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 JANUARY 11 WOMEN’S MIDWINTER RETREAT 1:30 - 5 pm - Presented by: The Center Within Sisters of Charity Motherhouse, Mt. St. Joseph, situated on the hillside overlooking the Ohio River, offers us the beauty of winter. Winter is a time when the tree roots are growing in quiet hibernation, encouraging us as well to take time for prayer and inner reflection on the goodness and beauty of life within us. Come, join the circle of women on the journey of life during this midwinter season. We will together create sacred space, which includes: Song and Guided Prayer/ Reflection - Quiet Reflective time for Listening Within - Sharing our Stories (if you wish) - Celebrating our Lives Together in Ritual Led by: Kathleen Hartman Blackburn, Donna Steffen, SC, Mary Ann Humbert Held at: Rose Room at Sisters of Charity Motherhouse, 5900 Delhi Road, Mt. St. Joseph, OH 45051 - From River Road (50 West), turn Right onto Fairbanks, which becomes Delhi. Stay on Delhi until it deadends at the entrance to the Sisters of Charity Motherhouse. A parking lot is found just past the buildings. Use main entrance! Fee: $25. ($30. after Jan.3 (Mail Registration Below. Keep time, info, and directions. ) Checks/ Registration to: The Center Within, PO Box 6027, Cincinnati, OH 45206 Information: 513-751-3358, 513-681-8881, , http://www.TheCenterWithin.org |
JANUARY 19, 9 am - 4 pm ARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SERVICE FOR PEACE DAY
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January 28 6 pm - 7:30 pm
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Monday, July 31, 2006
Cincinnati Enquirer: Fire Paid Reporters, Solicit Free Non-Professional Submissions?
Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
What’s going on with The Enquirer’s writing staff? Are they firing quality reporters in exchange for a non-professional work-flow between the editors and motivated readers? On the one hand, it may feel empowering to allow citizens the ability to submit news to a major daily—but upon further inspection does the process hold?
According to an anonymous source who claims to work for the Enquirer, since Tom Callinan has become the Editor, the paper has lost many positions, including investigative reporting, computer-assisted reporting, one of our two reporting spots in Columbus, all but “the most repellent” of the columnists, the minority affairs reporter, the movie critic, the music writer, the writing coach, two medical writers, the environment reporter, two business reporters, the photo director, one librarian, and several clerk jobs.
Quite a mouthful, huh?
Also look at the names of solid reporters who no longer grace the Enquirer’s writing staff: under Callinan, the Enquirer has lost Kevin Aldridge, Tom O’Neill, Steve Herppich, Michael Snyder, Larry Nager, John Byczkowski, Ken Alltucker, Robert Anglen, James Pilcher, Cindi Andrews, Christy Arnold, Maggie Downs, and Marla Rose.
Where is everybody going?
Our source also offers another insight into Enquirer employment: “Because we are so obsessed with central planning and filling in calendars months ahead of time, we predictably have front-page stories about veterans on Memorial Day, kids on the first day of school, and the standard fare of Oktoberfest, Chilifest, Paddlefest, Maifest, Clevesfest, Goettafest, Reds fans, Bengals fans, funerals of teenage car-wreck victims, people booking out of town on three-day weekends and so on. Fortunately, in between we can bank on stories about hot weather, cold weather, gas price bellyaching, electric bill bellyaching, suburban sprawl bellyaching, traffic bellyaching, school bullying bellyaching, flu vaccine availability bellyaching and other worn-out topics to eat up news holes.”
Meanwhile, The Enquirer acts like it wants the average reader to have a voice—creating direct marketing schemes disguised as advisory panels.
But the latest Enquirer scheme could be the most scandalous of all—particularly when considered in the context of the brain drain described above: a new ”Community Publishing” option currently online at nky.com—and slated to potentially be released in Cincinnati in the upcoming months.
The online interface has a pretty specific filter to categorize reader submissions to maximize efficiency for paper editors. (To see screenshots of this submission process without creating an account, visit our NKY Screenshot Gallery.)
Is this the paper’s strategy for not only saving money, but also for the ultimate dumbing down of our intellectual environment? What kind of profile does the Enquirer expect to attract with their “Get Published!” options? Do most readers have the same kind of time and access for quality investigative journalism? (And if a reader did manage to provide such a report, is there any guarantee it would be published?)
From the surface, it looks like The Enquirer is trying to decimate the ranks of quality writers, and boil down their local coverage to announcements and feel good puff-stories authored by our neighbors. What better way to make people feel empowered about their loss of quality information? Maybe we won’t get a complicated report about the abuse of Area TIFs versus Project TIFs in Cincinnati—and what that means for local residents—but in exchange people get the thrill of knowing the person whose name appears in a print. Or even (sakes alive!) being published themselves!
