  Realitycheck Member Username: Realitycheck Post Number: 317 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 68.41.173.240 |
"Frankly, on our prototypes it looked too busy and clunky to have Sunday Detroit Free Press, so we decided to go with just Sunday Free Press." -- Caesar Andrews, executive editor at biz conf in Pontiac, May 5 I kid you not, that was his straight-faced reply to a questioner (. . . OK, to me), when I asked what the front-page nameplate would say on this Sunday's "historic" (his word) Free Press-only edition. (Detroit stays in weekday + Saturday nameplates . . . for now.) Audience members gasped audibly when he confirmed that the recent leak to the Metro Times was accurate, and he acknowledged: Andrews told the gathering of PR folks that hhis paper's "continued commitment to Detroit" should be judged by its coverage of city news and events. "We're quite open and quite interested in hearing what the public has to say about our new Sunday product." BTW, it'll also include a weekly magazine "aimed at women" and called Twist. ( . . . 'cause it's for twisted sisters, you suppose?) Anyhow, seeing as how he's "interested in hearing what the public has to say": candrews@freepress.com | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 7336 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 198.208.159.19 |
Detroit Free Press Sunday Free Press Not too different in size and if you can't figure out that it is a Sunday edition then you probably can't read the paper itself. Of course it is irrelevant to me. I would rather they concentrate on improving the content than the look of the headline. A pretty front page with sections of crap journalism isn't what is needed. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2053 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.150.189 |
Well I wonder if this is so that they get more outstate sales for their Sunday paper. To say it looked too busy is nothing but a smokescreen to eventually get away from using the word "DETROIT" in their papers. Talk about insulting our intelligence. Boy first we went from National Bank of Detoit to NBD.... and Detroit Bank & Trust to Comerica... and Detroit Edison to DTE Energy.... I guess even business decisions are based on the anti-Detroit bias. | ||
1953 Member Username: 1953 Post Number: 808 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 209.104.146.146 |
I propose a boycott until they bring Detroit back. | ||
Pffft Member Username: Pffft Post Number: 912 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 12.34.51.20 |
Paper, singular. It's the Free Press' decision alone. | ||
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 345 Registered: 09-2005 Posted From: 198.103.184.76 |
The Toronto Star runs as "The Sunday Star" on Sundays. | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 670 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 68.40.119.216 |
Another jackass decision by an idiot who has no sense of history or sense at all!!! | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2054 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.150.189 |
Thanks Upinottawa.... that kinda takes a little of the sting away. I agree with Jt1.... if you can't figure out what day it is.... why bother. But hasn't it been the "DETROIT FREE PRESS" since 1843? (Message edited by Gistok on May 05, 2006) | ||
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 347 Registered: 09-2005 Posted From: 198.103.184.76 |
Actually, the Toronto Star even runs as "The Saturday Star" on Saturdays. | ||
Supersport Member Username: Supersport Post Number: 10038 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.118.137.226 |
I think it's racist! | ||
Supersport Member Username: Supersport Post Number: 10039 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.118.137.226 |
ps...we should boycott the suburbs! | ||
The_aram Member Username: The_aram Post Number: 4845 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.124.8 |
more thin-skinned whiny bullshit. "oh my god, the Free Press hates Detroit! grab the torches! LET'S ROLL!" | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 7337 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 198.208.159.19 |
^^More pointless commentary. | ||
Supersport Member Username: Supersport Post Number: 10040 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.118.137.226 |
GOT TORCH? | ||
Dialh4hipster Member Username: Dialh4hipster Post Number: 1591 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.250.205.35 |
This is a really good example of people getting worked up over something that is NOT the problem. | ||
Realitycheck Member Username: Realitycheck Post Number: 318 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 68.41.173.240 |
Gistock asks: Actually, since this very day -- coincidentally -- in 1831: Detroit Free Press history: On guard since 1831 The Detroit Free Press, one of the nation's oldest newspapers, was founded on May 5, 1831. From: http://www.freep.com/legacy/jo bspage/club/fphist.htm On guard against just what or whom these days, one might well ask. Oh, right, we've already gone there . . . | ||
Shark Member Username: Shark Post Number: 221 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 65.42.242.198 |
It is just funny that they even need to include the word "sunday" on the front page. Most of us usually know what day it is, and if we don't remember, getting a ten pound paper as thick as a dictionary is reminder enough. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3647 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
"Audience members gasped audibly when he confirmed that the recent leak to the Metro Times was accurate, and he acknowledged..." Now, I think it's a rash decision, but I'm just imagining a bunch of overly dramatic, uptight media-types in chairs, back of hand to their foreheads, fainting, complete with the "why I never..." like they used to in the old days as almost a courtesy. lol | ||
The_aram Member Username: The_aram Post Number: 4846 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.124.8 |
