(RSS)
Why spotlight the Record Searchlight?
I’ve moved on to a better place since I was fired from the Record Searchlight in October. I have a great, rapidly growing website. (Oh, oh, stay tuned for a Food for Thought surprise announcement Aug. 1. You’ll love it.)
Where was I? Oh, yes. I’m happier than ever. In fact, I love my new job so much that I’m glad I’m no longer with the Record Searchlight.
Free at last, free at last. Fun, fun, fun.
If the above is true, why do I continue to write negative pieces about the local newspaper? This is a recurring question.
Here is my recurring answer: Because I can.
Am I bitter? Nope.
Do I hate the paper? Goodness, how could someone hate a newspaper?
Am I trying to destroy the paper? Lord, no.
Do I know that some people wish I’d just shut up about the paper? Sure. But people have wanted me to shut up about things for years. Why start now?
Do I think the out-to-lunch management duo is systematically wrecking the once-proud community paper? Absolutely.
That last part is another reason I continue to write about the RS. But I have other reasons.
For starters, the RS is one of the largest employers in Shasta County. As such, its treatment of its “product,” its people and its customers (uh, us) affect this community.
For argument’s sake, let’s say I zipped my lip about the outrageous, sometimes unbelieveable crap happening at the RS. My silence would not bring an end to the crap. The only difference would be that the public would remain in the dark, which, in my opinion, is exactly what the RS management team prefers: keep the public in the dark about the newspaper and its dirty laundry.
But notice: The RS thinks nothing about publishing dirty-laundry stories about other large employers, including hospitals, city and county governments, even large private businesses and companies.
With that in mind, when I write about the RS, I see it as a public service. Fair is fair.
Besides, in this one-newspaper community, who will report how the RS has slashed positions — sometimes entire departments? (A moment of silence for the paper’s dearly departed artists.)
Likewise, who will report about the RS layoffs, firings and even intimidations? Who will report the totally bizarre (bordering on illegal, in my humble opinion) personnel punishments (suspensions without pay for not getting with the program)?
Who will report when the RS outsources advertising production work — financed by local businesses? Shouldn’t those paying businesses know what’s behind such mistakes as Main Lobster and Mr. Shasta?
Local TV and radio can’t report these things. Not really. They are bound by a combo professional courtesy tied up with a sprinkle of fear. They won’t touch the RS — can’t, really — not and work in the same arena.
The same is true of major organizations, often at the mercy of the RS for stories, publicity and even free or reduced-price ads, partnerships and/or sponsorships. Yanked bargain ads. Blackballed subjects. Negative stories. Unreturned phone calls. True or imagined, those are among these organizations’ fears.
The paper is powerful. Because of that power, people and organizations are loathe to speak a disparaging word about their newspaper.
Case in point: Who will report silly things, such as how the already humiliated editorial staff has been issued yet another stupid-sloganed marketing-department T-shirt, this one with the message: “We don’t blow smoke … WE COVER IT!” (So much for that professional media courtesy.)
I can report that.
And who will report truly funny things, such as this recent Wikipedia description of the Record Searchlight. (Note: In the event Wikipedia’s post about the RS is suddenly deleted, here’s a link to a copy of that page.)
Here’s an excerpt from that Wikipedia page, last update July 12:
“The columnists at the Record Searchlight don’t exist because they were fired. The Record Searchlight thinks it reports news with emphasis on news at the local, national, state, and global levels, but since nearly everyone has been fired, they only report on mostly car wrecks. The writers that are still there, while hard-working, are very inaccurate. The copy desk is over worked and under paid, as is the sports department. The newspaper recently underwent a reorganization, including eliminating the Monday education section and downsizing the Business section by burying it inside the B section.”
Who can report these things?
I can.
I’m not making this stuff up.
I’m just holding the flashlight.
“Give light and people will find their own way.” - E.W. Scripps slogan
1,613 views
Doni wrote:
“Do I know that some people wish I’d just shut up about the paper? Sure. But people have wanted me to shut up about things for years. Why start now?”
When I read that, I almost spit coffee all over my desk - that was so funny for some reason!
