When columnists jump ship, newspapers spring leaks
David Greising
What happens when a 49-year-old star columnist suddenly leaves the Chicago Tribune after more than a decade and jumps to a competitor? Well, that depends on which 49-year-old star columnist you’re talking about.
Six weeks ago, award-winning columnist and chief business correspondent David Greising abruptly left the Tribune to join the upstart Chicago News Cooperative as general manager and deputy editor. But you never would have known it if you read the Tribune, which apparently did not deem Greising’s departure newsworthy.
Compare that to last Friday, when sports columnist Rick Morrissey informed his bosses that he was leaving to join the Sun-Times and fill the slot that’s been vacant since Jay Mariotti left in August 2008. Before the ink was dry on Morrissey’s new contract, the Tribune announced the move to its staff and to its readers online, effectively scooping the Sun-Times’ own story. It’s highly unlikely the Sun-Times would have chosen to announce its biggest hiring coup in decades on a Friday night. That’s normally when companies try to bury their bad news — not trumpet their triumphs.
Without diminishing Morrissey’s considerable talent, I would argue that Greising’s departure represents a greater loss to the Tribune. His impeccable reporting and astute coverage of business issues made Greising a must-read in the market, and his specialized contribution to the newspaper can hardly be replaced as easily — if ever — as that of any sports columnist.
Rick Morrisey
In Morrissey’s case, the Tribune was doing more than trying to spoil whatever splashy announcement the Sun-Times might have had in mind for Sunday. It also was reacting to the latest salvo in an escalating sports war between the two newspapers.
It began Oct. 22 with a declaration by Mike Kellams, the Tribune’s associate managing editor for sports, headlined: “Chicago Tribune goes after Sun-Times with retooled sports section.” In outlining plans for a re-launch of his product, Kellams wrote:
“The conventional wisdom among some in Chicago has been that our pals across the way have the better sports section. We’ve all heard it. [Former Tribune sports editor] Dan [McGrath] and I sat in meetings where people in our own building parroted that to our faces. Pardon the Hoosier in me rising up, but that’s bull shit. You know it. I know it. . . . This is a great time to re-energize ourselves and our presence. The S-T is in transition. I wish them luck but this is our moment to get in front and stay there.”
What followed was the hiring of Sun-Times sports editor Stu Courtney as editor of the Tribune’s chicagobreakingsports.com website and some aggressive marketing. Those shots from Tribune Tower prompted a response from Courtney’s successor, Chris DeLuca, who wrote:
“At a time when the competition has informed its employees it’s growing tired of its second-place status as a sports section in this city, an invigorated Chicago Sun-Times is ready to flex some muscle once again.”
Another shot came last week when Dan McNeil, the midday host at CBS sports/talk WSCR-AM (670), moved his weekly column from the Sun-Times to the Tribune. But the Morrissey coup is the strongest indication yet that the Sun-Times is not willing to cede its sports franchise. (It’s just unfortunate that DeLuca couldn’t have been a bit more of a gracious winner Sunday, instead of gloating: “Consider this move a major victory for the good guys.”)
Despite its many troubles, the Sun-Times still managed to pick up a few notable Tribune contributors in recent years, including columnists Carol Marin and Cheryl Lavin. But it’s been 23 years since the last big-time talent raid (under former publisher Robert Page) that brought Tribune heavyweights Michael Sneed and the late Ray Coffey and Steve Neal over to the Bright One.
As much fun as it is to watch and write about an old-fashioned Chicago newspaper war, it probably won’t make any difference to either paper in the long run. The real competition isn’t between the two of them anymore, but among all media scrambling for relevance and revenue. While the Morrissey move is a definite morale boost that shows real gumption by new Sun-Times owner Jim Tyree, it’s not a game changer.
In today’s Chicago media firmament, I see only four local broadcasters whose move from one station to another might have any genuine, immediate impact on the market: meteorologist Tom Skilling, news anchor Ron Magers, sportscaster Mark Giangreco and radio personality Eric Ferguson. Among newspaper writers, I daresay the list of those who’d take vast numbers of readers with them is even shorter.
When former Tribune TV critic Gary Deeb jumped to the Sun-Times in 1980, he boldly claimed he’d help boost the Sun-Times circulation enough eventually to overtake the Tribune. One year later, Deeb adjusted that estimate downward, claiming his presence would add 30,000 new readers to the Sun-Times. Two years after that, the Sun-Times was looking for a new TV critic.
Elsewhere on the media beat:
- Reporter Ben Bradley came back to work at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 last week after a bout with H1N1 — just in time to report on a dip in swine flu cases here and nationwide. That must have been little comfort to Bradley, who’d earlier told Facebook friends of “fever, night sweats and a throat so sore it makes drinking tea feel like I’m downing a dozen razor blades.”
- Neil Woulfe, former senior executive producer at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32, has been promoted to news director of RadarOnline.com. Woulfe joined the Los Angeles-based news and celebrity website as senior news editor last January after 17 years at Channel 32.
