Archive for January, 2009

Erie covers the Inauguration

January 20th, 2009 joel

We are about to witness what is one of the great hallmarks of the American republic: the peaceful transfer of power. What makes this presidential inauguration more historic is the presence of Barack Obama, the nation’s first African-American president.

The media is in overdrive, with unprecedented coverage of this moment. Locally, the Erie Times News sent their political specialist John Guerriero and photographer Jack Hanrahan to D.C. to cover the local angle of this historic event. GoErie.com’s Cody Switzer is writing in a live blog, submitting stories and pictures throughout the day.

Even though I could not confirm any local TV coverage on the ground at the Inauguration, either through e-mail reply or any indication on the stations’ websites, a P&T commenter shared that WJET anchor Sean Lafferty and photog Craig Rouse are live in DC.

Meanwhile, here are highlights from msnbc.com:


Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Posted in New Media Tags: , , , , , , 3 Comments »

Poll: DTV delay?

January 19th, 2009 joel

Last week’s poll was a survey of sorts, calculating the penetration of various Web 2.0 applications into our readers’ lives. Over three-fourths of respondents said that they used Facebook, while two-thirds had a YouTube account. Over half had a MySpace and/or eBay accounts. Twitter is used by 44% of respondents, but I’m sure that will be on the increase.

It is crunch time for the digital transition, and it looks like the government may blink. The New York Times reports that the incoming Obama administration is asking Congress to push back the switchover into June, as over two million analog TV owners are on a waiting list to receive converter coupons. Meanwhile, any delay could cause hardships for the TV stations who already have their engineering crews booked to go. What do you think, should we delay or get on with it?

Should Congress delay the digital television transition beyond February 17th?

  • No, any delay will cause even more confusion about the transition (79%, 26 Votes)
  • It doesn’t affect me, so I don’t care (15%, 5 Votes)
  • Yes, too many viewers will not be ready (6%, 2 Votes)

Total Voters: 33

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Posted in Polls Tags: , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

Deep Background for Jan. 18-24, 2009

January 18th, 2009 joel

As an old media salt, it is interesting to me the strong interest the general public has in the media. Often the Letters to the Editor in the Times News contain complaints or worries about disc jockeys who have been let go, or favorite writers or news anchors.

Much like the editorial page is a forum, The Press and Tower is your forum to sound off on your concerns about the media in Erie and nationally. Deep Background is for your random comments, but you’ll find places to participate throughout the site. If you have yet left a comment here at the P&T, please make this week the week that you do.

We can also chat via Twitter @pressandtower (be gentle, I’m just starting to figure it out). If you have a private message to share, just e-mail me at joel@nataliemedia.com and let’s talk.

Embrace the chaos!

Posted in Deep Background Tags: , , 6 Comments »

The Feed for Weekend of January 17th & 18th

January 17th, 2009 joel

Editor’s note: Sound off, give a shout out on “Deep Background,” our totally-random open discussion of all things Erie media.

  • DTV: one month and counting: The transition to digital television is now one month away. According to our calculations at least 24,745 households in the Erie DMA will have to do “something” to get service (many satellite users still need an antenna to get the locals). If you have not purchased a digital TV or converter box, action will need to be taken now to continue to receive over-the-air television. The TV stations are ready to make the switch; are you? Get more info at DTV.gov.

    • (more…)

Posted in The Feed Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

This (should be) News/Talk country

January 16th, 2009 joel

WBENI’m writing this post while listening to the very well-programmed WBEN 930/Buffalo, who not only are able to continue to pay for Rush Limbaugh’s clearance fee, but once again scored first in the Buffalo ratings ages 12 and over for the Fall 2008 Arbitron survey.

As opposed to Erie’s WJET, which languishes as a middler in the ratings with poor billing, news/talk stations in the major markets surrounding the Flagship City score at the top of the ratings and revenue rankers. The Fall book is out for Buffalo, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh; take a look at these 12+ rankers:

  • Buffalo – WBEN (Entercom) – #1
  • Cleveland – WTAM (Clear Channel) – #1
  • Pittsburgh – KDKA (CBS) – #2
  • Pittsburgh – WPGB (Clear Channel) – #3

The two Pittsburgh talkers combine for a massive share of audience that tops rocker WDVE.

Considering the sheer power of the news/talk format in our region, why doesn’t WJET do better in the ratings here in Erie? My take would be the sheer lack of investment in programming and marketing by Connoisseur Media and their predecessors over countless years. The winning stations have real live anchors and reporters and actualities and board-ops that eliminate dead air and cue tones, like the old WJET did through the 1980′s. It doesn’t take much effort, really.

The conventional wisdom in radio for the past twenty years has been to put all of your eggs/energy into your FM basket, and leave the AM stations to die. Meanwhile, with the onset of internet radio, iPod’s and other streams available for music, news and talk are the remaining powerhouses for local connection and community.

We’re seeing the success of the news/talk format elsewhere in the region. Why not here?

Posted in Radio Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , 10 Comments »

FCC in town Thursday to talk DTV

January 14th, 2009 joel

As the countdown clock indicates, you have one more chance to talk directly to representatives of the Federal Communications Commission before the landmark transition to digital television on February 17th.

A DTV outreach public meeting will be held in the Admiral Room of the Blasco Memorial Library Thursday, Jan. 15th at 2:00 PM and again at 6:00 PM. The library is located at 160 East Front Street in Erie, just off of the Bayfront Parkway at Holland Street.

When announcing the DTV Consumer Education Nationwide Tour, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said, “As part of our efforts to prepare consumers for the transition, we have identified television markets in which the largest number of viewers will have to take action to be prepared for the transition. This unprecedented nationwide tour by the entire Commission is part of our commitment to prepare and educate consumers about the digital television transition.”

If you have questions or comments about the digital transition, these meetings are the ultimate resource.

Posted in Television Tags: , , , 5 Comments »

Times-News buyouts cut to the bone

January 13th, 2009 joel

There are no illusions that things are going to get better in the newspaper business anytime soon. In an American Journalism Review article from last summer, writer Charles Layton offered scenarios that put into question whether online advertising will ever fill the gap left from declining print advertising. One chart predicted a fall for total newspaper ad revenue from $45.4 billion in 2007 down to $22.9 billion in 2020, with half of that income from online sources.

The abstract became reality over the holidays as the Erie Times News downsized their workforce through buyouts, with eight members of the newsroom staff leaving. Public Editor Liz Allen gave them a send-off tribute in Sunday’s paper. Reporters and editors no longer at the Erie Times News include:

  • George Miller
  • Jim Carroll
  • Steven M. Sweeney
  • Jim Haynes
  • Bob Guerrein
  • Dale Shidemantle
  • Penny Joint
  • Anna McCartney

We’ve been reading some of these folks all of our adult lives, and many became fixtures on their beats. As a road and transportation geek, I rarely missed Jim Carroll’s run down of the latest maneuvering of PennDOT and the airlines. George Miller was a fixture down at City Hall and covered much of the fireworks generated between the Fifth Floor and Council Chambers. And Bob Guerrein always impressed me with his command of the English language and evangelism of good books. All in all, some very essential Erie reporting just walked out into the West 12th Street chill.

It would be a shame to see all of that brain power and writing talent going to waste, so we hope each former ETN staffer will find either retirement or their new employment rewarding. Until we see you again in print, here’s to your next assignment ladies and gentlemen.

Posted in Newspaper Tags: , , , 5 Comments »
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    Press and Tower is a web community for Erie Pennsylvania's producers and consumers of newspapers, radio and television stations, and new media outlets. We connect, celebrate, complain, and communicate about all aspects of media.

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