Though those of us in the journalism racket always bemoan August for its dearth of news, there really isn't a slower period than between Christmas and New Year's. It's almost painful to try to extract some nuggets of news when most people are away and those who are around have nothing much to say beyond mumbling about the need to diet in the new year.
That's part of the reason that newspapers long ago devised the space-filling trick of end-of-the-year wraps that hit the highlights of what they reported since the last deadly slow period after Christmas. I have no idea if anyone actually reads these things, but they're a staple of the business.
I don't think my week is going to be that slow, however, given the looming possibility that the Press will close down in mid-January. This afternoon, in fact, state lawmakers and development officials will be meeeting on that very issue, perhaps emerging to give us some clue about what might be happening behind closed doors.
And there's the increasingly dire budget situation that threatens to tear apart the fabric of local and state government as officials scramble to find billions of extra dollars. They know taxpayers are barely afloat already so options are tough to come by. Bristol may be in better shape than many cities, but it faces some tough choices, too, and soon.
I have a few odds and ends to catch up on -- I'm starting to realize there's no reason to wait on anything any longer since the paper's days may be drawing short -- but I'm always looking for more. Anything going on out there?
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
6 comments:
Here's a story for you.
The Bristol Press is dying and no one can save it.
LOL!
Some people get their kicks in very strange ways.
Hopefully someone will step up and take over the Bristol Press. I think things will have to change in terms of revenue streams, etc., but I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
I haven't agreed with Steve on every aspect of the Press' current or future state, but I'm not sure how the closure of the newspaper is deserving of an LOL. It is a sad situation, although one that the community needs to accept. I'd be quite interested to learn how the loss of so many jobs is at all a funny tale.
10:56 - yawn
Steve, how about a follow up on Wards monitoring of car usage and requiring daily reports?
Or if his plan to slim down city employess by cutting food costs is working?
Or a report on just how much economic development the BDA has accomplished in the past three years?
Or if Ward is going to go to work for Larson?
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