- Funeral services will be held Monday for Marv Astrin, 84, a distinguished Chicago radio veteran whose five decades in local broadcasting and advertising included 21 years at Tribune Co.-owned news/talk WGN-AM (720), where he served as vice president and general manager. Mr. Astrin, who also was chief executive of the old WAIT-AM, retired in 1995 as senior account executive at CBS all-news WBBM-AM (780).
blogs.vocalo.org
Ron Magers & Mark Giangreco of ABC, watch your backs! Sounds like someone is about to make you guys an offer you can’t refuse. And not to forget Tom Skilling’s weather beat on WGN. Who knew these guys were that hot! WOW! Guess I’ll be checking ABC & WGN for news, sports & weather . . .
Truth be told, sports ‘journalism’ (and I use that term loosely) in Chicago has really taken a nosedive in the last 5 years or so. Morrissey’s decent, Telander’s better than that, and you basically can have the rest. A sorry lot of mean-spirited, armchair-QB wannabes for the most part–in print, online & on the air.
‘Talking Smack’?! Gimme a break…Cooper Rollow & Dave Condon would be rolling over in their graves or retirement homes.
Tom Skilling is a star of course, but I believe that Chris Sowers and Amy Freeze are MUCH more accurate in their forecasts. I wonder if there is anywhere that someone actually compiles the “stats” of the meteorology prognosticators.
I know I’ll get a lot of flak for this, but the one sports columnist/blogger who’s a must-read for me is Steve Rosenbloom.
But bottom line, unless the newspaper industry finds a way to make major $$$ money from the eyeballs and hits on their websites, it won’t matter anyway in five years.
what about me?
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/blogshakalaka
Not everything’s about you, Bruce. Especially the ratings. I’ll pass on the fries, thanks.
I disagree that Ron Magers would take an audience with him. For example, his crapfest with Roe Conn has not helped Conn’s ratings. While Tom Skilling is too absorbed in his forecast toys everynight, weather bunny Freeze can’t even get locations or basic words in the English language correct. And as far as the columnists/sports sections go…neither newspaper can put together a decent comics page. Self-centered, boorish, narcisstic columnists are good for nothing in the identity game. Nobody cares. I thought the comment on Deeb was funny. His work declined as his ego increased and after he severed his ties with Rob Feder and
Where ever Ginger Zee goes, I will follow. But for weather, I’ll stick with Tom Skilling.
paul,
i agree with everything you say (i miss “pogo’), and i also agree with your slow progression toward what should be the spelling of “narcissistic,” because, really, there should be room for only one “i” in that word.
Rick Morrisey, wasn’t he diagnosed with colon cancer? Steve Rosenbloom, one of the all time greats, sarcasm, exceeded only by Bruce Wolf, Affirmed vs. Alydar. Gary Deeb was one of the all time great columnists in this town, but he went out like Evander Holyfield, a shell of himself wayyyyy past his prime
I agree with Greenlee about Ron Magers. I also don’t think Magers would take much of an audience with him anywhere. I’m not entirely convinced that Giangreco would, either. Ferguson, yeah — the ladies will do anything for him. Skilling, sure. The chicks dig Suppelsa, too. Does anyone here think that *he* takes audience with him?
I think Feder wisely avoids naming newspaper names because he doesn’t want to offend his former Sun-Times pals (see more on Feder’s (lack of) objectivity below). And this is because it’s pretty clear to everyone that Ebert *would* be on the list of those who would take an audience with him, and it’s also pretty clear that Roeper (and many others) would *not* be on said list. Could Neil Steinberg take an audience? Nope. Stella? Not a chance in the world. Sneed? Doubtful. Zwecker? Immensely likable guy, but no. John Kass? Hard to see. Eric Zorn? Maybe his online community would follow him wherever. Telander? Not likely — would readers really start buying the Tribune’s in droves for Telander? Unlikely. Schmich? Nah. Trice? Illogical. Mariotti? Ha! Up and down the line, Feder’s right that the newspaper list is short. Can anyone here think of any newspaper columnist *besides* Ebert who would really take an audience with him/her?
As for today’s commenters, I disagree with Feder on a lot, but I have to say, he’s always been spot-on about our fellow commenter, Bruce Wolf. For my money, Bruce is the best and most talented sportscaster in town (yes, better than Giangreco). Obviously, TV station managements (who are idiots) haven’t always agreed (and clearly don’t currently agree, since last I checked, Bruce was relegated to per-diem work at Channel 5). Someone, somewhere ought to be giving Bruce a better TV gig.
(Of course, the fact that Feder is/was such close friends with so many personalities on his beat (Bruce Wolf, Bob Sirott, Ebert, Roeper, the late Gene Siskel, etc.) always has called into question Feder’s objectivity, but that’s something for another post.)
Ron Powers was the best.
I’ve never understood how the Sun-Times got a rep for having such a great sports section. I read the sports sections of the Trib and the Sun-Times online. I think the Trib’s sports coverage is way better, especially when it comes to the Cubs. Maybe that’s because their Web site is better in general.
I used to check the columnists on the S-T regularly to read Feder’s column, so I’m thrilled to have found him again online. And yes, Bruce Wolf is the best sportscaster in Chicago. Too bad I live in Wisconsin. You wouldn’t believe the idiots they have up here!
