Somebody Misses His Wooten

Valentine's must be in the air, for Republican Randy Evans has penned quite the love letter to former AJC scribe Jim Wooten.

But he did not stop there. When writing columns, he researched and verified every word to make sure that every column was thorough, accurate, and complete. He understood that just one mistake, one error, and thousands of readers would call him on it.

Really.

I've read Jim Wooten for over twenty years and deigned to be his informal, snarky ombudsman for the last four years of his tenure. What Mr. Evans writes was once true, as documented in my own conflicted thoughts about Jim's gradual transformation from thoughtful conservative in the Durwood McAllister vein to just another link in the WSB media conveyor belt churning out endless half truth panderisms, but it was laid waste in the final years as he gradually viewed his quest as not one for the truth but one that  matched his narrowing world view.

My own biased viewpoint? Absolutely. But feel free to graze on the years where I played Deacon Lunchbox to Wooten's Lewis Grizzard. It's all there for anyone to see.

The "Good Story" Standard At The AJC

According the ajcatlantanews twitter feed, I should check out a "good story" from Atlanta Progressive News "editor" Matthew Cardinale. So I did. And I have to admit there's some good reporting in there about Atlanta Housing Authority chair Renee Glover's impending departure. Not surprisingly, having read Cardinale over the years, the "good story" stuff amounts to what Matthew actually witnessed.

To find it, you have to read through a wash of unsourced innuendo such as:

Mayor Kasim Reed--who one source told APN is estranged from Franklin--is also not a fan of Glover.

And:

Then, late last week, another source--a Buckhead source--also said they were expecting Glover to resign within the next few days.

A Buckhead source! Well that must make it credible!

But even if you can look past the bizarre writing (Buckhead!) and the side swipes based on the unverified, does someone who in the past has said he wouldn't bother allowing the other side to give their point of view realy merit a "good story" atta boy?

And I don't know if the fact that he doesn't care is worse than he admits to being lazy..

Cardinale in response to his sloppy reporting on Kasim Reed in 2009, "I've been doing this (APN) now for 4 years and usually have a good idea of when a PR department is going to respond, and when they aren't. So, I just didn't want to waste my time, nor my readers' time"

 It takes about five seconds to discover just how much Cardinale respects journalism.

Once upon a time that attitude would have resulted in a shunning. Now, it gets a hearty pat on the back.

ADDENDUM: Just seconds after I publish, Creative Loafing's Thomas Wheatley publishes a story that indicates Reed may have pushed Glover out. Well, of course that makes a difference right? Absolutely. The difference is in Wheatley's last sentence.

We asked Mayor Kasim Reed's office why he and board members he appointed would like to see a change in leadership, as the AHA statement says. "We have no comment," replied a spokeswoman.

Because that's what the writer of a "good story" actually does.

Marketing vs. Reporting, Continued

As I noted last week, an Atlanta Journal Constitution staff report on the weather contained a marketing tag line for partner radio station WSB.

Doug Turnbull in the AM750 and now 95.5FM News/Talk WSB Traffic Center reported

Bold is theirs. Not mine. That's exactly how it appears on the AJC website.

I did a little follow up on this new curiosity.

According to the AJC's Public Editor, the tag line is the "descriptor" used to identify the partner station. I don't believe Shawn McIntosh understood my point that someone somewhere consciously made the decision to start including a marketing tool in every staff report. Also, playing it off as akin to following the AP style book is frankly a little weird.

I also contacted a former reporter for his opinion. His thoughts were that it probably did not cross an ethical line but it is "amateurish"  and "shilly". He also pointed out it has gone on far longer than I knew.

Here is a February 2011 report on a DUI suspect slamming a police officer head on,

"It appeared as though he was making a left-hand turn when in fact he was making a U-turn, going about 15 miles per hour, and collided head-on with one of our officers," Duncan told AM 750 and now 95.5 FM News/Talk WSB.

My question for my journalist readers; am I making a big deal out of nothing or does this bother you?

If you still work up Perimeter way, feel free to comment anonymously.

The Right Question

I really want to lay into Galloway for continuing to ignore hard working, honest voices in the Georgia political blogosphere while continuing to link, thereby passing along legitimacy, to the voice that called a sitting Supreme Court Justice a goat f*cking child molester and the voice who is a known non-discloser and peddler of falsehood, but then he shows why he is one of the best political writers in the bidness and my plan falls apart.

Following up on Nathan Deal's explanation that his use of the term "ghetto grandmothers" was being viewed out of context, Jim asks -

We called the Deal campaign and asked spokesman Harris Blackwood if he could explain under what circumstances a reference to “ghetto grandmothers” could be considered proper and in the correct context...Blackwood declined comment.

That was exactly the right question.

Prolific Pete, Peach Pundit and Pandering

Prolific Pete is back at Peach Pundit and not much has changed.

