|
|
|
|
One friend still working in the Star-Bulletin newsroom responded to the question of advertising revenues. His assessment: Ad volume is still below the break even point for the S-B, but it's just about exactly where the business plan projected and appears to be steadily increasing, so management is happy. At this pace, they're expecting to achieve profitability this summer.With Meda out of town most of the week, I had more time--too much time, perhaps-- for introspection. A request to write a brief piece for the newsletter of the local Society of Professional Journalists chapter triggered long bouts of reflection. After several silent commutes into town undisturbed by the normal conversations, I finally articulated, at least to myself, the issue that rankles the most about my departure from the Star-Bulletin. It isn't just the loss of a job, as I've walked away from more rewarding, if less well paid, jobs in the past for my own reasons. No, it's something else that's been bothering me.
I belatedly realize it's the hypocrisy of those who were so afraid of this modest foray into journal-ism that it seemed clear to them I had to go. If I had just ended this journal when questions were first raised by folks higher on the ladder of corporate authority, or if I had restricted myself to writing things critical of the other guys, I might have been ok. But I didn't. I pushed ahead, and, frankly, at the time I wasn't really sure why.
Somewhere on the drive in the shadow of the majestic Koolaus yesterday, it dawned on me. Hypocrisy . Here's the hypocritical part. I wasn't the one who made the Star-Bulletin and its fate a public policy issue. That was done by others--by Save Our Star-Bulletin, by the State of Hawaii via its lawsuit, by the Newspaper Guild and the other unions, all moves enthusiastically embraced by Star-Bulletin, its editors and the new owners. The new Star-Bulletin has continually played this tune to readers, advertisers, subscribers, and other community observers, asking them to join in--the continued existence of the Star-Bulletin isn't just a matter of recouping David Black's investment or assuring continued salaries for staff and highly paid managers. No, it's a public issue, a matter of public good, a civic virtue the community has been asked to rally around. This appeal to the public conscience has been central to the Star-Bulletin's struggle to survive.
I made the mistake of believing that it actually is a public issue ultimately transcending the particulars of our personal situations and, as a matter of public importance, deserves--no, demands--to be addressed honestly and directly. We were asking the public to step up and support the Star-Bulletin, and I felt a responsibility to be candid about what was going on "behind the scenes" in the newsroom at the center of the issue, even when it was uncomfortable for myself or other, although no one could have accused this diary of being unfriendly to the Star-Bulletin at any point.
Those on the other side of the issue liken the situation to warfare. I was, they believed, giving up secrets to the enemy and in the process being a traitor to the Star-Bulletin's cause. Even seemingly innocuous and well intentioned commentary could, in the wrong hands, hurt the paper, or so they said. This was, quite literally, what I was told.
But that is, of course, something journalists traditionally have heard from national security managers in those moments of crisis when propaganda and "truth" diverge more than is usual. The appropriate response didn't occur to me at the time, although it seems clear to me now. Journalists, even in times of war, have a responsibility to rise above the level of propaganda, to seek and publish more of the truth than is comfortable to combatants on either side. It's admittedly difficult terrain, but I thought it was what we signed on for when we began posing as professional journalists. We shouldn't allow ourselves to be reduced to serving as corporate propagandists any more than government propagandists.
"Get used to it," as reporters and newspaper editors are wont to tell complaining politicians. Hey, if you don't want to endure public scrutiny, then perhaps you shouldn't be in public office. And if your newspaper can't take some modest and friendly public scrutiny, then be honest about it, drop the syrupy appeal to shared public values and civic responsibilities, admit that it's just a private business venture, do your best, and leave the public interest claims to more worthy causes.
Whew. I guess that was something waiting to be said, although I didn't realize it was lurking back there. More than enough venting for now.
Kaaawa, Friday, April 20
There's a story going around the Star-Bulletin newsroom of a Gannett/Honolulu Advertiser reporter who was injured in a fall from his roof. Apparently he fractured his elbow along with other injuries. But when he called in sick, he was ordered to report to work so injuries could be evaluated, including a phone call to his doctor for additional evidence of the injury. More of that supportive management style.Meanwhile, 'Tiser belt-tightening is underway more generally, with restrictions on overtime and other expenses. These may reflect the costs being incurred for home delivery of the Advertiser's p.m. edition and other expenses attributable to the newspaper war, but could also be part of Gannett's overall attempt to restore profitability. The company reported earlier this week that first quarter revenues were up 19 percent, but profits fell 14 percent from the same period last year, with blame going to a nationwide slump in advertising. An analyst quoted by Reuters called it Gannett's worst year in a decade and predicted results would not get better soon.
The Advertiser, of course, is dragged down by its launch of an afternoon edition delivered to homes. I recall an estimate circulating earlier that a second cycle of home delivery would cost Gannett upwards of $5 million annually, which is the reason most folks can't get the Star-Bulletin delivered to their homes in the morning. It just doesn't make business sense to deliver twice a day.