B
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Art imitates life.
I’ve always been suspect of the accuracy of Wikipedia, now I know it’s true.
What a bunch of misinformation.
First, although the circulation has indeed dropped over the past year and a half, it is NOT as low as 15,000. It is closer to 32,000 households on a daily basis. A miserable number indeed considering the population increases in the readership area. But, if you apply proper statistics, it still reaches over 80,000 readers. (A household consists on average of 2.5 people. The average per household is actually growing as the result of a weak economy, but that’s another discussion.)
Also, historically, the Record Searchlight is a result of the combination of the Shasta Courier and the Redding Record, under the leadership of Paul Bodenheimer, the editor of many, many years. That is the true beginning of the Record Searchlight in 1938, and was an afternoon paper.
That said, I still miss the old R/S and the ties it worked so hard to build with the community. At one time it wasn’t the 500-lb. gorilla in the corner. Today it stands in the middle of the room and roars it’s power over all. Not a pleasant sight.
The decision to cancel my RS home delivery (well over a year ago now) for reasons of substance deficiency and favorite columnists, writers and editor disappearing- one after another, has now been completely validated. Thank you Doni.
Glad that you won’t be silenced. I also stopped receiving the paper last year for the same reasons as above and hope by folks speaking up it will improve. Thanks Doni!
“Because I can!” What a great answer, Doni. You rock!!!
I cancelled my subscription last month and my final delivery was last Thursday. (Never mind the fact that they deglected to extend it a few days for missed deliveries I had reported to them.)
I wasn’t sure that it would be an easy transition, as I’ve started my day with coffee in hand and Searchlight in lap for many years now.
As it turned out: piece of cake. Eliminating the daily annoyances over one thing or another in the paper is already improving my mood!
I have kept my subscription because I still feel a loyalty to some of the reporters who are still there. However, now it never gets here at a reasonable hour which is annoying. By 9:30 I’m already involved in my activities and the “coffee and paper” time has long passed. Sigh *
the graphic reminds me of nancy drew.
Doni,
I have to admit I was one of your detractors in the beginning. I felt like the newspaper was under attack and wished that you would move on with your life. I had some hope that the new management team would bring the fresh approach and new ideas that the paper so desperately needed. But now I’m glad you’re doing what you’re doing. The paper is as out of touch with the community as it’s ever been, and the more it shrinks, the further out of touch it’ll become. And you’re right — the RS would tell this story if it were happening to any other business in our community.
The above graphic is, indeed, from a Nancy Drew book. Very observant, 343! Impressive.
Doni,
just a suggestion: when you refer to items that have appeared in past stories on your site (Main Lobster, Mr. Shasta) you should have those words highlighted so readers can click on them to see the original story. This will help readers who are new to your site make the connection. Keep up the good work! It is appreciated!!
Doni…You’ve been scooping the Record on many stories lately. You do rock young lady!
I went through the Monday paper in record time today and it didn’t feel like I read anything. Too many long boring AP stories and full page ads about selling snakeoil.
Year’s ago on the radio, we used to slam the paper but then again I was working for your dad. We also slammed Barry Goldwater for President and heard about it from the local Goldwaters. We loved it.
But, what can you expect from a rook who’s experience is he was the online editor of Redding.com and has only lived here 2 years?
Hopefully, the paper will sell and she’ll rise up to the proud paper she was with new leadership.
Thanks for keeping us posted, Doni. Am very unhappy with the loss of columnists and whole sections of the paper. Am so addicted to morning Coffee-and-Newspaper that I still subscribe to the R-S, but am considering switching to the Bee.
Chris Nagy, I hate to call you out, but Wikipedia is an online “encyclopedia” that allows anyone with a computer to add or delete information. Looks like someone with a funny bone got to it and added the stuff you called “misinformation.” It’s obviously chock full of made-up “facts” now, including the circulation numbers (although those numbers might not be too far in the future, if Silas and Shanna keep up with their systematic slaughter of the paper). My hubby pointed the Wiki entry out to me the other day and I laughed my ass off.
