Press and Tower :: News and commentary on Erie PA newspaper, TV, radio, and new media » Deep Background

Deep Background for November 2011

joel — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 04:45:22 +0000

Here’s a tribute for the newspaper carriers.

These sleep-deprived adults from all over our area awaken at 2 AM and drive their ink-stained vehicles to one of the district distribution centers for the Erie Times-News. There they will do by hand what machines used to do just a few months ago; assemble each newspaper they will deliver, merging the pre-printed features sections and ad inserts with the fresh news sections that just arrived from a two-hour trip from Butler. From there they will load 200, 300, or more papers in their vehicles and begin their run. The papers still have to be delivered by 6:00 no matter the weather, even with all the extra labor, and even if the truck is delayed.

But the Wednesday after Election Day, that 6:00 delivery deadline won’t be met, because the newsroom is staying up late to publish the election returns. Late to Butler means late to your front step and news stand. But don’t blame your carrier.

We sound off on all things media in this open forum through your comments, e-mails and tweets @pressandtower.

Embrace the chaos!

Deep Background for October 2011

joel — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:35 +0000

I don’t know about you, but September was kind of a lost month for me. It is traditionally the busiest month of the year at work for me, and it went super-fast.

Meanwhile loads of change occurred on the Erie media landscape in the past few weeks. We will try to get to most of it, but meanwhile you can weigh in on whats on your mind through this open forum.

It’s easy to join in by leaving a comment in the box below, e-mail me, or tweet @PressandTower.

Embrace the chaos!

Deep Background for September 2011

joel — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 01:47:11 +0000

Is your hometown newspaper experiencing “shrinkage”?

What apparently seems to be an unintended consequence of outsourcing the Erie Times News to the Butler Eagle is the actual shortening of the newspaper by about 2 1/4 inches, losing in the vicinity of 12 column inches per page. This rather significant reduction in available space is forcing the layout folks to be “creative” in presenting their regular features. So instead of having the weekly Sunday “Work Orders” feature all contained at the bottom of the front of the City/Region section, we just get a picture, with the story behind the dilapidated building after the jump to a page inside. The use of the eye-catching bottom strip ad 6 columns wide also seems to be greatly limited since the move to Butler.

Maybe these trade-offs are no big deal to the average reader, but to me it seems that these changes have put a damper on the innovative design and ad opportunities that won awards and happy customers for the paper.

Whether it’s minutia like column inches lost or dead air, or big stuff like job changes and format predictions, we talk about it all in the open forum. Drop a comment in below, or via e-mail, or by Twitter @pressandtower.

Embrace the chaos!

Deep Background for August 2011

joel — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 01:36:39 +0000

Change is the constant in Erie media. The past 30 days saw major announcements and developments in the old media of radio, television, and the newspaper here in Erie. Meanwhile, nothing less than revolutions are occurring in and through social and new media, both globally and locally.

We wrestle with this changing context on a daily basis in this open forum. Participation is key; your opinions in the comments box below are encouraged. You can also connect by sending me an e-mail, or through a tweet @pressandtower.

Embrace the chaos!

Deep Background for July 2011

joel — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:39:10 +0000

With the coming of July are emotions of excitement for some, and dread for others in Erie media.

Over at WJET/WFXP, they are pumped at the roll out of their redesign of their newscasts, which could set off fireworks in the still competitive Erie TV news race. Meanwhile, down at 12th & Sass., the pressmen and mailroom staff at the Times Publishing Co. are in their final full month of employment. The paper is scheduled to be sent down to Butler to be printed and shipped up here in early August, accompanied by the loss of 40 local family-sustaining jobs.

Lots to talk about in this open forum. Join the discussion by dropping a comment in the box below, e-mail me, or tweet @pressandtower.

Embrace the chaos!

Deep Background for June 2011

joel — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 02:07:40 +0000

Well it looks like we made it through May sweeps, the last Oprah show, the Butler Eagle taking over the Times-News press work, and Barry Dane Steinhagen’s absence from Erie Talk in the Morning (he’s due back next week).

It was another eventful month in Erie media, and we get to talk about it all on this place for a free and civil exchange of ideas, compliments, criticisms, and conjecture. To jump in on the conversation, please leave a comment in the box below. Or you can send me an e-mail, or tweet @pressandtower.

Embrace the chaos!

Deep Background for May 2011

joel — Mon, 02 May 2011 00:44:13 +0000

We certainly had the April showers; looking forward to the May flowers.

And we are looking forward to May TV sweeps, including the finales of American Idol and Dancing With The Stars. The special reports on local TV news, and the contesting on the radio. Speaking of radio, it won’t take too long in the month to discover who will be the licensee of the new 92.7 Lawrence Park, where when you combine the directional antenna, tower location, and terrain will have a multi-million dollar coverage area that will resemble Bob the Tomato along the Pennsylvania lake shore.

We will talk about it all in this open forum. Speak up by leaving a comment in the box below. Or you can send me an e-mail, or tweet @pressandtower.

Embrace the chaos!