Vanity press, meet major daily paper; major daily, meet vanity press.
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31 Jul 2006 at 01:49 pm | #
I totally agree, Jason. The Enquirer is fast on its way to becoming just anouther shitty hobby tabloid blog staffed by amateurs, adolescents and boy-band drop-outs.
31 Jul 2006 at 02:12 pm | #
And The Beacon is on its way to becoming the most credible provider of Cincinnati political news.
How ironic!
31 Jul 2006 at 03:11 pm | #
ouch!
01 Aug 2006 at 07:18 am | #
You don’t think the Cincinnati Beacon has anything to do with vanity news, does it?
Is this the pot calling the kettle racially divisive?
Why was the beacon established?
Anytime we can get the elephant dung ink to change it’s color, it is a good thing !
The fired reporters where probably found to be registered Democrats.
The fishwrap is taking lessons from the Rove state street boys.
01 Aug 2006 at 09:24 am | #
The unfortunate thing is how these comments distract from the article’s point, and lead nowhere. Whatever you think of this blog is less significant than what The Enquirer is doing to the information environment of our region.
It looks like they are systematically dumbing everying down in an attempt to cut corners.
01 Aug 2006 at 09:24 am | #
Do you think the fishwrap will publish the fact that the conservative wRong wing are to embarrassed to show their face in Hamilton County, so they sneak out of state to drink beer and stroke their putters:
Hamilton County Republican Club
ANNUAL GOLF OUTING
AUGUST 14, 2006
HIDDEN VALLEY GOLF CLUB
SHOTGUN START 12:00 PM
(PLEASE BE THERE BY 11:30AM)
$100.00 (PER PERSON)
TEAMS OF FOUR
INCLUDES:
LUNCH, BEER, POP, WATER, CART, DINNER
AND ALL THE FUN YOU CAN HANDLE
TO PARTICIPATE PLEASE CONTACT EITHER:
CHERYL VEST 652-9559 OR VINCE WALLACE 677-8220
(PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE)
Paid for by the Hamilton County Republican Club Leadership PAC, Debra Flammer, PAC Treasurer, 700 Walnut Street, Suite 309, Cincinnati, OH 45202
01 Aug 2006 at 09:37 am | #
I hate the fishwrap, but, I think guest writers is a good thing. It is a defensive move. Had you been able to voice to their readership you may not have become a threat with the Beacon.
It is Darwin at it’s best.
The post was relevant. I question the political positions of those fired. That is where the story may rest.
They only dumbing down is by your interpretation of the firings. The rag is a loser and as long as they are bias they get none of my money.
They are at the end of their growth curve. Their readership will remain at it’s current level no matter what they print. It then becomes a matter of economics.
You need to look at the meat and quit trying to constantly toss the salad. Who cares what they do and why would you want to help the wRong wing nuts stay in business.
Do you have a counsulting contact with the rag !
Or:
Do you bash them to elevate your ego justification ?
01 Aug 2006 at 10:01 am | #
There may be more than two options, Freedom Fighter.
Guest writers may be a good thing, but does the Enquirer have a track record of giving diversity a platform? I don’t think so, and I believe, therefore, that they will edit away those kinds of voices.
Who cares what they do? Anyone concerned with the level of critical mass achieved in our region. The bottom line is that they are still the biggest circulator of news and views. Of course I am concerned with what they do; it influences my life and my environment.
I actually believe what I wrote above—namely, that they are trying to make people feel involved while soliciting non-threatening content for free to justify running the talent out of the place.
01 Aug 2006 at 10:47 am | #
Kevin Aldridge is/was a “solid reporter”? Good God man, you’re kidding right? Other than obligatory Black Reporter covering Black Events reportage, what did Aldridge do other than uncritically promote Alicia Reece?
01 Aug 2006 at 11:12 am | #
Some points valid !!
They have a readership of 380,000, I suspect the evening TV news receives a larger share of, what 1.5 million, area residents ?
Some of us are unprofessional writers, yet, a voice !!
There is no doubt the rag will continue with their bias, but, I’m an older individual and I’ve seen society change and frankly it will be the internet that will send the fishwrap down the river.
The delivery is cheaper, faster, and can be more open !!
I suspect you will get the news anyway and I also suspect you question what you read in the fishwrap.
If they were serving the public, I would not be at your site.
Don’t take your role so lightly. Capture market share !!
Do you think they read your blog?
What does your site stats tell you !!
The wRong wing wackos are visiting my site everyday !
I’m just having fun, trying to speak freely !!
No one makes it easy !!
01 Aug 2006 at 11:18 am | #
I know the TV news has more sets reached than the Enquirer delivers in papers—but I always figured the impact of having people read as opposed to take in rapid-fire snapshots would still make the paper more influential in some regards…
01 Aug 2006 at 11:30 am | #
Not so !