But it's tough to launch a newspaper in the midst of an advertising slowdown, as David Black's new Star-Bulletin is learning. There seems to be a lot of whispering around town that advertising in the S-B is a bit thin these days, leading to discussion of whether it's enough for the paper to survive. When I page through a typical issue, it seems like there's a reasonable amount of advertising, although it isn't known what kind of discounts either newspaper is offering to lock in customers. I'm sure there's vicious competition right now.
Someone asked me whether I think the Star-Bulletin will survive and then added, "do you care?" Well, despite all that's happened, I do care. I've got this irrational commitment to the Star-Bulletin, and to friends and former coworkers still trying to put out the best paper they can. Although the conservative tone of the paper makes me shudder, I don't think there's any question that competition forces both dailies to do more than they would on their own, so the Bulletin's survival benefits all, including staffers at the Advertiser.
Does this mean that I always prefer to read the Star-Bulletin? To be honest, no. My feeling right now is that I still prefer the Star-Bulletin overall, but the Advertiser's editorial stances are far more reasoned and reasonable, and it's local political coverage is richer than what the Bulletin provides. Those are powerful draws for readers in this market, I would guess.
Back in Kaaawa, I dragged myself out of bed early yesterday morning, made my way through the kitchen filling cat dishes as I moved, and over to the computer, where this fine email from a friend was waiting, a reminder of web pages past, or, it's nice to know your web creations are good for something.
it's the middle of the night, or the morning, and i, having eaten an entire 12-inch pizza at 7 p.m., which left me catatonic for five hours, but which now keeps me awake with nothing to do except to sit on a zafu in front of the sturdy coffee table which has been my computer desk for several years, and to paw at the keyboard, searching for signs of life in the virtual universe.
alas, too late for friends in the west to be up and a-typing, too early for friends in the east.
what to do, what to do.
hmmm, maybe i missed something on the ka a a a a a a a wa cat census.
i pore, i pore.
but, no, afraid not. there is one small victory, though. i finally notice something that will help me tell harry from her diary-author sister, lizzie. harry has a mask just like the lone ranger's, or batman's or zorro's. and lizzie has a mask with a certain je ne sais quoi. "purrrrlez vous, cherie?"one senses that's enough about the census.
on to chesney-lind central. might be something new there. or something old to spark a spark.
ahh. a nibble of hope. the anniversary menu:"Ian made up a garlic salmon steak cooked in lime juice, chopped sweet red pepper, ground jalapeno, and a sprinkle of garam masala, while Meda whipped up a Caesar salad."oh. my. god.
maybe there's a slice of pizza left.
if not, my old standby: tuna kim chee potato mac salad.
and just enough time left for another round of catatonia.
Lizzie, caught mid-slurp, must have been thinking about that garlic-lime salmon steak.
Click for details.
There's an underrated aspect of living in Kaaawa--it's quiet, especially at night, when the sounds of nature dominate. Wind, leaves, surf, rain. I rediscovered this earlier this week. To set the stage: We're in the midst of some landscape renovation, contracted for prior to the strike. Our house sits on about half of a large lot. The other half is at a lower level, about 15 feet below, and there's a slope separating the two parts of the lot. The lower part has remained "unimproved", for lack of a better word, except for a large banyan which we've had to trim back periodically. For years, we've vowed that "someday" we would clean up that lower level, conjuring up visions of Ian armed with cane knife and chain saw battling the jungle growth.This year, we broke, realizing we're never going to do that work, at least not in this lifetime. When a friend and former neighbor introduced us to a local landscaper based in relatively nearby Kaneohe, we moved quickly towards a deal, and Vernon Kawahara, of Kawahara Specialty Gardening, has had his team here clearing, preparing, and now planting the part that we see looking out the front of the house, including the area at the edge of our upper yard, the "hillside", and the mauka section of the lower lot. Large plants went in first, including several palms which, although previously growing in pots, must already be 12-15 feet high.
Finally to the point of this story. Tuesday night I was home alone. Meda left that morning to make a couple of presentations in Minneapolis. Most of the cats were out and about. And the world sounded different. At first I thought something was wrong, but after walking outside to check it out, I realized it was the sounds that are different. These palms added their own distinct sounds to the normal night. Their fronds are just different enough to lend their own unique timbre, adding a new movement to the nightly symphony of leaves.
I mentioned this to Vernon yesterday. He just shook his head. "You really do live in the country," he said. "In town, all you hear are the cars."
One down, one to go. The University of Hawaii's 13-day strike appears to be over with agreement on a new contract announced last night, while public school teachers resume both negotiations and picketing today.
Details of the UH deal aren't all available yet, but classes are expected to resume as soon as today as word spreads among faculty.
Teachers, though, face more of the same. Here's another sign that says it all, this one spotted at a school in Kaneohe while driving home yesterday. It was late in the afternoon and pickets had dispersed for the day, but there's no doubt about the impact of their strike. Schools are definitely closed.