Not really. Just pointing out the fact that people are getting all worked up over another non-issue. | ||
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026 Post Number: 777 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 24.231.189.137 |
considering you rag on detroit every thread you actually post in, why do you bother? You never have anything but cynicism and negativity for the city....why bother with DetroitYES? | ||
The_aram Member Username: The_aram Post Number: 4847 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.124.8 |
Yawn. Whatever, kid. Don't you have a senior prom to be getting ready for? | ||
Blessyouboys Member Username: Blessyouboys Post Number: 411 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 69.209.162.158 |
Sorry aram, you're going to have to excuse us again. As you know, we don't have any your exclusive insights and nor do we posses even an ounce of your coolness. Yawn. | ||
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026 Post Number: 778 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 24.231.189.137 |
You're right Blessyouboys. What a jerk. | ||
The_aram Member Username: The_aram Post Number: 4849 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.124.8 |
Seriously, man. You're going to come in here and judge that every post i've ever made is negative about Detroit? where in my posts in this thread have I been "negative about Detroit"? show me. go ahead. and go back and read every post i've ever made on this Forum since, what, January of 2003 or so, and tell me i've only brought negativity to the table. go ahead. you're mistaking "cynicism and negativity" with not being a rah-rah cheerleader with thin skin about what people say about Detroit. | ||
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026 Post Number: 779 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 24.231.189.137 |
*roll eyes* Yawn.  | ||
The_aram Member Username: The_aram Post Number: 4850 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.124.8 |
Like I said. Go ahead. Prove it. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2056 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.3.235 |
Trying to stay above the fray..... The 2nd oldest newspaper in Detroit (founded in 1849) was called the "DETROITER ABEND POST" (Detroit Evening News), a German language weekly that is still produced today. But they moved to Troy in the 1980's and changed their name to "NORDAMERIKANISCHE WOCHENEND POST" (North American Weekend News).... and in very small letters under the title it still says "formerly the Detroiter Abend Post". Some folks feel strongly enough about the name "Detroit" to not want it to end up as a small footnote on a major newspaper. Can't blame them. Lets see they closed down the Detroit Free Press plant on the river (operations now in Sterling Heights), they exited the Detroit Free Press Building.... sounds like Deja Vu all over again. (Message edited by Gistok on May 05, 2006) | ||
The_aram Member Username: The_aram Post Number: 4852 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.124.8 |
We're talking about the Sunday paper here. They're not changing the name of the newspaper- only what's on the top of the front page on Sundays. This is not the end of the world. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2058 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.3.235 |
Yes Aram.... but there are so many slippery slopes we can go down.... | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 616 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.242.223.42 |
So what is the circulation of the NORDAMERIKANISCHE WOCHENEND POST? When I was serving in the Army in 1968 and was stationed at the Quartermaster Corps at Fort Lee, I had the Milwaukee Deutsche Zeitung und Abendpost delivered by mail five days/week. By 1970 or soon thereafter, it was only a 4 day/week paper and eventually only came out every two weeks. I came across this blurb of 15 years ago: "The Detroiter Abend-Post Publishing Co., publisher of the German-language weekly Nordamerikanische Wochen-Post , has acquired and closed both the Milwaukee and Chicago editions of the German-language weekly Sonntagspost und Milwaukee Deutsche Zeitung , published by the Abendpost Co. of Omaha, Nebraska. The two acquired newspapers ceased publication as of Sept. 28 (1991). The two editions of the Sonntagspost had readership of about 6,500..." | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1478 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 69.221.39.177 |
Why does it need to even say Sunday on the nameplate??? I think we all know what day it is...it gives the date right below the nameplate. Doesn't affect me, I only read the local piece of shit newspapers in print if they are handed to me for free or if there is terribly earth-shattering local news where I absolutely need their perspective (generally once a year) and want to keep a print edition for myself. You guys should be more fired up about the fact that both papers are now printed outside the city...or the fact that they are greatly expanding their suburban facilities and news coverage (how many of the writers can be reached at "(248)...?") but I have not seen or heard of any investment or expansion in their downtown offices. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 2507 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.47.100.44 |
They can call it the Daily Fish Wrap for all I care. As long as the content is still somewhat good it doesn't matter to me. If some marketing big wig thinks it'll help them sell more papers across the state and not just make it seem like a regional paper, then so be it. I'm here in Detroit so I'll read it regardless of what the masthead says. | ||
Gumby Member Username: Gumby Post Number: 1149 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 204.39.224.117 |