I have not had a subscription to the rag for over 32 years. They are bias and get none of my money.
I still consider myself to be semi-informed and the internet has gotten more individualls involved in the news and what is happening.
This generation is at a turning point. When I was your age there was no outlet.
Before the internet can you imagine how difficult it would be to get any press ?
Now the internet can drive the press.
You are to be commended.
By the way your hindlick stauk was just fabulous !!
You need to talk to Senator Kearney about how to make your efforts self sufficient.
It is not a sellout to make your efforts profitable.
01 Aug 2006 at 11:32 am | #
TV news doesn’t cover politics in any real way. I think fox 19 gave 45 seconds to the candidates in the last Mayors race, none to council and I don’t remember for commisioner, but we will see soon.
01 Aug 2006 at 11:40 am | #
Just a thought !
Expand your website. Make the blog one portion. Invite those fired as guest writers and run the fishwrap to the recycle bin.
Incorporate and offer the guest writers pre IPO issues in exchange for content.
Do you realize how many yahoo’s were created that way ?
01 Aug 2006 at 11:41 am | #
IPO?
01 Aug 2006 at 12:00 pm | #
It would be an interesting study to compare the fishwrap subscriptions to the registered voter base. What percent r and what percent D !!
01 Aug 2006 at 12:03 pm | #
Initial Public Offering !!
Oh my ! You need a CEO !
01 Aug 2006 at 12:59 pm | #
When did the Enquirer have a IPO and how do you need a CEO?
01 Aug 2006 at 05:08 pm | #
Cin Weekly is the Enquirer’s REAL idea of a newspaper. Pages after pages of minutia. Nothing of any depth, as if its targeted readers can’t handle or could care less about deeper issues found in Citybeat once in a great while. Vapid stories that hold your attention for seven seconds. Ads and more ads. I think they only print stories to fill the spaces between the ads.
01 Aug 2006 at 06:46 pm | #
When did the Enquirer have a IPO and how do you need a CEO?
One would have to know the corporate structure, which you do not. The fishwrap was purchased by a parent company which is a publicly traded entity.
Now, your point ?
Can you name the parent company ?
01 Aug 2006 at 07:00 pm | #
Dear Enquirer Advisory Panelist,
Thank you for your continued support of The Enquirer Advisory Panel.
We hope you’ll enjoy sharing your opinions in our latest panel survey, which will ask for your feedback on feature section content and advertising effectiveness.
Click here to take the survey
Thank you for your participation.
Sincerely,
Jordan Riley, Panel Director
The Enquirer Advisory Board
Have they cleaned up their act. Did the internet drive the rag toward disclosure ??
01 Aug 2006 at 07:32 pm | #
I have yet to see the Enquirer put any real energy into the black community. Kevin Aldridge was very limited in both what he could report and how he could report it.
02 Aug 2006 at 06:37 am | #
Freedom Fighter,what’s your point? It’s owned by Gannett.Their IPO was in 1969. Long before they owned the Enquirer. Gannett owns over 90 daily newspapers in the US. They have operations around the world Why even mention the IPO?
02 Aug 2006 at 11:18 am | #
The Enquirer is our finest and indeed only morning newspaper!
02 Aug 2006 at 03:42 pm | #
Geeeeeeeee Reg !!
What’s the matter did we bruse your little ego ??
Did you have to do some research ??
It was mentioned merely to get under your, gReg, “it’s all about me, now let me mislead the way, I have rejection problems to deal with” wRong wingnut skin !!
What a useless piece of schmidt !!
02 Aug 2006 at 06:49 pm | #
Freedom Fighter, I see you’re keeping your string going of utterly useless comments. HAve you ever answered a question directed at you? I ask you “what IPO?” and some how you translate this to my bruised ego? You’re the one that brings up things such as IPO’s,CEo’s & lawsuits for some reason When questioned on this you just go in some other bizarre direction with the same meaningless “wRong wingnut” and “piece of schmidt”’ Try adding something of substance to the discussion rather just throwing in words you see on TV
02 Aug 2006 at 09:42 pm | #
Geeeeeee Reg
Once again you think everything should revolve around you and that you somehow deserve some consideration. You don’t !!
You do not have a clue !!
Since, you want to take a conservation in your direction perhaps you should have been there !!
The comments were not directed to you and I’m certain the comments were absorbed by those in the know !!
You, my friend are clueless !!
MOVEON.org
03 Aug 2006 at 10:22 am | #
Freedon Fighter, your string is intact!!
03 Aug 2006 at 11:36 am | #
Geeeeeeee Reg
Yours is definitely lose !!
Now, I tired of baby sitting. Cut the umbilical cord and moveon.org !!