News shrinkage
The N&O is again shrinking its print edition, just as it is again shedding news and editorial staff. Of more concern: the N&O’s role as the go-to source of political news in North Carolina is shrinking.
As I recall from this morning’s paper, there will be only two sections a couple of days a week. And the op-ed page won’t always be there. (Sorry I’m hazy on the details; I couldn’t find the story on the N&O website, which won’t surprise anyone who ever tried to navigate it.)
But the changes in the pages aren’t the biggest concern.
Case in point: Carter and I, because we are veritable fonts of wisdom (or at least, usable quotes), get two-three calls a week from political reporters this time of year.
But nearly all are from national reporters: AP, New York Times, Univision, NPR, Reuters, Roll Call, The Hill, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, McClatchy DC Bureau.
If North Carolina wasn’t a battleground state, would we get any political coverage?
In-state calls are usually from WRAL, Greensboro News & Record, Fayetteville Observer, Charlotte Observer. (Some mornings the N&O looks like The Charlotte Observer East.) And from The Daily Tar Heel, from smart, energetic journalism students. (Where will they end up?)
Only rarely from the N&O.
Now, this isn’t a criticism of the news staff. They’re understaffed and overworked. Rob Christensen, the state’s senior political reporter, is off writing a book.
The N&O, like many papers, is struggling to cover more with less. Its editors no doubt are making tough choices every day.
We don’t know the N&O’s financial condition. One old hand did post a long, disturbing story, “How Massive Cuts Have Remade The Denver Post,” and said it was “not unlike what’s happening” at the N&O.
It pains me to say all this. I love the N&O. It has been part of my life since my father went to work there as a printer when I was a tot. I worked there through high school, college and my early 20s.
All my years in politics, the N&O was the center of action. It was where you looked every morning to know what was going on – and who to call.
Today, not so much.
News shrinkage
The N&O is again shrinking its print edition, just as it is again shedding news and editorial staff. Of more concern: the N&O’s role as the go-to source of political news in North Carolina is shrinking.
As I recall from this morning’s paper, there will be only two sections a couple of days a week. And the op-ed page won’t always be there. (Sorry I’m hazy on the details; I couldn’t find the story on the N&O website, which won’t surprise anyone who ever tried to navigate it.)
But the changes in the pages aren’t the biggest concern.
Case in point: Carter and I, because we are veritable fonts of wisdom (or at least, usable quotes), get two-three calls a week from political reporters this time of year.
But nearly all are from national reporters: AP, New York Times, Univision, NPR, Reuters, Roll Call, The Hill, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, McClatchy DC Bureau.
If North Carolina wasn’t a battleground state, would we get any political coverage?
In-state calls are usually from WRAL, Greensboro News & Record, Fayetteville Observer, Charlotte Observer. (Some mornings the N&O looks like The Charlotte Observer East.) And from The Daily Tar Heel, from smart, energetic journalism students. (Where will they end up?)
Only rarely from the N&O.
Now, this isn’t a criticism of the news staff. They’re understaffed and overworked. Rob Christensen, the state’s senior political reporter, is off writing a book.
The N&O, like many papers, is struggling to cover more with less. Its editors no doubt are making tough choices every day.
We don’t know the N&O’s financial condition. One old hand did post a long, disturbing story, “How Massive Cuts Have Remade The Denver Post,” and said it was “not unlike what’s happening” at the N&O.
It pains me to say all this. I love the N&O. It has been part of my life since my father went to work there as a printer when I was a tot. I worked there through high school, college and my early 20s.
All my years in politics, the N&O was the center of action. It was where you looked every morning to know what was going on – and who to call.
Today, not so much.