Slipery Slopes? Where? I love sledding! Please folks you are way over-reacting. It is just for sunday, like Aram said they aren't changing the name of the paper. Give Aram a break kids, contrary to your misguided thoughts he actually likes Detroit. And he seems like a pretty nice guy from when I met him at the first picnic (I was a little distracted at the second one to mingle ). | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3663 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
"Someone get the smelling salts. I seem to be getting the vapors." *said with back of hand pressed against forehead, swooning with righteous indignation at the thought of the word Detroit being taken out of the Sunday edition...faints, then falls out chair* Talk about dramatics... | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2408 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 130.132.123.28 |
I hear the Michigan Citizen is changing its name to Southfield Citizen ... | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2409 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.234.183.131 |
... at least the Metro Times is staying true to its roots .... | ||
Hooha Member Username: Hooha Post Number: 110 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 24.145.153.182 |
The Metro Times hates Detroit. Otherwise they'd call themselves the Metro-Detroit Times. | ||
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit Post Number: 446 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.176.190 |
womp womp womp | ||
Bongman Member Username: Bongman Post Number: 1063 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 198.111.56.128 |
It would be curious to see some stats as to who actually reads the paper in printed form these days. Probably the same folks who still watch the news at 6:30pm on a major network ? We used to have a couple newspaper stands on Campus, but they were taken out long ago. Can't say I've seen many young people reading the paper on a regular basis. It's so 20th century ! | ||
Oldredfordette Member Username: Oldredfordette Post Number: 693 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 68.60.177.56 |
The downtown facilities are being changed around but not exactly renovated or upgraded. The assorted graphic departments are being consolidated in Detroit (at the moment, it's too expensive to move the whole shebang to Sterling Heights, best guess is two years from now). Some of the work from the Observer Eccentic papers is coming downtown. The riverfront property is too valuable to be used as production, especially if you don't give a rat's ass about the city. Sterling Heights needed to be rewarded for using their police force as a private security firm during the strike. So they got the new high tech printing presses, Detroit got the shaft. This move to the suburbs has been planned for a long time. Most big city papers through out the country is doing the same. Another depressing trend. | ||
Tayshaun22 Member Username: Tayshaun22 Post Number: 130 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 69.14.101.116 |
They're doing it for Supersport because when he wakes up Sunday still drunk he needs to know what day it is. | ||
Realitycheck Member Username: Realitycheck Post Number: 321 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 68.41.173.240 |
If you haven't yet seen today's "we're back" front page, a virtually Detroit-free zone untainted by the dreaded D-word in display type, here's part of what Paul Anger, editor and vice-president, says in a note to readers: OK now, you heard the man. | ||
Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2 Post Number: 202 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 71.10.61.35 |
Has anyone heard of the cliche "Choose your battles well because you can't fight them all."? Livedog2 | ||
Ro_resident Member Username: Ro_resident Post Number: 158 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.14.126.140 |
As a subscriber (actually, a News subscriber), my Sunday paper came with a brand-spanking new copy of the Detroit Almanac. It was a pleasant surprise. | ||
Fastcarsfreedom Member Username: Fastcarsfreedom Post Number: 33 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 67.71.57.150 |
The backlash over this decision is surprising. I acknowledge there is a historical angle here--and that one I respect--but Gannett's decision to call the Sunday paper simply the "Sunday Free Press" is a marketing decision, and shouldn't be viewed as some sort of slight against the City of Detroit. If "regionalizing" the name of the paper helps circulation, maybe Detroit can actually hang on to the prestige of having two dailies--something a lot more important than the nameplate on the Sunday paper. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the previous shared Sunday paper called The Detroit News & Free Press? Using this logic it should have been The Detroit News & Detroit Free Press. Seriously, if you're that upset about this--buy the News, MediaNews Group will thank you. Better yet--why not have a look at the Oakland Press or Macomb Daily. As for Comerica, DTE and the late-great NBD--these are all businesses that grew and began to do business outside of the Detroit area--so the new names made sense. I think maintaining headquarters for a bank like Comerica is a heck of a lot more important than clinging to the pride of having "Detroit" in the name. This is a broad trend, and no one in Detroit should be particularly offended by it. Fifth Third once had Cincinnati in it's name, Bank of America is primarily comprised of what was North Carloina National Bank, etc. | ||
Hysteria Member Username: Hysteria Post Number: 175 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 64.12.116.204 |
Good post Fastcarsfreedom. | ||
Pffft Member Username: Pffft Post Number: 913 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 68.248.6.1 |
Gannett prefers the exurbs and suburbs, to big cities. You will see lots of coverage of Macomb County to the east, Novi to the west and all the distant townships, in the Free Press. It's marketing, but it's also content. | ||
Bob Member Username: Bob Post Number: 954 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