Star-Bulletin staffers continue to be frustrated by the control that consultants wield over details of the look and content of the paper. They apparently have been setting parameters within which editors work, some probably more constraining than others. And now it appears the consultants will be around for a year, rather than the few months originally expected. Their vision of a newspaper follows some mainland model, accounting for the dearth of local touches noticed by many longtime subscribers. Meanwhile, Gannett flaunts its front page hibiscus. Go figure.
Two vignettes. One: A friend and longtime Star-Bulletin subscriber has had the paper delivered to her home for years. But since March 15, she's been unsuccessful. First, no paper at all. Then a paper, but it's left out on the street by the mailbox, which in her case is an uphill walk she is unable to make. Repeated efforts have failed to obtain delivery to her door, although HNA managed this easily enough in the past. She is reluctantly just about ready to give up and subscribe to the other paper if they can manage to deliver it successfully. Two: I got a call at home over the weekend from a California man seeking additional information about a Star-Bulletin news story. He said it was impossible to get through the new Star-Bulletin's phone system (Press 1 for blather, Press 2 for etc., etc.) and then, remembering my name, found my phone number through directory assistance and called here for assistance. So the Star-Bulletin's startup woes continue.
The education strike also continues. We pass teachers picketing at Kaaawa Elementary School every morning, usually stopping to talk. As is the case at most schools, 100% of teachers are out. We especially enjoyed the new sign that appeared this week: "Kaaawa Small but Mighty".
At the University of Hawaii, the state has exaggerated the number of faculty supposedly crossing the picket lines by counting those who are gone on leave, on sabbatical or traveling as among those not participating in the strike. So a faculty member spending the semester in New York is listed by the state as not on strike, which may be technically true but certainly underestimates the practical impact of the ongoing walkout.
After seeing our family income come to a screeching halt since the strike began, all that unwanted electronic "spam" is starting to look better and better, almost enticing enough to make me take a closer look at what's being offered. Steve (whoever he might be) says, "Become Financially Independent!" and promises it can be done in two years. Someone else writes--" Let us help you get out of debt NOW!" but no details accompany that offer. Another says--"Cut Your Monthly Payments By 50% ", without identifying the ad's sponsor. And then there's the message implying that the Legislature's debate over gambling can be sidestepped by direct citizen action-- "The only way to make money with a casino is to OWN ONE! OWN YOUR OWN INTERNET CASINO/SPORTSBOOK!" No experience necessary.Report from the vet: Ms. Miki is suffering from arthritis. Hopefully nothing else is lurking behind this ailment. She was sent home with 3 daily doses of pain killer, and we were advised to give her Glucosamine tablets for 6 weeks and see if they help.
Friday's run of bad luck appears to have run its course. No new problems yesterday, and I even had enough of a charge in old batteries to get a few photos with my backup camera.
One thing I realized is that although having my camera stolen was bad, the uncertainty about who stole it is even worse. I've found myself going through a mental checklist of neighbors, assessing whether they might be capable of walking in and out of our house with such a prize. Then there are reports of strangers seen in the neighborhood, visitors, delivery people, contractors, etc. It's doubtful, of course, that any of them were involved, but it's hard not to wonder, and harder to expel those seeds of doubt.
Sunrise, Kaaawa, April 15, 2001
Gannett's Honolulu Advertiser wasn't the only island newspaper absent from this year's Hawaii Publishers Association competition. The Maui News normally enters every year and has garnered its share of awards. This year, according to a Maui News source, "our carefully bound entries (and there were lots in every available category) were postmarked by the due date, but by the time they arrived in Honolulu, we were told we had missed the deadline. They were returned unopened."It must be tough for folks at the Star-Bulletin to work hard, win a pile of awards, but know the real competition was largely absent. Those wins, possible deserved, were instantly and unfortunately devalued.
It wouldn't be right to start a week without a bit of cat energy. Here's Ms. Lizzie, caught yesterday afternoon half way up a plumeria tree in our front year.
She's been busy with "search and devour" forays that have yielded a series of small rats, each one proudly delivered into the house. Harriet has participated in some of these hunts as well.
Meantime, Ms. Miki, the senior cat, is limping badly and will have to visit the vet later this morning.
Ms. Lizzie
April 15, 2001 - Easter Sunday
Today marks the one month anniversary of the "new" Star-Bulletin.Some of the startup problems at the new paper appear to have been solved during the first month, but internal communication apparently remains a problem. Newsroom staffers say there hasn't been a single staff meeting yet, despite an obvious need to address some common issues and concerns.
I belatedly noticed that, despite lip service to the Star-Bulletin's 118 years of continuous publication, the counter was reset to Volume 1, Number 1, when ownership changed back on March 15.
The Advertiser finally stopped our Sunday delivery, reducing the overall amount of paper to a manageable stack this morning. Despite all the tales of super deals being pushed to retain subscribers, no deals were ever offered to us, and we've gotten no solicitations beyond a cursory notice that our subscription was up.
On the other hand, we've gotten nothing from the Star-Bulletin either, so apparently that battle for circulation has its limits.
Search this site,
courtesy of the folks at Atomz.com
Since November 2, 1999
\*/.
