Secrets of the City

As David Brauer points out (with analysis),Bennett Gordon of the Utne Reader has gone ahead and physically weighed the Star Tribune to determine how much content is created locally: The paper fared better than the Columbia Daily Tribune, the paper tested by Shirky, where two-thirds of the news was acquired and only one-third was created. Still, out of more than 16 ounces of newspaper, just 2.3 were news created by the Star Tribune.

It’s widely agreed on that the comments section of the Star Tribune leaves a lot to be desired; it is, in the words of David Brauer, a cesspool. Brauer now reports that the Strib is taking action to drain that cesspool by hiring freelancers to read every single comment posted to the Strib and delete the bad ones: Sauer termed souped-up moderation a “trial,” noting budgetary uncertainties as the paper emerges from bankruptcy. However, he said his superiors had pushed the move while the paper was still in Chapter 11, adding that it was an expense worth fighting for.

If the lack of new posts, as well as Lilek’s ominous last post is to be believed, yes it is. Will you miss it? Would you even have noticed its disappearance had I not just pointed it out?

Brauer reports on a strike that could potentially cripple the ailing Star-Tribune: Star Tribune drivers have moved step closer to a walkout that could paralyze the bankrupt paper’s print operation. According to a memo from publisher Chris Harte, the drivers voted Tuesday night to authorize a strike if U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain grants the company’s request to throw out their contract.

Could we be heading toward a Minneapolis without a daily newspaper? Would that be a bad thing? And what could take the place of the Star-Tribune?

David Brauer discusses the Star Tribune’s newsroom Newspaper Guild’s efforts to create a new business model for the Strib. But can it be saved? Is it worth it? And, if the Strib is gone, what will replace it?

This is just what you’ve been waiting for: the Strib breaks bold new ground by having James Lileks read the news for a webcast.

Note the first story in this ground breaking new media effort is a salacious shooting story about people we care deeply about, and an admonishment to check back often for updates about things we don’t care about at startribune.com. “Straight from the source, it’s your news now.”

David Brauer maps out the declining economics of the Star-Tribune, which is now worth less than $90 million, while its advertising sales have fallen 20 percent. At least it is paying its bought-out writers in full. Why? Apparently, in part, out of fear of angering experienced journalists.

Vita.mn sex columnist (and occasional MnSpeaker) Alexis McKinnis (also of the Girl Friday blog) gets some attention from her hometown paper, which asks “Where Do They Go When They Leave North Branch?” Some interesting facts about Alexis gleaned from the story: Her family has a hobby farm; she thinks being promoted in bathrooms was a “horrible idea” (although it lead lead to her being dubbed “magnets”), and she is thinking of starting a Mexican restuarant.

The Star-Tribune is now partnering with WCCO to cover the weather. What does this mean? That Paul Douglas, who was providing weather content for the Strib, has once again lost a job thanks to WCCO.

David Brauer gives us the rundown on the Star-Tribune’s new columnists, who will be replacing Nick Coleman and Katherine Kersten. Rather than partisan gasbags, which so many papers have promotted to columnists (and, arguably, the Strib has likewise been guity of), Brauer shows the new columnists as having a solid grounding in journalism and no established partisan agenda. It should be interesting to see what their columns end up being like.