Monthly Archives: January 2009

The buzz on Jewel, John and Mon

Posted on January 30, 2009 by admin

By Joel Thurtell The buzz in the barbershop last week was all Monica and Jewel. From reading the newspapers, you might think Detroit City Council President Monica Conyers was as good as behind bars. And that Wayne County Commissioner Jewel … Continue reading →

Posted in Bad government, JC & Me | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Hors d’ouvre — oops, au revoir, Queen Caroline

Posted on January 30, 2009 by admin

Dear Diary, It’s been, you know, a week now since I sort of pulled my, like, name out of the, you know, ring. All those dumbo journalist types have sort of like tried to figure out like why did I … Continue reading →

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Screwed by Gannett, again and again

Posted on January 28, 2009 by admin

By Joel Thurtell You’d think the owner of the Detroit News and Free Press would want to snuggle up to the public. You know, in hopes paying readers won’t junk them when they dump most home delivery in March. Somehow, … Continue reading →

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Matty to buy Riverside Park?

Posted on January 27, 2009 by admin

By Joel Thurtell Is the City of Detroit trying to sell Riverside Park to Matty Moroun? There’s a hint in that direction in a Monday, January 26, 2008 Detroit News article about the city’s dire financial straits. City officials are … Continue reading →

Posted in Me & Matty | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Off guard: Prosecution by newspaper

Posted on January 22, 2009 by admin

By Joel Thurtell Motives are important, even in the newspaper business. And in newspapers, business is a prime motive, though often unspoken. There’s that glass wall between business and editorial, right? Advertising people don’t talk to editors and vice versa. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bad government, censorship, future of newspapers, Joel's J School, Kwamegate, Subpoenaed reporters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Going Postal — My First FOIA

Posted on January 21, 2009 by admin

By Joel Thurtell Sixteen minutes past seven. In the evening. Mail’s still not here. Our neighbors are disgruntled at being on the tail end of this motorized postal route. By two minutes after eight, it had arrived. I think I … Continue reading →

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uptherouge.com goes live

Posted on January 19, 2009 by admin

By Joel Thurtell With the debut of my first book less than three months away, I’ve started a new blog, uptherouge.com It’s a way to promote Up the Rouge! Paddling Detroit’s Hidden River, the book I co-authored with Detroit Free … Continue reading →

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Caroline’s diary — Training media

Posted on January 19, 2009 by admin

When the authors went on book tours, interviewers were instructed not to ask Ms. Kennedy any personal questions or pry into her family affairs. The New York Times, January 17, 2009, “In Book World, Caroline Kennedy is a Powerhouse” Oh … Continue reading →

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Animal rights — spin, spin, spin

Posted on January 16, 2009 by admin

By Joel Thurtell “Pound release.” Fightin’ words. I remember a packed suburban Detroit city council meeting back in 1985 when well over a hundred angry citizens confronted elected officials over the issue of selling animals from the animal shelter for … Continue reading →

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Get another job!

Posted on January 15, 2009 by admin

By Joel Thurtell Just call me me Mitch. Ever notice that trick the Bard of the Free Press uses to drive home a point? In a church hymn, it’s called a refrain. Well, I heard yesterday that Gannett, the nation’s … Continue reading →

Posted in future of newspapers | Tagged , | 1 Comment