February 1, 2005
Examining the Examiner
As you may have noticed, we got a new newspaper today, the Examiner, a free daily transplant from San Francisco, where the rents are higher but the buses run more frequently.
Although I usually read Express because nothing gets me informed and ready to start the day like wire copy and snarky photo captions, I picked up a copy of the new rag. The first thing that struck me about the Ex is that they have traffic tips -- lists of possible delays caused by scheduled repairs. If this newspaper is free, people won't pay to get it delivered to their homes. If they don't get it delivered, they're picking it up outside, probably near a train station or bus stop on the way to work. If they drive and they get a copy, they're not going to open it until they reach their destination because you can't read a newspaper and drive, whether it's a tabloid or a broadsheet. I can't see how anybody benefits from traffic reports in a newspaper not designed for reading at home.
Then there is the op-ed section, called "American Conversation." The introductory article, by Editorial page editor "Dave," said the pages would be a little different than traditional sections in terms of layout and article format. Sounds good. What didn't sound good was the introduction to the editorial page's philosophy, which is essentially the stock phrasing of Republican code-words. Unlike the occasionally entertaining Moonie Times, the whole thing seemed more like an apparatchik's ode to Bush rather than the genuine rantings of a mouth-breathing reactionary. The lead editorial: "Hope blossoms where Bush plants democracy."
Gag me with a spoon!
Then send that spoon to Turkmenistan or Saudi Arabia, explaining how Bush made their countries democratic.
Unlike the Moonies, however, there was one token liberal column, a "humor" piece "mocking" Sean Hannity. Not funny. Next!
And don't even get me started on their "Arts" coverage. A review of the new Mannheim Steamroller album? Puh-leeze. The Ex is a boring exurban daily full of wire copy masquerading as an urban free minipaper. Give it up and go to Sterling.
UPDATE: Genius thinks alike, as proven by the fact that DCist posted a story with the same title at about the same time.
UPDATE 2: Apparently there are a lot of people who get this paper at home, against their will. It's still dumb to have a traffic report in the paper, as they're more up-to-date on TV or the radio.
Posted by rj3 at February 1, 2005 8:42 AM
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Comments
Did you check out the music review of Louis XIV? There were more words written about the name and the cover art than the songs. I stopped reading about 3/4 of the way through, when they got around to talking about the FIRST SONG. What is this, 11th grade exposition class?
Posted by: John at February 1, 2005 10:48 AM
No, I didn't get that far into the article - I stuck with the Mannheim Steamroller, since I'm a closet 'steamhead. Not.
Posted by: rj at February 1, 2005 10:54 AM
We didn't get the Examiner out at Grovesnor this morning, but oddly enough, there were people handing out copies of The Epoch Times, an English language national newspaper heavy on the China coverage. Very odd.
http://www.theepochtimes.com/
I propose we make a broadsheet version of DCSOB and start handing it out to people at Farragut North.
Posted by: Aaron G. at February 1, 2005 11:01 AM
It does faze me to see your header on crime and DC, but I could get used to snow in phases.
Posted by: sharonc at February 1, 2005 11:53 AM
I here you on Turkmenistan. This guy names the days of the week after himself, changes the currency, has a statue that rotates to greet the sun, and yet we never hear anything about freeing his people. It's not democracy or freedom which is causing Bush to keep his eyes on Iraq and Iran.
On a more general note, although I didn't see the Examiner this morning, I have been generally disappointed in the writing quality in Express. Nothing important to the city is in there at all. They dedicate more space to Brittney and Madonna than to real issues. It's more fitting to read in the bathroom than on the metro.
Posted by: viniosity at February 1, 2005 2:27 PM
The Examiner does do free delivery; you are making blogging look bad. Do your research before editorializing an entire first paragraph: "The company's emphasis is on home delivery, Monday through Saturday, target of adults aged 21 to 49, skewing female, and with an income of at least $75,000." (http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000780461)
Another article: "Plans are to put 260,000 newspapers on doorsteps and in newspaper boxes throughout Washington, suburban Maryland and northern Virginia." (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~33~2650214,00.html).
Posted by: rb at February 1, 2005 2:32 PM
What's the deal with the Epoch Times, anyway? I see it handed out every few days or so at Ju-Squa, and, while I usually avoid anything handed out at Metro exits, the presence of the word 'Epoch' makes me thing it's some kind of neo-fundie rag, and I steer extra clear.
Posted by: Matthew :) at February 1, 2005 6:16 PM
Saudi Arabia starts its first nation-wide elections next week. Is that the sort of "democratizing" influence you had in mind?
Posted by: John Burgess at February 7, 2005 10:02 PM