More MG News

[DrewWilson]

I cannot even begin to describe how saddened I was to hear the news out of Danville today. I feel horrible for all my former colleagues in that newsroom, especially Paul, Jason and Damien. They are a great group of guys who have made the best of what MG has done to them since I left last August.

It saddens me because I know how much was put into that sports section over the past five years by all that were a part of it. And now, that's basically about to erode from a solid, award-winning section to something that will be more of a burden on Lynchburg than something they'll want to take pride in because they'll have no direct connection to the Danville readers other than e-mailed stories from writers. I don't mean that as a knock on Lynchburg because I know most of those guys up there and they're all good people, but I think it's human nature to feel that way toward something you aren't emotionally connected to because you don't live there and don't fully associate with the readers of that area.

 

[JKelly12]

What he said, Bucknutty. I've watched from afar as others have lost jobs or battled uncertainty. Now I'm on the other side of the fence. I didn't think getting well wishes and sympathetic thoughts from others would make much difference. I was wrong. Thanks to all who have chimed in tonight.

 

[JKelly12]

Thanks, Drew. I appreciate it and I know Jason and Damien do as well. You've been nothing but class since I contacted you out of the blue last summer and asked you about the job. Your advice to someone who was a total stranger at the time remains very much appreciated, and your continuing contributions as a stringer have helped the section remain strong. Unfortunately, as you correctly point out, that cannot continue under the new model, even though that's a good bunch of guys up in Lynchburg. You just can't serve a community well from 65-70 miles away, no matter how hard you try.

 

[Hiro]

As another former R&Ber, my heart goes out. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a graveyard to whistle past.

Good luck to all of you. I'm sorry.

 

[JKelly12]

Thanks, Hiro. It's remarkable to see how large the R&B Alumni Association truly is.

 

[Mystery_Meat]

Thanks, Hiro. It's remarkable to see how large the R&B Alumni Association truly is.

Yeah, we could make a good newsroom out of it.

The Danvillian: A reputable newspaper for a disreputable town

 

[Keystone]

I heard something about the Piedmont Shopper trying to take over the R&B's legal ads. Wonder if its going to start a sports department, too.

 

[DrewWilson]

You could make a great newsroom just out of the sports alumni alone. A lot of talent has come through those doors.

Keystone, knowing what I know about the Piedmont Shopper, the extent of adding sports content would be running press releases or reader-generated material. I can't imagine them hiring a full-time position.

 

[SportsGuyBCK]

Eh, lay off the peons - or do so without actually doing so - and add another layer of management. Hope Graham enjoys his retirement.

Wonder how much he'll rake in with his retirement plan?

Don't want to know. Met the guy twice and was introduced both times. Our SE has been there waaaayyyyy longer than I have, yet every time he'd still get introduced to ol' Graham.

My last dealing with him - and it was hardly peer to peer - was when we relaunched in the fall. He really liked the look of the paper, but...

He couldn't understand why we were covering the Redskins (whose stadium is 15 miles from my house and whose headquarters are 25 miles, making them closer than some high schools we cover). So I'm told he called Donna Reed. She didn't know. So our EE got involved. I don't know... we cover them because they're far and away the most popular sports entity in the whole of our coverage area? In previous conversations with our EE, I was told that the concern over Redskins coverage was not 1) a money thing (see above); 2) a time thing (beyond prep football, I didn't do much else in the fall); 3) a readership thing (see above) or 4) a competency thing (since I made sincere efforts, when possible, to write something that the Post/Times/AP/Examiner wasn't going to have).

So that was the beginning of the end. Then it was up to me to seek out people from the county who went to the games and get their take on what happened. I tried, couldn't connect with anyone. And I made a real honest effort with it. So I knew it was a matter of time. Then, in January, we were told we would not be covering any DC pro sports in 2009. We could use AP, Richmond, blah blah blah...

I asked our EE whether she - or perhaps someone above her - was trying to say I was not a competent enough reporter and writer, since I had tried to distinguish our coverage from everyone else's. When they played St. Louis, the week after Linehan was fired, I got great quotes from Jansen, Samuels and Zorn on what it's like to be in a locker room where a midseason change is made. When possible, I tried to find my own way.

No no no, not at all, she said. It's just that our readers can get that info anywhere. I don't know if I banged my head off the table, but I should have.

So no more working the beat I enjoyed most. And, three weeks ago, no more writing for me period. When we had our round of layoffs, we let go of the ASE, who was our desk guy. I got picked as the person to pick up the desk. So no more doing what I enjoyed most period.

Yeah, I hope he enjoys his forking retirement. And sorry that you unwittingly released this torrent.

No apologies necessary ... you needed to vent ...

 

[Keystone]

You could make a great newsroom just out of the sports alumni alone. A lot of talent has come through those doors.

Keystone, knowing what I know about the Piedmont Shopper, the extent of adding sports content would be running press releases or reader-generated material. I can't imagine them hiring a full-time position.

Oh, I know that, too. But try telling that to a certain blogger with an axe to grind.

 

[DrewWilson]

You could make a great newsroom just out of the sports alumni alone. A lot of talent has come through those doors.

Keystone, knowing what I know about the Piedmont Shopper, the extent of adding sports content would be running press releases or reader-generated material. I can't imagine them hiring a full-time position.

Oh, I know that, too. But try telling that to a certain blogger with an axe to grind.

I think with MG shooting itself in the foot, there is no doubt that Danville would accept a grassroots newspaper to replace the Register & Bee. I've had people tell me that the idea has been tossed around by certain people in the community with the monetary resources to do it. But I'd feel sorry for anyone crazy enough to entrust that product's direction to a certain blogger with an axe to grind.

 

[Hiro]

You could make a great newsroom just out of the sports alumni alone. A lot of talent has come through those doors.

Keystone, knowing what I know about the Piedmont Shopper, the extent of adding sports content would be running press releases or reader-generated material. I can't imagine them hiring a full-time position.

We are the Oakland Athletics of mid-east-coast medium market sports sections. And just like the A's, we're all juiced!

Wait, not juiced. I meant <i>sauced</i>.