News Cut: November 28, 2008 Archive

You are the editor

Posted at 9:07 AM on November 28, 2008 by Bob Collins (16 Comments)
Filed under: Crime and Justice

It's a slow period in the news business, so it seems to me that selecting the top story of the day is easy -- and it's not about shopping, a story that is done every year, the same way, on the same day, and never has any real substance to it. It's Mumbai. But then again, I'm old school.

So let's play "you are editor." You're the person who decides what story will be at the top of the newspaper, or lead-off the nightly TV newscast, or be at the top of your organization's Web page.

Last night, as Indian commandos stormed Nariman House in Mumbai (where, unfortunately, the five hostages were killed), KSTP led its 10 p.m. newscast with a shocker -- get it? -- about the state High School League pushing for AEDs in school, CNN featured Larry King talking to some Hollywood bimbo, and Nightline presented a piece on mental illness among veterans, which -- while important -- has been done many times. If you wanted to follow the story on TV, you were out of luck; it wasn't being covered on any national or local channels.

This morning, a check of the major news Web sites in the Twin Cities (about 10 of them) shows that only one -- the Pioneer Press -- considered the Mumbai story the top story. It's a particularly puzzling situation when you consider that the assault happened after people went to bed.

True, the Mumbai story lacks the "elusive Minnesota connection" that we newsies here seem to insist is necessary for Minnesotans to grasp the complexities of a story, but doesn't this story transcend that? And are we really that insular or do news bosses just think we are?

You decide. You're in charge. In what order would you present the day's news, keeping in mind you want people to pay attention to what you have to say? (And be sure to give a reason, you know how your reporters can be!)

By the way, if you're not really into the long lines at Victoria's Secret or Best Buy, you might be interested in following this excellent blog from Mumbai.

Update 10:49 a.m. - I wonder if part of the "problem" (if you consider what's been described as a problem) is an outdated portrait of what a "Minnesotan" is. This image from a story MPR's Mike Edgerly a few years ago is intriguing:

They're all Minnesotans, too. Are their news needs being satisfied? Are they different?

11:11 a.m. a.m. Here's how one area news crew made its decision. This is a screen grab of a Web page at a TV station in Boston, which was once considered the best local TV station in America.

Not only is the top story about a murdered blonde, white TV anchor (Update 6:47 p.m. Just so we're clear here. News is a tough business so my questioning the value of the anchorwoman story is not meant to diminish the value of her life. However, as editor,you do have to explain why her life is more newsworthy than the nearly 200 who died in Mumbai, or even --in this case -- the two people who were killed on Boston's streets on Thanksgiving that weren't considered newsworthy.) but the Mumbai story isn't listed anywhere on the page. It comes up in rotation with 5 other stories -- holiday shopping, someone hit by an Amtrak train, and what kids are thankful for). The Mumbai story is last in rotation. You'd have to watch the screen for 21 seconds (a lifetime for Web pages) before Mumbai appears. So that's how they ranked their story choices, fyi.

The page is put together by the Mendota Heights-based Internet Broadcasting System.

Update 2:40 p.m. Here's how some papers played it:

The Birmingham paper thought it was neither the top, nor second story, but third, about on a par with "Bama fever," which now that I think of it, is a world threat.

The problem in Anchorage, perhaps, is they can't see India from their backyards.

In San Francisco, it turns out cable cars are old technology. Who knew?

The Denver Post, an area with neither cable cars nor "Bama fever." The other paper in town, the Rocky Mountain News (owned by the same person who owns the Pioneer Press) also had just the India story on page one. A lot of people in journalism like to suggest DeanSingleton , the owner, is a threat to the future of journalism. Not today.

In St. Cloud, the big story is the auto dealers are surviving. PS: The hostages died.

What does St. Cloud know, that Lincoln, Nebraska doesn't?