Isn't the Free Press supposed to be the mroe liberal of the two Detroit dailies. If they are marketing to Novi, exurbs, etc, which tend to be more Republican (Detroit News base) either they are trying to change what they have been, or this is not true. I personally do not get my news from any one source, but multiple ones, especially since there are so many mistakes of fact in the freep and detnews that we seem to find through this forum. | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 57 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 69.136.155.244 |
MediaNews Group, the new owners of The Detroit News, recently quit publishing the weekly suburban "Neighborhood News" sections that were started by Gannett before they sold out and bought the Detroit Free Press. This must be solid evidence that "Gannett prefers the exurbs and suburbs" and that it was a losing business strategy, right? Those who get all bent out of shape over the new masthead on the Sunday Free Press apparently think that that every business decision is part of a zero-sum game: Detroit gets diminished and the suburbs surely gain from it. Therefore, it logically follows that when suburban readers lose something, then Detroiters will gain, right? Wrong - the resources freed up by the closing of the "Neighborhood News" bureaus were not redeployed to the News' city desk, they were given buyout packages and sent packing. In the final analysis, the newspaper business has always been about advertising dollars, disposable income, the number of eyeballs reading their product and the degree of trust those readers have in what they are reading. The old, ink-on-paper, "push" model of dispensing what reporters and editors want us to read, feel and think is pretty much obsolete. Until they hopefully find a new and successful business model, expect many more changes to come at the "Freep" and the "Gray Lady", regardless of the names of the owners. | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 625 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.242.223.42 |
If the two "Detroit" dailies had to rely on the city of Detroit for their advertising base, they surely would have died decades ago. Hell, the city has less than 20% of the metropolitan population. Even less than that if the four other counties are included. It only a matter of time before the Detroit contingent on this forum bitches that "their" two papers were "stolen" from them, just like all their other losses. | ||
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026 Post Number: 786 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 24.231.189.137 |
good point about the advertising. Although GM/Comerica are heavy advertisers | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 626 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.242.223.42 |
"Although GM/Comerica are heavy advertisers" Those two firms pay for their advertising, but they primarily target those with money to spend for vehicles and banking services, clearly toward those living outside the city. I'd wager (and win) that the 20% figure would be very much less when disposable income is considered. (Message edited by LivernoisYard on May 07, 2006) | ||
Chitaku Member Username: Chitaku Post Number: 281 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 68.43.107.72 |
Both Papers are a joke, I get better news on this forum | ||
Pffft Member Username: Pffft Post Number: 914 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 68.248.6.1 |
MikeG, you'd better ask the Neighborhood News reporters who are working in various depts. around the News about your theory. People close to retirement took the buyout, not the Neighborhood News staff, who are virtually all still there. | ||
Pffft Member Username: Pffft Post Number: 915 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 68.248.6.1 |
Plus, Bob said: "Isn't the Free Press supposed to be the more liberal of the two Detroit dailies." ROFLMAO .... (Message edited by pffft on May 07, 2006) | ||
The_aram Member Username: The_aram Post Number: 4855 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.124.8 |
Cross-reference: the "Mildred Gaddis is a MAN" thread. | ||
Fastcarsfreedom Member Username: Fastcarsfreedom Post Number: 34 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 67.71.57.68 |
Plenty of people on here slagging the News and the Free Press. Watch one disappear and hear the same people crying about corporate America giving the shaft to Detroit. Criticism and dissent are healthy things, but when you look at the big picture, thank goodness for Gannett and MediaNews Group being willing to invest in Southeastern Michigan. There are many people who believe keeping two important media outlets is important--and let us not forget that having two dailies puts Detroit among an increasingly small and elite group of cities in the country. No doubt MediaNews will take The Detroit News further to the right, but that's a good thing--it has helped them immensely in Denver where they have revived the once moribund Denver Post. If The News carves itself out a niche in Oakland County--good for The News, and good for all of us. Journal Register/21st Century has been chewing away at both Detroit paper's lunch in the suburbs and exurbs with the Oakland Press and Macomb Daily. | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 58 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 69.136.155.244 |
Pffft, let me try again - just for you: "the RESOURCES freed up by the closing of the "Neighborhood News" bureaus were not redeployed to the News' city desk, they (FREED-UP RESOURCES, not the "Neighborhood News" reporters) were given buyout packages and sent packing." | ||
Pffft Member Username: Pffft Post Number: 916 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 68.248.6.1 |
Awwww, Mikeg, so let me try again, for the reading-impaired. The NN staff was deployed all over DN editorial, including metro. Savvy? Ask Mike Elrick how much the new Gannett FP wants to cover the city. |
