A daily comparison
As of the timestamp on this post, the top story on the Seattle Times website is about the State Corrections Department being fined for withholding information from a watchdog group [times].
The top story on the P-I’s website is…well, let me just reproduce the headline verbatim:
“Little celebrity love for Paris Hilton” [p-i]
Below this story are links to three separate P-I stories on the latest in Paris-dom and a further link to pictures of her.
So, to be clear, the editors at the P-I believe that a story about how celebrities (who don’t live in this state) aren’t lining up in support of Paris Hilton (who, as far as I know, doesn’t have any ties to this region) is more newsworthy and more important than any of the hundreds of relevant, non-sensational stories that are currently circulating.
Could someone please remind me why we wanted to remain a two paper town? Was it because we wanted a variety of points of view? I’m no fan of the back-asswards Times editorial board but, man, now that the P-I is totally and wholly a tabloid I wish they would’ve held a press conference announcing the change so I could at least stop hoping for something better from them. Whether you think having a tabloid masquerading as a serious newspaper is a positive change or not is up to you. Personally, as a former employee of both papers (display advertising), and an idealist at heart, the P-I’s fall from respectability is a serious disappointment.
Well, just to ask the obvious question…
Would you rather a two paper town where both had the exact same headline and the exact same stories?
Not that I want to read more about Paris, but…
Hmm. Be careful. I think of you guys as the PI of the SEATTLE CITY BLOG WAR vs. Seattlest (which makes them the Times).
John - Does having different stories necessarily mean one paper has to choose Paris/Anna Nicole over issues that might matter (or at least are less sensational)? I believe there are a lot of stories out there that deserve to be told and going with the tabloid story du jour is the easy way out.
J - I’m going to go commit ritual suicide now. Thanks.
Well, there’s something for everyone you know. Where I work Paris is THE topic, so whatever. They can have it. It really is what some people want to read. Sad.
Well, there’s something for everyone you know. Where I work Paris is THE topic, so whatever. They can have it. It really is what some people want to read. Sad.
I tend to view newspapers as a public trust. Therefore, my expectations for them are pretty lofty (NPR/PBS-like, in fact). Unfortunately, the corporations that own these newspapers view them as profit centers. Profit wins the day, of course.
I’ll say it again: The P-I is well on its way to becoming the New York Post of Seattle. Obviously, I’m disappointed by that. Maybe most people don’t care.
I’ve long hoped that the P-I *would* become a tabloid. I’m with John–who wants two papers with the same outlook?
New York City has one SERIOUS newspaper, and three tabloids, and they seem to be getting by ok.
If you want your newspaper to be as scrupulous and serious as NPR, you’d better prepare yourself for Seattle Times Pledge Drive Week.
I say, put Paris on the front page! And page 2 is Kathy Goertzen in a bikini!
Fair enough. I look forward to the press conference officially announcing their tabloid status. Although, you’d think The Stranger and Weekly already fill that niche and the last thing the city needs is another pop culture gossip rag (and “oh by the way, we report and take editorial stances on important news stories, too.”). Of course, I type this acutely aware that our respective blogs aren’t much different.