Update 2:58 p.m. - For some really compelling pictures, check out the Boston Globe. Some are very graphic, however. (h/t: Peter Berge via Twitter)

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Poverty: It's not just for the cities anymore

Posted at 2:06 PM on November 28, 2008 by Bob Collins (0 Comments)
Filed under: Economy

A study from the Federal Reserve says poverty in America is spreading to the suburbs.

"It shows that concentrated poverty is still very much with us, and that it can be found among a much more diverse set of communities and families than previous research has emphasized," Bruce Katz, a director Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program, told Reuters. "Poverty is spreading and may be re-clustering in suburbs, where a majority of America's metropolitan poor now live."

The report was put together by all 12 Fed regions, including Minneapolis, and is posted on the Fed's San Francisco site. It's called "The Enduring Challenge of Concentrated Poverty in America: Case Studies from Communities Across the U.S."

The experts visited 16 communities around the country. The closest to the Twin Cities was Milwaukee, which falls under the Chicago Fed. In the Minneapolis district researchers looked at the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana.

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Whatever happened to Stephon Marbury?

Posted at 4:32 PM on November 28, 2008 by Bob Collins (0 Comments)
Filed under: Sports

When last we left Minnesota Timberwolf Stephon Marbury, he was sulking his way out of Minnesota where his chief complaints were -- in no particular order -- nobody realized he was better than Kevin Garnett and the pizza in the Twin Cities stinks.

The only thing a Minnesota sports fan hates more than a quitter -- are you listening Marian Gaborik? -- is someone who doesn't like Minnesota (pizza optional). Chuck Knoblach incurred the wrath, and so did Marbury.

But the kid who, in our most private moments, has caused us to think about what might have been with the Timberwolves, is in the middle of a huge soap opera in his native New York. The Knicks don't want him anymore and he's refusing a buyout. So since day one, he's been on the sidelines.

But with injuries mounting, the Knicks, according to the New York Times, asked Marbury to play this week and he reportedly refused. Today, the team suspended him for one game. So he won't play in a game he wasn't going to play in anyway. Tough love.

Miami, Boston, the Clippers and Dallas are said to be interested in taking Marbury off the Knicks' hands. Boston, of course, is where Kevin Garnett plays. But the city has good pizza.

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The face of the Mumbai attacks

Posted at 10:16 PM on November 28, 2008 by Bob Collins (0 Comments)
Filed under: News, War

This picture that I posted here on Wednesday is the poster for the attacks in Mumbai.

NPR commentator Sandip Roy says the image has haunted him since the violence started on Wednesday. "His message was loud and clear. He said to India, 'pay attention to me,'" Roy said.

What happened to this one? I don't know, of course, but I think I found another picture of him today in the Boston Globe's excellent slideshow.

And another one a few seconds later.

I'm pretty sure it's the same guy. The picture was taken by Mumbai Mirror photo editor Sebastian D'souza, and they're a good reminder that news photographers are either brave, foolish or a little of both

The Independent (UK) tracked him down:

But what angered Mr D'Souza almost as much were the masses of armed police hiding in the area who simply refused to shoot back. "There were armed policemen hiding all around the station but none of them did anything," he said. "At one point, I ran up to them and told them to use their weapons. I said, 'Shoot them, they're sitting ducks!' but they just didn't shoot back."

As the gunmen fired at policemen taking cover across the street, Mr D'Souza realised a train was pulling into the station unaware of the horror within. "I couldn't believe it. We rushed to the platform and told everyone to head towards the back of the station. Those who were older and couldn't run, we told them to stay put."

The militants returned inside the station and headed towards a rear exit towards Chowpatty Beach. Mr D'Souza added: "I told some policemen the gunmen had moved towards the rear of the station but they refused to follow them. What is the point if having policemen with guns if they refuse to use them? I only wish I had a gun rather than a camera."
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Other notes from Mumbai: Sen. Satveer Chaudhary got plenty of coverage in India's Economic Times with a statement that the attacks will hurt the U.S. economy........ AFP quotes a Minnesota backpacker who was on the scene..... Delta/Northwest resuming flights to Mumbai on Saturday.

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