Doni, I am glad someone out there is willing to hold the R-S’s “feet” to the fire. Isn’t it nice to have the shackles off so you can speak the truth? Keep it up!! I am reading!
Luise,
Go ahead and make the switch to the Bee. I did a few months ago and I haven’t looked back. Keep it up Doni.
By the way, I have a major complaint about David Benda, but I’m trying to find the right way to present it so I won’t be ignored.
in response to chris - 2.5 persons per household doesn’t mean all 2.5 persons read the paper. i was a single mom with two children and they didn’t read the paper. so your estimate is rather high and i would go with the 32,000 as the true number. blow it up any way you want, the paper is a losing proposition.
As a frequent contributor to the Letters for the paper, I think the paper can bring a lot of interesting subjects to the community. The problem, though, as I see it, is that the news staff misses so much of what is really going on in the area. If they could spend more time “tracking down leads”, etc….they would increase their reading population. To me, this is what I like to read in the paper, and really have too many other sources for national and international news. So, go local, Record Searchlight.
Ron Largent
(If memory serves me right)
RE the thirty-something subscribers number - - Doni discussed an editorial by the current editor of RS - where he bragged about the current numbers. She put him to shame by recounting past numbers which were several times higher; should have made him ashamed of his failure . . .
“because I can” should be on a cloud over the hills behind your wine glass !! Don’t stop - I’m loving every word.
Actually, the paper’s daily circulation dipped below 30,000 in June, probably for the first time in decades.
Sorry to hear about the dip in circulation, it really was just a matter of time.
2.5 persons per household is a national average, take that anyway you want.
As for an encyclopedia that is open to corruption, I don’t care for it, no matter what the subject. An encyclopedia is supposed to be factual, but maybe it’s going the way of our newspapers nationwide? The R/S is not alone in the new “newsy, whatever-the-people want” format.
It’s funny to read how many people actually worked for the paper comment on this site.
In Sunday’s Sacramento Bee they had an article “Bee to change look, reshape its coverage for a new era”, by editor Melanie Still. I remember a title along those lines in the Record Searchlight a while ago also. Does that mean that the Bee is going to go downhill also? Sure hope note.
I am truly a lucky person in the fact that I am given the Bee on the way through the recycling chain.
What surprises me most about the Bee is how heavy it is (the first section is as heavy as our whole newspaper. More articles in that one section than in the whole RSL.) Full of articles from all over but real great coverage on what is going on in the State’s capital. Read about the fire fighter that died in the Trinity River on his down time. Okay so it was in the obit part but it was covered real well. We should have had an even bigger and more informative one here. He was saving us! Okay so it wasn’t while he was working but that shouldn’t matter. He was there because he was fighting the fire.)
Rumor has it that the “Searching Redlight” will soon hire the people who bitch and moan about everything on Redding.com, the posters, to replace the staff. I think I read it in the online encyclopedia.
Some say that online papers will someday replace the printed copy. But it’ll never work because you can’t wrap your fish or line your birdcage with a computer.
Judging from the size of some papers of late, you can’t really wrap your fish or line your birdcage with those, either. Not enough paper.
I agree with Ron Largent. The RS should go track down all those homeless people hanging around the library and expose them in the newspaper. That will get circulation back up! Go Ron Go!
I am writing to support that Doni is not making this stuff up. My daughter was one of the artists that lost her job. Thanks for mentioning the artists. She also received one of those mysterious suspensions you mentioned. While she has also found a better job environment, she did enjoy working at a newspaper. You could have added the specific country that the ad art work was outsourced to - India. I have been surprised at how few businesses realize their RS advertising dollars are going to another country. We too dropped our subscription to the RS, not because our daughter lost her job but because of the unbalanced reporting. I know that newspapers responsibilites include holding government accountable to the tax payers but it seems that the good things that government accomplish are not worthy of coverage. I think the disatisfaction that the public feels about government is, in part, due to publishing only negative news about government - but I digress. When we received a call last week asking us to re-subscribe to the RS my husband told the caller that maybe they should be contacting households in India for new subscribers.
