Arizona's Own Espresso Pundit

Is this a Surprise?

WASHINGTON A new report finds that about one-third of the people living in the nation's capital are functionally illiterate.

Does that surprise you?  Dude, watch C-Span for like 20 minutes.

Talton Gone, Ruelas, Madrid Reassigned

Republic "Business" columnist Jon Talton has resigned.

This is a note to tell you that I’ll be leaving the Arizona Republic within the next two weeks. My column is being eliminated as part of the reorganization from a print and online newspaper to an Information Center. I chose not to accept other opportunities that the company offered. As a result, Susan and I will be leaving Phoenix soon to chase our next adventures.

I mentioned a couple weeks ago that the five Republic columnists--Talton, Roberts, Ruelas, Montini and Thompson--were vying for three slots.  I predicted that Talton wouldn't make the cut and I assumed that Thompson would retire.  I was half right.  Talton is gone and Ruelas accepted a position as a feature writer. 

David Madrid's tenure at Plugged In was short lived and he's being reassigned as well.

Talton was miscast from the beginning.  His three columns ("Phoenix sucks move to Denver", "Globalization and Hyper-capitalism will take your job" and "Phoenix is a pyramid scheme organized by the Real-Estate Industrial Complex) would have been fine as commentary on the Daily Kos, but they were inappropriate for the Business Columnist at the state's paper of record. 

I wish Jon luck in his future endeavors.  Maybe he can move to Denver and recycle his old "Phoenix Sucks Move to Denver" columns.  The Denver Chamber of Commerce will be thrilled. 

 

Sexing it Up

I the previous post, I referred to Sunday the Viewpoints piece that Tim McGuire wrote about the future of the newspaper industry.  McGuire is the Chair of Business Journalism at ASU's Journalism school.  That's the group that puts together the State Press and trains the journalists of tomorrow. 

McGuire weaves a theme that resonates with journalists into his article...we are different.  Gathering news isn't like making burgers or fixing pipes.  We are part of a higher calling. 

Here's a good example.

No matter how much you enjoy beating up the print media, and no matter how many times the newspaper industry shoots itself in the foot with plagiarism, fabrication and conflict-of-interest scandals, for the past 50 years, American newspapers have been our newsgathering stalwarts.

It is newspapers that uncover scandals like the one at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. It is newspapers that have been out front on social change, repeatedly holding government accountable and attempting to avoid celebrity obsession.

"Newsgathering Stalwarts?"  That was Sunday, but this is Monday.  Here's the cover of Monday's State Press.

It's still technically winter, but that didn't stop record-high, summer-like temperatures from heating up spring break in the Valley.

Here's the Caption for the picture.  HEATWAVE: English senior Jenna Schaeffer lies by the pool at her Tempe home Sunday afternoon.

Her Tempe home?  This woman's not even on campus.  But I'm sure Mr. McGuire is telling his students how Western Civilization will collapse if they don't continue in the Journalistic Priesthood.

All Aboard!

Sunday's Viewpoints section had an interesting story about the decline of the newspaper industry "Writing off Newspapers is Premature, Irresponsible."

The article was written by Tim McGuire who retired from the Minneapolis Star Tribune in 2002.  McGuire writes from experience.  The "Strib" as it is known in the Blogosphere is one of the weakest and most biased major papers in the country.  In fact, McClatchy just sold the Strib...and it didn't work out so well. 

McClatchy Co. swung to a $279.3 million loss in the fourth quarter as it sold its largest newspaper, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and faced further weakening in the advertising market.

McGuire tries address industry critics like myself. 

Critics lament declining circulation and a dramatic loss of advertising, especially classified ads. They scold the newspaper industry for an assortment of sins, including the failure to recognize the digital revolution, journalistic self-indulgence, greedy harvesting of profits and arrogance.

Hmm, Arrogant, self-indulgent, greedy?  That may be true, but that's not my issue with the newspaper industry...after all, I'm trying to become a lawyer.  The issue is arrogance combined with bias.

McGuire then appeals to the glorious past in an effort to shore up the future. 

No matter how much you enjoy beating up the print media, and no matter how many times the newspaper industry shoots itself in the foot with plagiarism, fabrication and conflict-of-interest scandals, for the past 50 years, American newspapers have been our newsgathering stalwarts.

It is newspapers that uncover scandals like the one at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. It is newspapers that have been out front on social change, repeatedly holding government accountable and attempting to avoid celebrity obsession.

It reminds me of this letter that the Passenger Rail Corporation sent to the nation's travel agents announcing the formation of Amtrak.

That's a great sentence isn't it..."Amtrak" sent a "letter" to "travel agents."  If you are in college today, the previous sentence makes about as much sense as "President Garfield rode a carriage to the tannery."

