipped and discarded like a Texas Hold 'Em marathon." One of the decks being shuffled is located at 425 Portland Ave. Quotes from the ostensibly "shellshocked" City Pages staff lacked the histrionics hinted at by the adjective. Perry himself is not interviewed in the piece, but is quoted via an excerpt from his final staff memo. Apparently there was some surprise that he didn't do what everyone thought he was gonna do... flip out man. But the fact that it was mentioned at all may be another example of the creeping editorialism that pervades this article. Perry's non-reaction led to an accusation, from an MPR analyst, that he received a generous severance package. This claim, although properly sourced, seems to have an editorial bent, and may be an attempt to smudge Perry's credibility. It is important to note that, under Perry, City Pages articles and blog postings have been just as critical of the Strib's management, if not moreso. In this context, this article could be interpreted simply as return fire. But if so, whom does it benefit when the quarterback of the hard news team chases the scruffy, unkempt drum major into the locker room with 3 seconds remaining a six point deficit, just to give him a swirly? It may not be long before some at the Strib are writing themselves out of the local media narrative.
Comments
Your writing style and use of links reflects savvy both about the Twin Cities media biz and the blogging genre. Excellent that you link to multiple sources.
I can see your point that the Strib headline and lead may have exaggerated the sudden nature of Perry's departure. I think you overstate matters when you suggest that the Strib article reflects vitriol or resentment toward Perry. To my eyes, Deborah Caulfield Rybak (wife of the Mpls mayor, FYI) took a very safe and noncontroversial approach to the story. In fact, emphasizing the timing of the departure was a safe way to avoid delving into questions about whether, for instance, he was fired, deserved it, etc.
The mainstream media tend to do that. Rather than state the unvarnished reality of situations, especially when the subjects live in the circulation area, newspapers sometimes resort to colorful wordplay (Texas Hold-'em, etc.) to keep the reader's interest. I thought Rybak's article erred on the vague-to-complimentary side. Alternative papers err on the opinionated side; they seek to identify good guys and bad guys where there might really be shades of grey.
(The Strib is lately attempting to co-opt the City Pages' entertainment ad revenue but not its straightforward tone. Pick up the new free "alternative" weekly Vita MN, look at the bottom of the staff box and see who's publishing it. But the writing sticks closely to the wholesome style we're used to in the Strib. There's even a chirpy take on the sex advice column that will not give Dan Savage a run for his money.)
Your comparison gives insight into what you see as a petty sniping match between the publications. This is interesting. But remember that the assignment is to examine how reporters at two (or more) publications handled the challenges of reporting and writing about the same or similar news events. Focus more on the individual's decisions and less on the institutional clash. Your posting could have fit that mold if you had emphasized, for instance, how reporters write about the competition or how reporters write about personnel changes when the subjects won't comment.
A final p.s.: The City Pages spread include a sidebar ("Give That Guy a Newspaper") that I was planning to use at the end of the semester when we philosophize about the fate of the newspaper biz. cf.
http://citypages.com/databank/28/1362/article15040.asp?page=2
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