Aug 31, 2012

The Morning Call's Delusion

It's becoming harder and harder to be a print paper junkie. My paper used to come at five in the morning, proper time for ink and coffee. Delivery now is at seven, but I don't complain. Although late, the carrier now is reliable, more than I can say about her predecessors. Once you trained puppies with newspaper, now the newspaper trains it's readers. Because of this new schedule, I'm forced to purchase a digital subscription, and finally glance at the hard copy several hours after morning coffee. On Wednesday, the Morning Call informed me that I should be grateful that I'm still getting the pulp edition seven days a week. The Harrisburg Patriot-News is cutting back to three day publishing.
Morning Call Publisher Timothy E. Ryan said his newspaper, with a combined print and online weekly penetration of 70 percent of Lehigh Valley adults, is "committed to providing comprehensive seven-day-a-week coverage."
Mr. Ryan, in all due respect, although you put out the paper seven days, it's been many years since the paper has been "comprehensive." Monday's paper has been like a grade school Weekly Reader for a decade. Considering that you only have one reporter on duty over the weekend, your Saturday, Sunday and Monday material is formulated on Friday. When you switch to three days it should be an easy transition.

18 comments:

  1. Ryan takes people for complete fools.
    The MCall is on the verge of collapse. The group that owns the Express Times is considering if it is worth assuming the MCall debt load and buying it when it goes on the block. Knowledgeable observers see this unfolding relatively soon. The Express Times sees the MCalls Allentown printing facility as a useful asset but has concerns about the acquisition of the greater corporate train wreck.
    It's all over but the goodbyes Ryan.
    Sad for the region. It was once a real newspaper. A fine newspaper.

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  2. Your paper has sadly become a rag Ryan,and every literate reader over the age of 13 knows it. Who the hell you kidden?

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  3. Would we really miss the liberal rag? Stories on gorging? Cheerleaders for anything associated with the Democrat party? Just like Hess Brothers, the real MC is never coming back.

    PS - no need to buy a digital subscription, just clear your cookies and read on!

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  4. although I have never been shy about criticizing the morning call, most of what i know about current events in allentown I learn from it's pages. many posts on this blog have been reactions to articles in the paper. i have been a full price subscriber for 35 years. although i know that people avail themselves of the free specials, etc., i appreciate that we still have a paper, and will continue to pay the toll.

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  5. The gag has been done for years, the only reason I say that is because this paper gags the public. There is always storis that are just printed as propaganda to cover local political parasites trax. As one that has been reading the gag for years I know that with any local breaking news the truths have been edited out.

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  6. The fine reporters like Grossman--the great art reviewers like Jeff---the brilliant editorial staff led by that wonderful man Glen---gone. All gone. Even the best young ones of the last few years,gone. Goodbye Ms Lash.
    My hats off to those few professionals still left. We all know who they are. God bless them.
    How does a community survive,how does democracy work without a free & vigorous press?
    These are dark times.

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  7. In the event you have Mr.Ryans attention: yesterday and todays front pages,8/30,8/31 are dominated by large,thoughtly uninspired photos.With the large masthead and the extra large print,uninspired headline(WE CAN DO THIS) and an advertisement,about 2/3's of the front page is used.
    This doesn't rise to the level of basic mediocrity for a small town newspaper. A local murder,a front page B section local news story,is the only reporting.
    This is a sub-literate front page,an insult to any reader with a 9th grade education.
    You can pretend to find this exceptable Mr.Ryan,but I'll bet you know better.
    This paper treats the regions readership with contempt.

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  8. @3:55, considering that the paper has closed all it's satellite offices, and greatly reduced staff, we're lucky to still get a paper, much less be concerned with the graphic layout. most small towns no longer have papers.

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  9. So...you put up a post ridiculing the Morning Call...and then you defend it against all commenters ridiculing it.

    Alrighty then.

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  10. @5:54, i criticize things based on facts, and sign my name. that doesn't oblige me to be associated with meritless potshots, submitted anonymously

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    Replies
    1. I'll talk allentown history MM and sign my name just a little clip though remember the Caboose. Than there was the Pennsyilvania Resturant, one had nothing to do with the other though the morning call articles if they can be found hardly state the truth if any of the facts were published.
      This has bareing on the moronic gag today and the big boys walking away?
      Wikapedia/unsolved arson


      REDD

      Delete
  11. I see some strong words and hard feelings expressed. Some colored by ideology some not.Some quite informed.
    I do not see "meritless pot shots". Perhaps MM you would be kind enough to point them out?
    Often you post facts as you interpret them, other times your personal opinion-same as your commenters.
    You cranky reaction is perplexing.

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  12. @9:13, REDD might be your pen name, but i doubt that it's your birth name.

    @5:37, my comment of 5:48pm points out a pot shot. on the other hand, i have called the news desk on the weekends, and know about the skeleton staff. that's not to say that i'm never inconsistent, but as i often stated, i'm more tolerant of comments signed by verifiable names, as opposed to anonymous shots, often mistakenly associated with the only signed name, mine.

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    Replies
    1. Most people know me and I make no bones about it and you know my ip #. On the gags/wfmz I am the rabbit truth or consiquence I am who I am. In a few short years I am able to finger the most corrupt organization that ever sat over the people in allentown pa and the paper is part of the players, bend the public over and stick it to them most are cancer as the king said publicly?


      REDD

      Delete
  13. MC reporter Malone's coverage of the Water Works privatization session left readers with the distinct impression that the council chamber was packed with supporters and critics of privatized water,not 10% for and 90% against the sell off,closer to the truth.
    That Malone didn't know the players or the city hardly matters. Fact is it was down right disinformation--lousy journalism. One more indication of this newspapers steep decline.

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  14. Redd, fyi, this blog does not monitor ip#'s or track those who comment in any way. the cancer remark was not made by pawlowski, but by a supporter of the arena project. you remain anonymous to me, and i moderate comments submitted to this blog

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  15. I am still trying to understand even a supporter or one of the kings men can politically get away with such a remark in a 90 %+ minority town? This thing they call king to have this type in his corner is still sitting in a public oppointed seat in america today. Yet the minorities on his counsil still will rubber stamp anything this thing that is there king?

    REDD

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  16. The morning call has a stock photo,extra large,a third grade headline and almost no news of any consequence on its front page many days.

    This isn't a "pot shot",it's a statement of fact.

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ANONYMOUS COMMENTS SELECTIVELY PUBLISHED. SIGNED COMMENTS GIVEN MORE LEEWAY.