
March 12th, 2010

joel
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WERG mic flag
90.5 WERG, the Gannon University FM and internet station, will be the center of attention as they provide the coverage of the opening rounds of the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball tournament, Atlantic Division.
The Number One ranked Lady Knights host No. 8 Fairmont State at 6:00 PM tonight to begin the Atlantic Regional. If they win, they’ll play the winner of tonight’s nightcap between Seton Hill and Fayetteville State tomorrow night.
Veteran sportscaster and Gannon alum Steve Bohen provides the play-by play, with help from WERG student Sports Director Caitie Ryan. If Cleve Wright’s Golden Knights continue to the semi’s, the broadcast crew will be Bohen and Beth Gaertner, the station’s Promotion Director.
Faculty Operations Director Chet LaPrice is tickled pink to have his live stream and student broadcasters in the spotlight. “We are just thrilled for the women’s basketball team. It is truly a historical moment for Gannon and we are just glad to be along for the ride.”
LaPrice said that the WERG team was especially excited to be able to bring this unprecedented event to Gannon alumni via their webcast, available at wergfm.com, along with the strong signal of 90.5.
Good luck to all of the Gannon community!

March 10th, 2010

joel
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Bryan Oberle
It is quite remarkable how two entrepreneurial new-media networks have scored major figures from media and politics for regular contributions. Last year, former Congressman Phil English began a blog on the GlobalErie.com network. Then early this year, former Editorial Page Editor of the Erie Times-News Bryan Oberle began a weekly post on ErieBlogs.com.
Oberle’s participation on ErieBlogs is particularly interesting considering he is married to an Erie media royal, Marnie Mead Oberle and continues to be a stockholder in the privately-owned Times Publishing Company.
Mr. Oberle was kind enough to share his thoughts on the state of the newspaper industry and his transition from ink to pixels in a Press and Tower exclusive interview:
Read the rest of this entry »

March 8th, 2010

joel
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I had to chuckle at the complaints I received over the wording of my poll about P&T reader usage of Erie Times-News content. Even though over half of poll respondents paid for home delivery of the newspaper, including 41% getting it every day, they objected to my describing their willingness to pay for content as something they should be proud of! In fact, nearly two-thirds of respondents said they paid for the paper at least once a week.
I know it’s shocking (not), but the medium became the message once again this week. Last Sunday, ETN’s John Dudley called out Indianapolis Colts defensive back Bob Sanders for his perceived morph into a media “control freak.”
Dozens of Erie readers freaked at Dudley’s column, and flooded the paper’s mailbox and P&T’s comments stream with negative reaction. I’d like to give you a chance to chime in.

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February 22nd, 2010

joel
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In our Super Bowl ad poll, P&T readers matched the sentiments of the nation in general in their love for the Betty White/Abe Vigota ad. Quick…what was the product the spot advertised?
I’m shining the light on the newspaper biz a bit this week starting with a poll about your consumption of the primary news operation in Erie: the Erie Times-News. How often do you read it, and do you spend any money to get it?
How often do you buy or read Erie Times-News content?
- I am a proud seven-day home subscriber (41%, 26 Votes)
- I rarely read ETN content anywhere (19%, 12 Votes)
- I only read the GoErie.com online content at least weekly (16%, 10 Votes)
- I am a Sunday edition home subscriber (11%, 7 Votes)
- I buy the Sunday-edition at a newsstand (10%, 6 Votes)
- I purchase the paper at a newsstand at least three times weekly (3%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 63

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Deep Background for March 14-20, 2010
As I write this I’m watching one of my all-time favorite movies, “Broadcast News
.” It’s funny how the issues of downsizing and symbolism over substance were primary then as in now. The characters of the film are brilliant, especially the quintessentially annoying Albert Brooks character.
We accept the brilliant and annoying on Erie media in this open forum. Leave a comment, e-mail or tweet.
Embrace the chaos!