Category Archives: future of newspapers

Fair to poor

Posted on February 6, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Fair to poor. That’s what I think of the February 5, 2010 Detroit Free Press editorial about the need for a new bridge across the Detroit River. By the way, those are the same words an engineering firm, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bad government, future of newspapers, Joel's J School, Me & Matty | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Saving newspapers: A modest proposal

Posted on December 8, 2009 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell [paypal-donation] I could make a fortune with this idea, except I got it from The New York Times. I’d have to kick something back to them, probably. For once, it might be worth it. It’s amazingly simple, … Continue reading →

Posted in From My Files, future of newspapers, Joel's J School | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

A newspaper vanishes

Posted on December 3, 2009 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell [paypal-donation] I never saw a copy of the short-lived Detroit Daily Pres I gather it was distributed in some parts of the Detroit area. Maybe because I was in Canada most of last summer, I was slow … Continue reading →

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Of pizzas, pools and prosecutors: or, how the ‘Free’ Press (once again) muzzled itself

Posted on November 29, 2009 by hro50ta1

The Wall Street Journal‘s revelation that my onetime employer, The Detroit [Self-Styled] Free Press, had invited advertisers to participate in the reporting and editing process came as no surprise to me. I worked at the Free Press 23 years if … Continue reading →

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Business model for newspapers

Posted on November 15, 2009 by hro50ta1

by Joel Thurtell [paypal-donation] Heard about a business model for newspapers. Goes like this: Write news, sell ads, print a paper and hawk it, mail it, put it in vending machines, newsstands and let people decide if they want to … Continue reading →

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Big Ed’s ghost

Posted on November 4, 2009 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell [paypal-donation] We at JOTR are firm DISBELIEVERS in any kind of occult happenings, yet the appearance of an e-mail purportedly from the Other World piqued our curiosity. Its claim to have come from the late Wayne County … Continue reading →

Posted in Bad government, censorship, future of newspapers, Joel's J School | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Varnishing Detroit’s ‘Free’ Press

Posted on November 3, 2009 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell [paypal-donation] There was a time back in the 1980s when The Detroit Free Press killed not one, not two, but THREE editorial cartoons lampooning then U.S. Attorney General Ed Meese. Bosses were afraid those unvarnished drawings might … Continue reading →

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More Freep layoffs

Posted on October 17, 2009 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell While I was towing our floating docks across Patten Bay closing the cottage for ’09, a good ten hours drive from Motown, managers at the Detroit Free Press were sharpening their knives. More editorial staffers will be … Continue reading →

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Those Free Press pumpkins

Posted on October 8, 2009 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell During the McCarthy period, spy-hunting journalist Whittaker Chambers hid rolls of film in a pumpkin. In the most amazing Detroit Free Press story I’ve ever read, I learned today, October 8, 2009, how the two top sleuths … Continue reading →

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More layoffs for Detroit “dailies”

Posted on October 7, 2009 by hro50ta1

Gannett honchos: 2009 ads down 30 %, worse to come This just received — note to Detroit Newspaper Guild members from administrative officer Lou Mleczko after meeting with bosses: Dear folks: Union officers representing the Guild and all other unions … Continue reading →

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