With the Baltimore Examiner on the way out, where are we supposed to get our news now? the b? The Examiner may have been an object of derision among people looking for more than shallow sips of news, and from people adverse to a paper with a right-wing slant, but it brought some important things to the table in Baltimore.
For one thing, it brought another voice to a competition-starved market. For another, it offered job opportunities to relatively inexperienced writers and photographers. Unlike the Sun, it was a place where a Baltimore kid with a college degree and some experience in writing could get a job.
To get hired at the Sun, you have to be a journalism school grad, and you have to have already worked at a daily newspaper; and it helps if you’re not from Baltimore. With the death of the Exam, there going to be a lot of writers, editors, and photographers looking for jobs – and there are going to be fewer job oppotunities for bright young Baltimorians.
Things we’ll miss:
Though it’s been gone for a few months, we suppose this will mark a definitive end to the momentometer (pronounced moment-ah-mitter). This was the inexplicable, totally unscientific little graphic that the Exam ran on its “National Politics” page throughout the 2008 election cycle. Some days Hillary would have a blue arrow, pointing up; some days, McCain would get an orange arrow, pointing Northeast; sometimes Obama would get a yellow arrow pointing Southwest. The source of the momentometer’s whim went uniformly unattributed. We laughed at you every day, momentometer, and we’re going to miss you.
The Exam welcomed old Sun columnists – both the shamed (Olesker) and the heralded (Kane) — that we were all glad to see in print again. Where do those guys take their ideas and observations now? We were glad to read old Olesker again, even though some of us are still hurt by his misappropriation of phrases and ideas. (It was plagiarism, Michael – look up the definition in any university handbook.)
The real question today is, Where will we get our news? The Sun is ever-shrinking, even while it pours thousands into its patently retarded, pandering tween publication, “the b.” The Examiner was a cool, but short-lived idea. The City Paper has been doing rock-solid reporting for years, but it’s chock full of sex ads and – gasp – people with tattoos; that is, it’s an alternative weekly, and won’t ever serve a wide audience. The TV news is, well, TV news. What we’re left with is a tiny, ever-dwindling sliver of local news. It’s easy to find out what Barack Obama is doing. But who’s going to keep an eye on Jim Smith, Jim Harkins, David Craig, Shelia Dixon, and O’Gov’ner, not to mention the numerous other local government officials across the region?
yes it is sad to see the examiner close, had some good talent there. so i guess i wont be reading any news papers except the local stuff to get the obits and some sale papers
The Washington Times delivers in this area and is a good paper for National and international news. I dropped the Baltimore Eclipse when they mad their last format change and started the Times. I just have to have a morning paper.
Why is there not a Sunday am hcn network live panel show with guests, (pols), who have been active in the past weeks’ events…..food for thought.
Go Dagger !
“…patently retarded, pandering tween publication, the b.”
RichieC,
Good idea. Currently you can see many elected/appointed officials talk about the issues on cable. You can also watch HCN (Harford Cable Network) for updates from these same officials. These shows are all taped and can be seen several times a week or month depending on the format.
Your idea has merit. Can you imagine debates over home assesments, school board selection, right-to-carry, hotel tax, state and local budgets, and taxes? The list could go on and on. Sounds informative and even fun.
Only one problem, it makes common sense.
Dan:
How, in the name of all that’s good and holy, did you get into Government? I was under the distinct impression that Government folk didn’t understand common sense or logic.
I would absolutely love to see Mary D defend the appointed school board or Nancy defend her position of no additional taxes with respect to the hotel tax. Oh my God, the list could go on forever and then everybody would find out what really goes on. Maybe that’s the reason it doesn’t happen – the taxpayer would be able to hold the representative accountable.
I too am going to miss the Baltimore Examiner for some of the same reasons already mentioned…it brought balance to the Baltimore area. I loved the 10 worst ideas -(The dim bulb of the week), as well as the 10 Brightest ideas. The Examiner did not show favoritism- I have seen both major parties in the brightest and worst ideas. I liked to think the Examiner was evaluating the facts and then reporting them, what a novel idea. I hope Gregory Kane lands somewhere, he offers a refreshing and common sense perspective.
i’m going to miss it to, i might have to get a new job now
Dan…(good to see you)….common sense scares a lot of people. ( buy the way…all Marina issues have been settled….).
Go Dagger !
RichieC your holding out on us all. all Marina issue’s were settled ?
Getting calls about the Aegis closing up shop in a few weeks. Several people called to say they did not receive their paper and when they called the Aegis they got no answer. Others say they were referred to the Sun papers circulation desk.
Today, a constituent called my home and asked my wife what am I going to do about “saving” the Aegis. Do not know how true the reports are. Has anyone heard anything about the Aegis shutting down?
I know notice was given to subscribers (except me, curiously) recently that the Aegis would now be delivered by those who deliver The Sun – as a cost-cutting measure.
Not really that big of a deal, except for those who don’t get their Sunpaper delivered until late in the day, but it may portend things to come.
I think there trying’ harder for customer satisfaction. my aegis landed in a puddle of water. needless to say a phone call was made. I was delivered a fresh paper right up to the door.