No Famous Editorials
Famous being purchased by the Fresno Bee has been blogged about as far away as Massachusetts and as close as Bakersfield. But not one editorial letter in the Opinion section of the Bee.
I decided to change that by sending a letter to the Bee myself. Bee Editors apparently didn't find it worthy because they aren't publishing it. I've even sent in a couple different versions, still nothing. Maybe the writing just sucks - I admit it isn't great. Or, maybe they don't like the content of it.
Either way, since they aren't publishing it, I will:
So, McClatchy's Fresno Bee has bought FresnoFamous.com. To borrow from the Bee, I would like to say 'Thumbs Up' to the Bee for putting their ego aside and saying "If you can't beat 'em, assimilate 'em."
It will be interesting to see if the Bee can keep to their promise of not meddling with the site and letting the Fresno Famous users dictate the bulk of the content and style. I know the Famous users will keep a watchful eye.
Yes, not all letters make it into the Bee, but I always find the ones about local issues more interesting, rather than what somebody from Clovis thinks of Iraq.
Agreed--it's kinda weird
that the Bee wouldn't write about the purch...
But, not a surprise. Letters to the Editor, IMO, are nowadays just alot of lip-service to the idea of interaction. They're sliced and diced to suit the Management.
It's only out here, where we're not limited by wordcounts and column width, that we have the freedom to have conversations on *all* the issues, not just the ones given the seal of approval.
and thanks for the link to my little ole blog in Mass :-) it was great "breaking" that story for the East Coast
now there's an upstanding bi-ped...
Hey wiff... cute spine... I like it, I've always found it to be one of your better traits, (serious...)
Don't sweat the Bee...
-we need to join forces with Boris and Natasha, and make big plans for moose and squirrel....
-you rock, bwana...
(...now I have to go find a copy of the Bee and read it... and it's in the Dog vs. Cat section no less...)
hoppy gnu ear
-and what in the name of all that is sacred is a 'weenie arm???'
Sorry 'bout that Russ
Yea, so, I go digging through my blue recycle bin and there it is. Saturday's paper. The letter in question. Very sorry, the BEE WILL post your letters about Fresno Famous. Admit it though, it was much more interesting if the letter wasn't printed.
I had a little plan; I was secretly hoping you WOULDN'T print it so I could rake you guys...dammit! I will likely send my next letter through Amos so my idiot ways will be caught ahead of time.
Excuse me, I've got to go wipe some egg off of my face then eat some crow.
i'll help
wiffle - next time you want a letter published, send it to me before you forward it on to the bumbling bee and i'll add some flava to it. Bees like honey and i'm sweet you see, so it's a no brainer.
...ouch
...just when things get up to a full head of steam, reason and facts have to go gettin introduced...
(...still trying to figure out what a 'weenie arm,' is from the other string, though...)
FYI...
I'm the Bee editor who handles letters to the editor, so I was interested to see this post. It really rang a bell. Turns out we did publish the letter from Wiffle, on Saturday, Dec. 30. We appreciate the attention to our letters page.
Marketing vs. News
The reason that the purchase has not made the editorial page probably has to do with how the "powers that be" at the BEE view the acquisition of FF.
The BEE, like all other newspapers in the country, is faced with BOTH a declining and aging readership. Their main competition being not other newspapers, but the internet in general and the blogosphere in particular.
I would imagine that the acquisition of FF by the BEE is viewed as a marketing ploy, one aimed at cementing their "readership," i.e., directing folks back to the newspaper.
If this is the case, it's unfortunate. The "SHIFT" that is occurring in how the majority of Americans get their news is essential in nature. This is not like the competition in the 1950's between movies and television where the vehicle of entertainment was in question, not really the content.
In fact, I believe the BEE tried to create its own blog, without much success.
Initially, the BEE will probably leave things as they are. But when it is discovered that owning FF DOES NOT drive people to read the BEE, that's when the itch to tinker with FF will kick in.
Loyolalaw98
Fresno Famous picked as one of Top Ten Placeblogs in US
Thought you might like to know about this: http://www.placeblogger.com/blog/lisa-williams/top-ten-placeblogs-in-ame...
I found out via BoingBoing.
Congrats!
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