Updates: The diaper turns, St. Cloud layoffs, Perkins, Jeter
Three updates, one newsy bit:
♦ Remember last week's story on Peter Bronson, the conservative Cincinnati Enquirer columnist who used a made-up photo — debunked years earlier by his own paper to rip Al Franken? Just days after the incident, Bronson was laid off. This may not have been related to PhotoGate; Bronson's pink slip came along with 100 others in another massive Gannett Co. downsizing. Apparently Enquirer editors pulled Bronson's good-bye, as they did with his original Franken item.
♦ Speaking of Gannett: The St. Cloud Times was nicked, not bludgeoned, amid the corporate ax-swinging. According to publisher Bill Albrecht, the Times lost four people building-wide. No reporters, editors or photographers, but a pre-press designer, proof runner, packaging supervisor and sales rep. The Times slipped the noose in part because cut 11 jobs after moving press operations to Maple Grove in May. Like many other papers, the Times is taking a much bigger bite out of production than elsewhere.
♦ Get ready for more goofy: KARE11 sports reporter Eric Perkins will become the station's weekend news anchor, replacing the far more expensive Rick Kupchella. On air, Perkins resembles an overexcited greyhound who'll knock you over rather than heel; can he sit still behind a desk for 30 minutes?
♦ You have to go way back in the memory banks for this one, but ex-Strib reporter Jon Jeter (who moved on to the Washington Post, where he was bureau chief in Africa and South America) has a new book out: "Flat Broke in the Free Market: How Globalization Fleeced Working People." It looks deeply at several people worldwide who reflect the thesis. Not surprisingly, DailyKos digs it.
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Dang! When I read the teaser with names Perkins and Jeter listed, I thought you'd be dishing dirt about the Yankees and Glen Perkins' sudden illness.
You know I've respected your work for years. Petty is not a word I'd ever used, until now, to describe your commentary, David. Cheap shots at Eric Perkins really don't become you. In fact, they reveal your ignorance about Perk's talent. He's anchored the news on Saturday Mornings for several years. He's knowledgeable, conscientious and can sit still for long periods of time. It's a shame if your view doesn't allow people to grow and try new things...otherwise you still be cranking out copy for City Pages.
Give him a chance and then comment. Criticizing the book before you read it, is really not fair.
It probably wasn't the lack of ethics that got Bronson canned. Maybe the rest of his output was just recycled tired banality and he was expendable.
Tom, I never said Perk lacked talent! It's just that he's so indelibly goofy (and oft-promoted as such!) Even when he anchors sports it looks like he will break out in a jig at any moment.
Just having a bit of fun; Perk seems to have a good sense of humor, so hopefully he minds less.
You're right, though, I have missed the Saturday morning stints, so my apologies on that score.
PS I could not sit still behind a desk for 30 minutes, even with commercial breaks. Especially on weekends.
David, you did not deserve the dressing down that Lindner gave you.
Perk is annoying to watch. The latitude KARE gives him is unbelievable especially after the quality talent they've cultivated over the years. Majors, Pierce (sp?), Paul Douglas.
I'm a big fan of enuciation, not something Perk excels at. Kupchella, while being more expensive, will prove to be the reason people watch on the weekends and not flip to other channels. You can save the $$ immediately, but it's like good shoes...spend the money up front, get quality footware, feet that don't hurt, and good solid wear whose return ultimately saves cash.
This is not to say Perk doesn't have his place. But to dress David down for pointing out the incredibly obvious, seems a bit over the top.
Mr. Carlson? loved your comments--spot on. From another baseball fan.