Check out today’s (7/23) RS food section, front page, North State Cooks.
http://www.redding.com/news/2008/jul/23/broccoli-not-snubbed-if-in-souffl/#comments
This article is an excellent example of how out of touch this newspaper is.
They are truly not serving their community. I wrote an article for publication on Monday, May 19th of this year. I had it reviewed by a couple of physicians for accuracy. The subject was viral hepatitis and that date was World Viral Hepatits Awareness Day. When I contacted the Health & Fitness section editor, here’s what he said: “I can’t do an article unless you’re having some kind of event.” My response: “OK, excuse me, let me start over….Monday, May 19th is WORLD HEPATITIS AWARENESS DAY….that’s the event………I’ve written an article for you and had it checked by medical professionals. All you have to do is run it.”
Of course, they did have a H & F section in the paper that day. The article was nowhere to be seen. It would have been a great public service to run the article so folks could be better informed on this important subject. After all, the CDC estimates that one in every twelve people is infected with chronic Hep B or C worldwide. 500 million people…..this is not an insignificant issue.
Many thanks to Kelly Brewer, once again, for running that article on her blog for me! Many thanks also to KRCR (Colin McAvoy, Mike Mangas and Jennifer Scarborough) who ran a great story for me that day! And how sad that I had to do my own outsourcing to get the word out. How totally irresponsible and cavalier of the RS to completely blow this off. I’m still ticked….can anyone tell?
Unfortunately, this is normal for the RS on a variety of subjects. Aaaaa-aargh!
Wow, I’m enlightened! I have to say I had no idea about the goins on at the RS. I only get weekend delivery but hearing all this makes me want to skip my renewal next time around. Doni, you just got a new reader
For what it’s worth, I have actually purchased the domain rights to “www.norcalnews.org” in a hope that I will someday start an online publication that rivals Redding.com.
I accept suggestions/help/etc.
The idea is to have news that is more raw, free from logical fallacy (flagrant ad hominems, unfounded commentary, etc.), and more transparent. Vague description, I know. I’m sure I could elaborate at a later point.
My favorite recent article by the Searchlight that demonstrates their increasingly less hidden fusion of objective news with blatant argumentation can be found here: http://www.redding.com/news/2008/jul/18/protesters-take-shots-at-herger/
Instead of reporting on the protest, the story said “Hey. A protest happened. It was wrong/bad/disgusting for the following reasons:”
One nice thing I have noticed, however, is that the photos have seemed to be getting better over the last few years.
Anyone agree?
Actually I thought a photographer named Lucas was pretty good (he also was side-lined by lay off).
As far as “norcalnews.com” I was really hoping that Doni’s voice would fill that void but competition is good.
I don’t even think “norcalnews.org” would be competition. Doni’s site offers great articles about the local community, but isn’t necessarily a primary news source. I think we would be different entities all together.
I’m thinking norcalnews.org would also span everything from Crescent City to the Northern Sacramento area with occasional stories from the Sonoma/Napa area.
Stay tuned, everyone.
Our Aug. 1 announcement might be just the ticket.
MJ:
Doni covered the ad outsourcing to India more in depth on May 6th: http://donigreenberg.com/2008/05/06/extra-extra-read-all-about-itpaper-outsources-ad-work-ousts-ad-workers/
as well as other RS outsourcing on June 9th: http://donigreenberg.com/2008/06/09/wanted-outsourced-newspaper-writers/
We love you Donni, and we always will!
We think it is very obvious what has happened at the RS.
We look forward to Aug. 1 2008. Carol & Rex
We cancelled our 10-year subscription to the RS the day that Doni was fired (reported by Mike Mangas on KRCR). Just the last straw in a long line, starting with the “revamping” of the RS’s look. The sidebar of promos took up one-third of the page and the whole front page looked more like The National Enquirer than a “real” newspaper. They chose to feature one-quarter of the page to the death of Robert Goulet, nice guy but not a world figure, instead of I-don’t-even-remember-what world-shaking event. We got a telemarketing call this spring for re-upping our subscription. My husband asked, “Are you going to have Doni Greenberg’s column?”. The answer: “Oh, you’re one of those. Thank you very much”, and she hung up.