Pete notes that the "tipline" (i.e. Peach Pundit's "cover" to publish any wild ramblings of anonymous emailers) reported a new website aimed at drafting Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Jane Kidd for the 2010 U.S. Senate race.

...the tipline brings news of a website to draft Jane Vandiver Kidd, Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, to run in the upcoming U.S. Senate race against fellow liberal Johnny Isakson.

Of course it's Peach Pundit, so it must be noteworthy. AJC top political gun Jim Galloway picks up the story and adds this gem.

Take this seriously. As was the case in 2006, Democrats are extremely worried that a less-than-stellar candidate will jump in and win the top spot on the party’s ticket.

And if anyone had taken five minutes to call Kidd, as Athens Banner Herald's Blake Aued did, they would have discovered the entire story was pure fantasyland.

For years, I've argued blogs could be more than rumor and innuendo mills.

Maybe I was wrong.

Wingfield At It Again

The best suggestion for naming my new series is "My Morning Wingnut". But I can't do it. I can't possibly justify it. Kyle Wingfield is making my life hard and I don't know what to do about it.

Like this.

That’s why the opportunity for us to take the future of our civil-rights framework into our own hands is so valuable. While the Supreme Court might be able to temper public angst by issuing warnings before it acts, as it did last month, the better solution is for citizens and our elected representatives to take the initiative.

Criticize this? Hell! I could have written it!

Maybe wing nuttiness is acquired with age. Maybe I can find some way to slip Kyle a loony pill. Until that time, I doubt you'll see much ranting against the AJC's latest "wingnut".

One other thing. It's time to let a cat out of the bag. Although I'm pro-choice, he sums up my feelings on Roe v. Wade pretty well. Let the slings and arrows fly.

The Linking! Oh! The Linking!

I would never quote a blogger. ~GPB's Susanne Capaluto - June 7, 2007

...without the mainstream media, what are bloggers going to link to? ~ATLMalcontent (handle for a local print journalist) -March 15, 2009

Earlier this afternoon, the AJC linked directly to a TMZ story about Chastity Bono's transition from woman to man.

Tonight, the original link is gone, replaced by a link to AJC sister site Access Atlanta's story on the subject. Actually it's a link to the Access Atlanta story which is a copy of the Associated Press story.*

Yep.

Gonna have to think for a while about those in the traditional media who judge my ethics.

Yep.

Okay. Done.


*Yes, I know the AJC pays for access to AP stories. Please don't think I need that explained for the 100th time

Clippy

Remember when I said this?

The paper also wiped out the whole graphics department. One wonders if it was replaced by a monkey with access to Microsoft ClipArt.

It was a joke. No, really. Just a joke.

Another Small Step

The AJC keeps surprising me.

Last week, DecaturMetro pondered whether the re-jiggered media giant's new policy of showing all sources would extend to the online world.

Given many in the community spent the past three years attempting to convince members of the traditional media that online content has any value, expecting them to suddenly embrace one of our most cherished concepts seemed pie beyond the sky.

Then, last night Steve Visser posted an article on the potential closure of Decatur's Paste Magazine that not only credited Drive A Faster Car as the origin of the story but linked to the site.

To my knowledge, that's the first time an AJC staff writer outside of Jim Galloway linked to a non-traditional local media site.

That's one bridge crossed, but our expectation remains that it won't be the last.

And this moment of feel good does not mean the talons will remain sheathed if in the future the paper brings the crazy.

When The AJC Gets It Right

I certainly use the stick often enough so it's time for the carrot.

Cameron McWhirter's piece on John Oxendine's questionable fundraising is simply stunning.

If you want to read political analysis on this situation, check the Georgia Voices section to the right. I'll only say - this is exactly the type of story the paper does well and my goodness let us all pray we see more.

Today is also the first time I've seen the new "How We Got The Story" feature and it is brilliant. One of the tragedies of these waning days of newsprint is people do not understand how newspapers work. This veil of ignorance allows certain purveyors of the media is the enemy mantra to easily produce their shadow puppet shows of deceit.

Those three paragraphs explaining how McWhirter and others caught and produced the story benefitted the grand old fishwrapper more than any musings and grovelings by the seemingly endless supply of public editors.

No one knows if the re-design will save the AJC, but today certainly brings a glimmer of hope.

Georgia Politics Podcast Episode 22

Hit play or head to the Georgia Podcast Network to listen to episode 22 of the Georgia Politics Podcast.

Joseph, Catherine, Grayson, Larry and I talk about the Governor's race, the crazy Mayor of Dallas and of course, the AJC.

And I know. Cuomo was 92 not 88. With age comes addledness. It wouldn't be a podcast if I didn't misremember a date.

This and That

I'm baaaaaaaack.

Here are some things I've been pondering in my mini-sabbatical.

Has Peach Pundit turned into TMZ?

What the hell was Jay Bookman thinking?

