Tag Archives: future of newspapers

Big Ed’s ghost

By Joel Thurtell [paypal-donation] We at JOTR are firm DISBELIEVERS in any kind of occult happenings, yet the appearance of an e-mail purportedly from the Other World piqued our curiosity. Its claim to have come from the late Wayne County … Continue reading

Posted in Bad government, censorship, future of newspapers, Joel's J School | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Varnishing Detroit’s ‘Free’ Press

By Joel Thurtell [paypal-donation] There was a time back in the 1980s when The Detroit Free Press killed not one, not two, but THREE editorial cartoons lampooning then U.S. Attorney General Ed Meese. Bosses were afraid those unvarnished drawings might … Continue reading

Posted in censorship, future of newspapers, Joel's J School | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

‘Objectivity’ vs. truth

By Luke Warm Professor of Mendacity, University of Munchausen Today, I’m going to talk about telling really huge whoppers and getting the media to go along. Myra Megahertz, Dean of Manipulation here at U of M, asked me to give … Continue reading

Posted in censorship, Joel's J School | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

More Freep layoffs

By Joel Thurtell While I was towing our floating docks across Patten Bay closing the cottage for ’09, a good ten hours drive from Motown, managers at the Detroit Free Press were sharpening their knives. More editorial staffers will be … Continue reading

Posted in future of newspapers, Joel's J School | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Looking back…

By Joel Thurtell My old friend, Francie VanderMolen of the Berrien Springs Journal Era, sent this item from the current issue of the weekly paper: 30 Years Ago September 26, 1979 Mr. and Mrs. John Gillette of Berrien Springs have … Continue reading

Posted in future of newspapers, Joel's J School | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Free Press dumps 25 editorial staffers

By Joel Thurtell Some longtime Free Press staffers are already gone as of today, I’m told.           These would be the non-union workers without contracts guaranteeing layoffs based on seniority: Laura Varon Brown, Sharon Wilmore, Alice Pepper, Sandy Aceval and Nate Trela. … Continue reading

Posted in future of newspapers | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Newspaper or TV station?

This just in from Detroit Free Press editors: Folks, Please join us in welcoming Mike Brookbank to the Free Press. Mike will anchor our Free Press news segments on First Forecast Mornings on WWJ-TV from 5 to 7 a.m. weekdays. … Continue reading

Posted in future of newspapers | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The monopoly implodes

By Joel Thurtell On the heels of what looks like a colossal screw-up in downsizing its once daily newspapers to a pair of failies, Gannett is dropping another shoe on Detroit. According to the Oakland Press, Gannett plans to close … Continue reading

Posted in future of newspapers | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Chump again

By Joel Thurtell I felt like a chump when I found out a friend was telemarketed by the Free Press and wound up paying half what I’m shelling out for the new threely home delivery and fourly e-mail set-up that … Continue reading

Posted in future of newspapers, Joel's J School | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Turning customers into chumps

By Joel Thurtell In a previous blog, I reported my difficulties subscribing to the new “threely” Detroit Free Press. Busy phone line. Dysfunctional computer sign-up. Finally, I got through Monday afternoon on March 30, 2009 and agreed to have my … Continue reading

Posted in future of newspapers | Tagged , , | Leave a comment