Here's the letter. 

NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION
April 28,1971

Dear Travel Agent:

A new era in America rail travel is beginning, and we want you to be a vital part of it.

That's why we're sending you the enclosed poster - - to introduce you and your clients to AMTRAK, America's first nationwide passenger rail system,chartered by Congress as the National Railroad Passenger Corporation to operate intercity passenger trains throughout the United States starting May 1, 1971. (You've heard us called "Railpax" until now, but our new name and service mark have been created to express the dynamic changes that are already underway.)

You'll soon see the new service mark emblazoned on AMTRAK trains across the country and on new railway uniforms,tickets,baggage checks, timetables and other informational material.

It's the symbol of many wonderful improvements to come - - not all of them overnight,but gradually and steadily - - on our nation's revitalized passenger railroads.

It's also the symbol of the new thinking we're giving to the role of the travel agent in building domestic travel. We know how important travel agents are, and while we're still busy gathering our perfessional staff together, we're giving serious study to how your role in America rail travel can be broadened significantly. We very much appreciate your patience during this transition period and you'll hear from us soon.

In the meantime,let your clients know that you are ready to serve them with all their domestic travel needs. Display the AMTRAK emblem. We're going to make you proud that you did.


Sincerely,
David W. Kendall
Chairman of the Board

I May be Small, But at Least I'm not Fast

I'm back On-line.  Here's our Canyon Group Shot.  My son is next to me on the left.  He was born during my first term in the House and folks still ask me how he's doing.  He'll be taller than me in about a week.  That's David Schweikert on the right.  It doesn't bother me that he beat me out of the Canyon by about an hour.  I'm used to that.  But it does bother me that his WIFE beat me out of the Canyon by about an hour.   

No Wi-Fi at Phantom Ranch

I'm hiking the Grand Canyon this weekend.  So I won't be posting again until Sunday.

Major Changes at the Republic

Espresso Pundit readers know that the newspaper industry is in a steep decline.  Circulation is down at all the major daily newspapers as readers migrate to cable and the web.  Profits are still high, but the costs are rising, advertising rates are plunging while classified ads are being replaced by ebay, Craigslist and the Audotrader.

The industry has responded by cutting costs and recognizing that the web is the future.  The print edition is no longer the primary focus, yet the business model and cost structure are designed to deliver a 3 pound bundle of paper on 400,000 door steps 365 days a year.  The concept has become obsolete, but inertia keeps the process going. 

In its latest cost-cutting effort, the Republic is experimenting with a redesigned paper that will appear on Mondays.  Last week I broke the story that the Republic is planning to abandon the Valley and State section. 

On Monday, Republic Editor Ward Bushee provided a front page explanation of the changes. 

Bushee's article reads like it was written by the Marketing Department in a Dilbert strip, so I thought it would be appropriate for me to translate it for you.  Bushee is in blue and my translation is in black below.

Starting next week, look for fresh, streamlined Monday print edition

I know you are rushed on Mondays, so I'll make this quick.

Hello?  Is this mic on?

We have been working for many months to create the kind of Arizona Republic that will fit your busy life on the busiest day of the week.

Circulation is in free fall because no one bothers to read the paper and we were thinking that if we made the articles really short, you still won't read them, but it will cost a lot less to print it.

Next Monday, you will find a Republic that is quicker with news and richer with essential information.

Dude, the articles are going to be really short.  (That's actually a great line.  The next time my kids need to turn in a 5 page paper but they only have enough stuff for one or two pages, I'm going to have them tell the teacher that their paper is "richer with essential information.")

The front section will be reported, edited and designed for busy people like yourself.

We are going to use AP stories, student reporters and Indian copy editors.  Real Indians, like from India.  We are going to email the stories to them and they are going to assemble the paper and email it back.  They work for, like $5 a day and these Union guys are killing me. 

The Sports and Living sections also will be edited for readers who want an express lane to the news

The articles are going to be really short.

but who need their favorite sections to be the destinations they can return to when they feel less rushed.

We are keeping the Dillard's ads.

Here are some things you will find new on March 19:

• Front section: The main news will include more reports from the nation and world,

We are going to get a ton of stuff off the wire.  Sure, you read it all On-line yesterday, but this is really cheap. 

crafted into a carefully edited format that will also include local and business news, weather and opinion pages.

"Carefully edited" is going to be important because the student reporters keep using "like" instead of "said."  As, in "The Governor was all like she's going to veto that bill on account of Jim Waring sponsored it."  Of course, the Indian guys keep using funny words like "behaviour, labour, whilst and learnt."  And, by the way, what's a "lorry."

A quick and forward-looking format will address the top regional and state stories.

Have I mentioned that the articles are going to be really short?

