Secrets of the City

The PiPress does a story about Foursquare, which is sort of a hard thing to explain simply. You register with the Web page, and then, whenever you go out, you check in via cell phone and get points. What are the benefits? Well, mostly virtual, such as badges saying that you have completed certain challenges and, if you go someplace often enough, they’ll declare you mayor of that place. (Some business are trying to cash in on this by offering real-world benefits to Foursquare users.) Interviewed in the story include MnSpeak’s own Kaeti, Erica, Jason DeRusha, and Aaron.

Joe Soucheray finally discovers Twitter, doesn’t understand it, and doesn’t like it:  “I have yet to read an explanation of the phenomenon that can avoid pointing out that essentially it means nothing.”

Anybody want to explain it to him? There is a risk he will chase you off his lawn, you damned kids.

David Brauer takes a look at the comments on the online version of the Pioneer Press: … next to TMZ.com, PiPress comments are one of my guiltiest Internet pleasures, a Hieronymus Bosch hell of cheap shots and knee jerks. Where else could I enjoy someone named “DFL Nazis” assert that a reader concerned about global warming “likes drinking Rev Al Gore’s kool-aid and sniffing his farts.”

The Strib did a better job, but still they also leave out so much information that provide more scope to the issue. This is a national problem. Neither paper even used the word “gerrymandering” or provided any national prospective to the issue. I vented with much more detail in my blog.

But I guess I wanted to ask all of you: Do you see this often in the local press? Am I just now noticing it? By writing for only a local audience you are selling your local audience short on context of the local issue within a national problem?

Dean-O’s MediaNews reaches a deal with the guild. No strike!

A judge ruled today that Par Ridder must step down from his post at the Star Tribune for one year. That’ll teach you to take confidential information when taking a new job with your former employer’s direct competitor, mister!

(Strib, PiPress)

City Pages says the future looks bleak for the Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press. In the meanwhile, Lambert argues that things may be even worse for television news.

He does not joke about a rivalry between Minneapolis and St. Paul. (MP3 link)

Or, at least, someone claiming to be Par has a blog, and it’s hilarious.

Star Tribune publisher Par Ridder testified today that he took confidential information from the Pioneer Press when he left his position there, then distributed it to Star Tribune management. He also admitted taking non-compete agreements which prevented him and other Pioneer Press executives from taking jobs at the Star Tribune.