We now take the SacBee (as we continually did when we also took the RS). Bowing to fiscal constraints, The Bee has recently downsized, streamlined, and changed. Sigh. I hope our last bastion of print news is not destined for extinction. I don’t want to sit at this desk and read The New York Times every morning with my coffee.
Go for it, Doni. It would be nice to know what was happening in the local community. [sort of local, in that the Red Bluff Daily News is a waste of newsprint, and doesn't even have a permanent publisher right now]
From another critical “friend” of the paper, I’d also observe that the searchlight has made some small improvements, and suspect that a whiff of competition will cause further positive change. But to jumpstart that, I’ll give them a lead - at no cost at all. A guy spotlighted over at newsosaur.com, Joe Bullard provided some concrete ideas for making a better paper. Among the ideas:
Several days ago I wrote that you should forget about the RS and get on with your own thing. That’s before I read this story. Now I get it. Yes, it’s important to stay on it until we either get a real, credible newspaper back (fat chance) or it’s gone. With FFT as an alternative, I can now live with the latter.
I try to be moderate. Listen to both sides and decide for myself. I don’t like to read columns and articles by AP that are slanted and/or totally incorrect. There just doesn’t seem to be the pride, endurance for the truth, not as one would want it, but as it is in reality. With the ‘if you aren’t liberal’ in the Redding Searchlight, you aren’t worth much any more. Oh, they still have left and right on the Opinion Page, but the other ’stuff’ is getting very sickening. Thankful I’ve found your sight!
Hi Doni - I missed this Wikipedia discussion a while back. Looks like the Record Searchlight Wikipedia page has now been re-edited. Interestingly enough, the list of the few remaining staff has actually been updated. Interestingly enough, Philbert is still listed as an on-line blogger for the Record Searchlight. Interesting. Maybe he got his job back?? Just kidding.
This just in…Rocci Milligans employment (as circulation operations manager) with the Record Searchlight has just been terminated by the new circulation director…BY VOICEMAIL. I have known and worked with Rocci off and on since 2002 and I know her to be TOTALLY loyal to her employer, always give 110% on whatever she is working on, and always go that extra mile. (She was the only person in management that I knew who would give her cell phone # out to an angry customer when they needed to call about their paper delivery at 4 am)! Some employees thought she was a little gruff and loud at times, but she was also honest and always tried to help you succeed. Since Mark Olson left the office, Rocci has been the “acting director” and was passed up TWICE for the position. She was also given a positive review several months LATE with NO raise after taking on all of that extra work. It is so frustrating for me to see how my friend/former supervisor was treated and even though there is not much you can do about these things, it makes me want to cry to see how all of these loyal employees are being picked off on by one! It seems the only people who are keeping their jobs at the Record Searchlight are either part of the “club” up front or they are just not being targeted quite yet. I have canceled my subscription due to poor management and total mistreatment of past AND current employees.
And, now ROCCI?! I can back up everything good Janaire has said about our Rocci! Rocci ROCKS! She always went above and beyond for the RS. What sort of reckless evil has taken over the helm in that rat-hole, anyway? Termination by voice-mail? Chicken-hearted cowards. Worse and worse!
Rocci Does ROCK. You are better off being away from there. They are trying to get rid of the good ones.
Rock on Rocci.
Vicki
The RS seems to have completely missed the following story. This is BIG news for our region.
Winnemem Wintu Tribe Wins Endorsement from California
The California State Senate passed a Joint Resolution yesterday (8/14?) urging the U.S. Congress to restore federal recognition status to the Winnemem Wintu Tribe of northern California. Although the Winnemem Wintu were treated like a federally recognized tribe in the 1980s, they were left off the formal list of tribes drawn up by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the late ’80s and consequently stopped receiving government benefits such as healthcare, housing assistance and college scholarships. In 2007, the Winnemem joined with the Natural Resource Defense Council and the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water to introduce AJR 39, a resolution urging the restoration of federal recognition and documenting the state of California’s long history with the tribe. The resolution passed on August 13 with 24 votes in favor and 10 against, effectively taking the next important step in the Winnemem’s long journey to justice.
