Category Archives: future of newspapers

Looking back…

Posted on September 25, 2009 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell My old friend, Francie VanderMolen of the Berrien Springs Journal Era, sent this item from the current issue of the weekly paper: 30 Years Ago September 26, 1979 Mr. and Mrs. John Gillette of Berrien Springs have … Continue reading →

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Bullies of the newsroom

Posted on September 21, 2009 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Normally, I don’t reply to comments people post on my blog. But now and then one of these letters-to-JOTR is just too obnoxious, too disingenuous to let pass. So it is with a reader’s response to my … Continue reading →

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Stockholm in Detroit

Posted on May 22, 2009 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell A longtime Detroit Free Press employee and Newspaper Guild member who was a loyal striker in the 1990s, who used to refer to johnny-come-lately Free Press owner Gannett as “evil,” recently told me Gannett is “not so … Continue reading →

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Free Press dumps 25 editorial staffers

Posted on May 21, 2009 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Some longtime Free Press staffers are already gone as of today, I’m told.           These would be the non-union workers without contracts guaranteeing layoffs based on seniority: Laura Varon Brown, Sharon Wilmore, Alice Pepper, Sandy Aceval and Nate Trela. … Continue reading →

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Metro Times: JOTR “best independent blogger”

Posted on April 24, 2009 by hro50ta1

Staff here at joelontheroad were delighted to learn that Metro Times staffers have bestowed kudos on this blog: BEST EXAMPLE OF AN INDEPENDENT BLOGGER RAISING HELL Joel Thurtell Joelontheroad.com The former daily newspaper guy has kept his hand in the game … Continue reading →

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Newspaper or TV station?

Posted on April 20, 2009 by hro50ta1

This just in from Detroit Free Press editors: Folks, Please join us in welcoming Mike Brookbank to the Free Press. Mike will anchor our Free Press news segments on First Forecast Mornings on WWJ-TV from 5 to 7 a.m. weekdays. … Continue reading →

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The monopoly implodes

Posted on April 13, 2009 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell On the heels of what looks like a colossal screw-up in downsizing its once daily newspapers to a pair of failies, Gannett is dropping another shoe on Detroit. According to the Oakland Press, Gannett plans to close … Continue reading →

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Chump again

Posted on April 10, 2009 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell I felt like a chump when I found out a friend was telemarketed by the Free Press and wound up paying half what I’m shelling out for the new threely home delivery and fourly e-mail set-up that … Continue reading →

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Turning customers into chumps

Posted on April 5, 2009 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell In a previous blog, I reported my difficulties subscribing to the new “threely” Detroit Free Press. Busy phone line. Dysfunctional computer sign-up. Finally, I got through Monday afternoon on March 30, 2009 and agreed to have my … Continue reading →

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I want my Free Press!

Posted on March 30, 2009 by hro50ta1

Update 7:40 one more time. I called 313-222-6500 and learned that the Free Press circulation person I talked to on Monday had it wrong. My Free Press will not automatically be e-mailed to me. Instead, for now I can log … Continue reading →

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