Good to see The Newsman gets the same type of tepid response from the AJC powers-that-be as me.

Speaking of which, have you ever noticed instead of an ombudsman, the AJC has a "public editor". This nomencature explains much about why The Newsman and I receive such mealy-mouthed responses.

Last AJC bit - I hate to admit it but I kind of like the redesign. But in my travels, I've seen many gutted houses with pretty window dressing.

Found a new blog. Intown Writer. Given my recent fascination with the operations of Georgia Public Broadcasting, the latest entry is most interesting.

I think I may have a solution to our transportation problems. More on that later.

I will conclude my Tale of Captain Ballard and the Sunbeam.

All of these things and the usual doodads very soon. Breaks over.

Now, what's that rascal Jim Wooten been up to...

Good God

How many consultants does it take to destroy a venerable institution?

I wish I knew the punchline.

Dayum!

Jim Walls scoops his former employer.

Now about those changes...

More Insanity On Marietta St?

The blog Eye on Sports Media is reporting that AJC UGA beat reporter Chip Towers has been reassigned to General Assignment. Now, with no bureau or distribution in Athens, the obvious conclusion is Chip will cover Atlanta stories - from Bogart.

To twist the mobius strip further, it is alledged Atlanta stalwart Tim Tucker is now on the UGA beat- from Atlanta.

If that's truly the situation, things on Marietta St have truly entered the realm of the absurd.

Oh, What Changes You Will See

Bloody entrails on the table isn't evidence of an impending cure - it is evidence of a slow, painful evisceration.

But don't tell AJC Editor Julia Wallace.

With the ashes of the latest round of layoffs still warm, she has the audacity to use the word "proud" to describe the impending relaunch of the paper.

Apparently this "newsy" "flashy" new paper (didn't we already go through this with Ron Martin?) will be more responsive and local.

On the responsive front, Ms. Wallace chose to address her dwindling readers directly. Online. On Sunday. The one day where people actually still sit and clutch their gobs of dead tree.

But Ms. Wallace did more than navel gaze. She also promised to respond to comments and questions. Which she did. Exactly five times. Out of over 100 comments. And after explaining how endorsements work (gosh, I've never heard that pablum explanation via one of her Public Editor golems before), commenting was closed.

On the local front, things are even more Pythonesque.

A few days ago, an AJC Online headline screeched that a driver in a fatal accident had been charged. Surely, it must be a story of the horrific hit and run on Riverdale Rd.

No. It was in Arizona.

Then today, the always tittilating headline of an exotic dance taking a stiletto to the head of a coworker appears. Gosh, things must be getting a little wild at the Pink Pony.

Or in Ohio.

Salacious headlines to lure readers deeper into stories that have jack squat to do with Atlanta.

It makes one wonder how much of the alledged $1 million a week is spent on the latest hip and trendy consultants who hypnotize with subtle purrings of clicks per million and sticky pages.

Meanwhile, blood continues to flow on Marietta Street and all we hear is the next cut will be the cure. There is a certainty in those words - cut enough and the patient disappears - no longing needing restorative therapy.

I Ask Julia A Question

This Sunday, AJC Editor Julia Wallace explains the ongoing reorganization on Marietta St. She will also field questions.

I submitted one.

Ms. Wallace.

Given the reaction of the online community as well as the rise of such local websites as inDecatur and DecaturMetro while the AJC continued to close local bureaus, do you regret stating the following in 2007?

"Online, we will show that we know Atlanta best, providing superlative news and information and becoming the preferred medium for connecting local communities"

We'll see if it gets through moderation and if it does how much spin the answer will contain.

UPDATE: Still no answer.

At least I don't think there's an answer.

Perhaps I just can't find it in the AJC's hideous mix master commenting software.

The Woodshed

You think I'm a righteous sonofabitch when it comes to the AJC?

Then, you should read this.

And I agree with every damn word.

AJC Death Watch: The List

I'm going to say it again because it seems people either forget or ignore it all the time - it breaks my heart when people lose their jobs.

Scott Henry has the list of those taking the buyout (or forced to take the buyout) at the AJC. Sonia Murray. Phil Kloer. Terrence Moore. These are names even casual readers recognize. There's also Doug Nurse whom I had the pleasure of meeting when our paths crossed on The Love Shack saga.

But there's one name in particular I'd like to point out - Lea Donosky.

In my first encounter with traditional media animosity, Ms. Donosky not only defended the bloggers in the room, but also drew the comparison to Thomas Paine. I've used that analogy dozens of times over the years.

People with vision are rare - and they seem to be growing rarer in the newspaper industry.

In my mind, this list is a tipping point. At what point does a desperate industry cut so deep that the very talent which could save it is no longer there? We grow closer to the answer every day.

That Damned Liberal Media!

This was the front page of the AJC today yesterday. They did do a special section on the inauguration of President Obama, but...

via Pecannelog