Assembly member Jared Huffman (D, Marin), the sponsor of AJR 39, spoke after the vote: “California has sent a clear message today: our state stands in solidarity with the Winnemem Wintu Tribe to correct a terrible injustice by the federal government. It’s now time for the federal government to acknowledge its mistake and once again recognize the tribe.”
What a waste of wonderful talent and jobs by RS. When this fiasco first started I thought surely someone “higher up” would notice what was happening to our local paper and put an end to the slaughter. That has not happened and I am so glad for this site. It so one-ups RS in the news coverage for me.
I love what was said by MJ’s husband when he was called by RS and replied that “maybe they should be contacting households in India for new subscribers”. I hope I remember that response next time I am again asked to re-subscribe to RS.
As to paper in hand with my morning cup of coffee, it is now “mouse in hand” and lo and behold, what, no ink on my fingers and up my nose.
Loving it here in Anderson!
I wrote the following for the Forum section, but it seems it would have a place here, too.
“The Record Searchlight announced that it will no longer deliver to Siskiyou County, and we just received a notification that it is also abandoning Eastern Shasta County. I must admit that it is no real loss since the newspaper has been on such a downhill slide since Kelly and Doni left, but it was nice to have something to read at breakfast. Our options are to have it delivered by mail (for us, a 10-mile roundtrip to the Post Office and we wouldn’t have it until afternoon and not at all on Sunday); subscribe to the upcoming e-edition in PDF format; read the current redding.com edition; or none of the above. We’ve pretty well chosen none of the above. Such a loss to us long-time subscribers that the Searchlight has taken such a dive since the administration has changed. Apparently they really don’t want to be in the news business. But they are certainly doing their part to keep the East Indians employed.”
Dear Doni and Crew,
Like everyone else I was rather dismayed to see you all go from our only local paper. When we opened our new art gallery, we thought that we should publish reception times to notify the public. After spending almost $8,000.00 ,we did a survey and no one said they saw our ad that our salesrep had worked so very hard getting something snappy and noticable. Also every single month that we got our bill, we were double and triple billed for the same ads. How hard is it when we bought a special four ads for one price. Every month we would have to spend 4 to 6 hours figuring out what they did wrong. We think that this is The Searchlight’s mode of operandi. In other words, if you don’t check your bill and you just pay it, they make some much needed extra funds.
Recently, I was at a family reunion in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and had the opportunity to read their morning papers. Well on the weekdays, you need a small wagon to get the paper from the sidewalk, because at my age, it was too heavy to carry up the stairs. I never got past reading their local sections, as I only allowed one hour to read the paper. It only reminded me of what a joke The Searchlight really has become.
I am so happy that you have made lemonade out of lemons, and now I am forced to step into the twenty-first century and become technically enabled in order to read something with substance. Good luck in your endeavors, we know we will see great things from you all in the future.
Just a little aside, since Jim left, no one really covers the art scene that well, and we have a serious lacking in our community’s support of our local artists. It would be great to see some stories urging the public to purchase local artists, not just take advantage of their receptions, and outings. We try to get our notice into the Datebook now, but Damon Arthur has informed us that he can’t possibly fit everyone in all the time. I don’t understand why not, Jim Dyar did, as well as write articles and other interesting tidbits.
I will be logging on more frequently now that Frank Treadway of the Shasta County Art Council has informed me of your online project. Once again, Good Luck.
I said in the above messsage that the Record Searchlight is abandoning Eastern Shasta County toward the end of October. It will continue to be delivered until that time. I was shaking my head at yesterday’s edition while viewing an ad for Missy McArthur and one for a travel agency. The designers of the McArthur ad had used some strange font that that large spaces between some letters while others were scrunched together. The other had just blobs of black where, I assume, words were supposed to be. Outsourcing writing to India? I sympathize with Sherry Fator above about the time and money she spent on her ad. But if the final ad looked like these two, she didn’t lose much.