Thursday, February 15, 2007

The St. Valentine's storm of 2007: Who won?



Today will be one of the few days when readers look forward to the newspaper, devouring it online and in print. Who hit a home run? Who mailed it in? Discuss. To start:

  • The TL's one and only video was shot at 10 a.m. -Wednesday- by online "producer" Lee Ann Orsheski. From her deck. Craptacularly bad.

  • The roof collapses at the library, and the TL's Ed Lewis waits until the 14th paragraph to mention the books. Classic.

  • The CV's Denise Allabaugh does her old buddy Ed Lewis one better, by writing about the destruction of a library while only using the word "books" once. Her lead is also identical to the TL lead.

  • Sledding pictures of the little kids of TL VP Kathy Schwartz -- taken by Schwartz -- are mixed in with staff shots. Stay classy, TL.

  • As others have noted, the Times-Tribune video contained an amazing variety of snowblowers, most within a block of the Times-Tribune

  • Worst-ever use of good Flash animation: Winter driving advice.

  • Matt Kemeny of the Times-Tribune in Scranton turns in the lead of the year: "Brian Wrightson thought his dome was invincible."
  • 18 comments:

    Anonymous said...

    I don't know who "won," since I didn't read the TL or CV coverage, but I thought the TT did a great job - at least when it came to the stories.
    And as a former TT reporter who spent yesterday in a warm, comfy house, I could only think thank God that's not me.

    Anonymous said...

    It's spelled l-e-d-e.

    Anonymous said...

    I'd have to agree with the warm comfy poster above.

    TT had video (which appeared to feature some footage that wasn't near the building), photo galleries, a look at the 1940 Valentine blizzard, and breaking news, weather and cancellations out the wazoo.

    The CV had lots of breaking news but needed art.

    The TL had a video from some chicks' backyard.

    WNEP had rebroadcasts of their TV shows on the web, and lots of reporters on Davis St., bout 100 yards fromt the station.

    YOU didn't know there was a snow storm.

    Missed what BRE did.

    Anonymous said...

    That TL video just goes to show why newspapers should stay out of the video business. Garbage.

    But no, they MUST have multimedia. Slap it on no matter how horrible it is and tell your readers how you are joining the multimedia revolution. Pathetic.

    Anonymous said...

    I'm actually trying to weigh which is worse from the TL today: that video or today's sports front.

    Seriously, is the paginator blind? That page looks good?

    Anonymous said...

    Loved Kemeny's lead. Or lede, if you prefer. Loved it. Don't know how he got it into print. Don't care. Readers need a little chuckle to start the day.

    Anonymous said...

    What's with the heavy breathing on that TL video? What, does she smoke 3 packs a day? She laboring and not moving.

    Anonymous said...

    Lede can be spelled either way, nitwit. (Or is it nit-wit?)

    Anonymous said...

    Well the TL must be the big winner - they've had the same photo up for two days. How can you beat that?

    Anonymous said...

    I didn't see anything in the newspapers that TV did better and faster. Newspapers have to give me something MORE. It didn't happen this week.

    Anonymous said...

    "Loved Kemeny's lead. Or lede, if you prefer. Loved it. Don't know how he got it into print. Don't care."

    It's an OK lead. Not bad, not the lead of the year. What's so great about it and why wouldn't he get it into print?

    Anonymous said...

    Using a name in a lede is usually considered bad form, if not weak writing. Maybe he should have gone with a quote: "I thought my dome was invincible."

    Yep, that's better.

    Anonymous said...

    3:40 p.m., maybe you should learn to use your mouse!!!!!!!!! Douche bag

    Anonymous said...

    "The roof collapses at the library, and the TL's Ed Lewis waits until the 14th paragraph to mention the books. Classic."

    Do you really think it was necessary to mention books higher in the story?? It was a story about a library. Isn't it obvious books would be involved?

    "Duh, my name is Mr., Duh, NEPA media, duh, um.........were da books in da, um, library, duh, hurt?"

    I think most people would be concerned about people than books.

    Anonymous said...

    "Using a name in a lede is usually considered bad form, if not weak writing."

    Ridiculous, is that something you picked up in a writing class in Nanticoke Community College? You certainly didn't hear it in a professional newsroom.

    Call Me Ishmael, PA

    Anonymous said...

    Ed Lewis is hot.

    Anonymous said...

    Using a name in a lede is wrong? What is that, 1920s journalism? Get with it.

    Anonymous said...

    If it's 1920s journalism, you can bet it's practiced by the local papers. "Listen, sister, get me rewrite."