Business pages will set the table for the workweek

We are dumping Talton...

and focus on consumer needs. 

...and running endless stories about people who save money by clipping coupons and cutting their own hair. 

A new Opinions page will set the local agenda for the week ahead

Set the local agenda?  OK, we're kidding, we haven't set the local agenda since, like the Carter Administration...before talk radio, Fox News, Rush and the blogosphere.   Of course, we got rid of Mecham which was cool. 

and introduce some bright new ways for you to be heard in the community conversation.

We are replacing the editorials with letters to the editor and My Turn Columns.  After all, they are free and aren't as likely tick off advertisers.  But don't tell Linda Valdez, she may leave for a high paying job as a...OK, who am I kidding, she's not going anywhere. 

• Sports: Arizona's most complete look at weekend sports results and analysis will be expanded to include more insider and behind-the-scenes information from our beat reporters and columnists on the Suns, Diamondbacks, Cardinals and Coyotes, as well as the ASU Sun Devils and Arizona Wildcats.

People still read sports, so we are keeping the Sports page intact.    

• Simple Arizona Living: Your new Living section will read like a magazine in its elegant content and style.

Hey, did you hear that Britney Spears didn't wear panties last week and then she shaved her head?

Simple Arizona Living will be devoted to helping you plan the week ahead. Among the features will be advice on ways to save money, get organized and bring some ease into your life. Comics and TV listings, a favorite destination for many readers, will be included in the section.

This section will be exactly like the business section except the articles will be longer and written for a higher grade level.  Notice that none of these "features" involve "news." 

• Classified: Classified and cars.com will be included in one section for your convenience.

Craigslist is free and searchable while our ads are expensive and hard to use throwbacks to the day when we had a monopoly and if you wanted to sell your lawnmower or advertise your yard sale, you had to call us and pay $25 for three lousy lines of fine print and sure, you could complain about it, but what were you going to do, put up a sign on the phone pole by your house?  But all that is gone now and the only people who read classified ads in an actual newspaper are the people in Sun City who are looking for a good deal on a used respirator, and our ads are still expensive and not searchable, so we decided to at least put them all in one section. 

We are grateful to hundreds of our readers who participated in surveys and discussions as we developed our new concept. Look for it each Monday, starting next week.

Please, Please, Please, don't cancel your subscription

- Ward Bushee, Editor

Ward Bushee, Community Conversation Enhancement Facilitator

Closing the Circle

Where does East meet West?  So called "scientists" claim the world is round, but most of the roads I see are flat.  Political scientists claim the political spectrum is linear, and indeed, it looks like a straight line, but it too is round.  I have discovered where the ends meet. 

Former State Treasurer Carol Springer is a great example of the Republican end of the spectrum.  She's conservative to the point of being Libertarian on fiscal issues and that Libertarian bent leads her to be adamantly pro choice on the social issues.   What happens if you step into hyperspace and reach into the dark beyond Carol Springer?  You will grab a hand coming from the other side of the spectrum.  That hand belongs to Phoenix Democratic Senator Ken Cheuvront.  Cheuvront and Springer are indistinguishable on the issues.

Here's a great example of Cheuvront's handiwork.  I think it's great when a Democrat puts the economic development wing of the Republican Party to shame with comments like this one about the new CityNorth Project. 

The $100 million dollar giveaway will allow this project to move forward, while other viable retail developments will not be built in the area because they will not be able to compete with the city subsidy.

Over the last two years, I have unsuccessfully tried to pass legislation that would create a financial penalty for municipalities in the Phoenix metropolitan area that give tax incentives to retail projects.

What Was Your First Clue?

I thought this was an interesting story.

A former sailor was arrested Wednesday for allegedly releasing classified information that ended up in the hands of a suspected terrorism financier.

Hassan Abujihaad, 31, of Phoenix, was arrested there on charges of supporting terrorism with an intent to kill U.S. citizens and transmitting classified information to unauthorized people.

The guy's name used to be Paul Hall.  We don't really know when he changed it, but it's pretty clear that someone in the story is not too bright. 

Can you imagine going to the Navy recruiter's office and saying that your name was Paul Hall but that you have changed it to Abujihaad and you would really like to get a job on a war ship?

Conversely, if your name is Paul Hall and you have this great Navy job that gives you access to all sorts of information that you can supply to your friends at Al Qaeda in furtherance of the Jihad, do you think it's a good idea to change your name to Abujihaad?

Newfangled Technology

My new house has cable, which is nice.  My wife says that the old house had cable, but it was just the local broadcast channels plus TBS.  That's one step below "basic" cable...I think it was called "primitive" cable.  The new cable has music stations and I noticed that they have the three main genres...Rock, Classic Rock and Arena Rock.  I may like cable.