I love Rob Feder and his departure from the Sun-Times was a major blow. But I couldn’t disagree more about Greising. He had a reputation in the Trib newsroom of being a lazy prima dona. His views were often uninformed or simply parroted others and his product was limited. While he attained a bit of hero status by standing up to management and refusing to take a demotion, it was just more of about an ego larger than his actual brand.
His departure will make barely a ripple compared to the overall demise of business coverage in Chicago. I don’t think he will missed by too many.
Besides, 18 months from now when the news cooperative become just another in a long line of failed experiments from people who don’t understand the concept of a business model, he’ll be back.
Actually David’s departure will be missed a little less since he had excused himself from daily writing at the Trib and only appeared occasionally. Too bad though, he was/is one of the best business writers out there. Not afraid to call it as he sees it, and (unlike some other business reporters on certain news radio stations) isn’t in bed with the wall street gang.
thanks for the mention, rob! the sun-times has been great to me and i love being there!
This should be a “must read” article for everyone in Chicago that is concerned and interested in the evolution of media in our metropolitan area.
Let’s give the S-T some credit for NOT throwing in the towel!
Note:
I stopped reading Greising’s articles a long time ago.
If Channel Two could score Marin, Magers and Skilling, rid themselves of the 12.5 IQ Anne Slate, and most assuredly Jay Levine and Mike Parker, make better use of Susan Carlson who has the reporting and on-air skills to be a star and go after some meaty news stories that matter, CBS-2 would give ABC-7 some tough competition and WMAQ-5 would turn into TV’s version of the Bears and Cubs. As far as Eric Ferguson, he’s creative and funny but would be adrift without Kathy Hart (or…off the top of the head thought…Melissa Foreman). Frankly if WGN (720) doesn’t dump Andrea Darlas in favor of Steve Alexander, WBBM (780) needs to scoop him up and let John Hultman enjoy his retirement. For that matter, since WGN’s Kevin Metheny believes, “truth is optional,” where the hell is Larry Schreiner these days? Dust off that scanner Larry, dude! Your old station needs you!
Damn, and to think I gave these potentially huge money making ideas away for free.
PS: Kathy and Judy in for Mancow and Pat? Hey it’s just an idea…
We and many of our acquaintances were lost when you gave up your column in the sun-times. Now we love your blog which appears five days a week. Keep it up.
I can testify that Magers will not take a single audience member with him anywhere! When he left NBC 5 for ABC 7 I begged for a ride, but as he pulled away in his expensive four door car (with AC, four windows and one of those beaded seat covers you see in taxis) he rolled down his window and shouted, “You can walk the four blocks.”
Robert!!!!!!!!! So glad to find your column! The void left when you retired was too big to be filled by ten writers. I can now look forward to some truth about what’s going on in Chicago TV and radio.
I know without Robert Feder, Molly Ivins and Andy Greeley, I rarely bother to look at the Sun Times any more. Oddly, I don’t miss Robert Novak in the least.
Any newspaper that employs Michael “Fiction” Sneed does not get subscription money from me.
Note to people who complain about Feder’s lack of objectivity: this is a blog, not a news report. No need to be objective here.
Hmmm… Only time … will tell.
PS – Good to have a regular fix of Feder again.
I would follow David Haugh, Phil Rogers and Greg Kot wherever they go.
The ultimate victory for either paper will not be won by the increasingly-irrelevant stereotypical old, white sports columnist.
It will be won by the paper that does the best job of combining the immediacy and relevance of new media with the solid reporting of traditional print journalism. Whatever short-term victory the Sun-Times claims now by overpaying an old white man to wax poetic about yesterday’s sports news will ultimately be rendered irrelevant.
Hey MJ
Riveting comment that you wrote there: “Note to people who complain about Feder’s lack of objectivity: this is a blog, not a news report. No need to be objective here.”
Ummm, yeah. Not even sure where to begin to respond to this one, but I’ll give it a shot:
–Feder’s lack of objectivity and his willingness to play favorites was on display for all the years he was at the Sun-Times, too. (go back in the archives and read all his puff pieces about pals Sirott, Siskel, Wolf, etc.) As a writer for a newspaper.
–This may well be a blog, but Feder bends over backwards to remind us that he regularly breaks news stories here (“serving up scoops and dishing dirt since 1980″). So actually, MJ, I hate to break it to you, but this, um, you know, actually *is* a news report, like it or not. It just happens to be delivered online, and it just happens to have some of Feder’s opinions injected into it as well.
–The reason why objectivity matters so much is that Feder’s always acted as the moral police when it comes to scolding TV news folks for (usually egregiously) crossing various journalistic lines. And that’s fine — even commendable, up to a point. The problem is that Feder himself usually has been too blind to see his own hypocrisy (in his case, getting too close to those he covers), much like other noted hypocrites like Bill Bennett (a public moral scold but a private high-stakes gambler) and Ken Starr (working as the Whitewater independent counsel but engaging in a raft of conflicts, including advising Paula Jones). In all three cases, you have men who consider themselves to be very moral — so moral, in fact, that it wouldn’t even occur to them that anyone could ever think that the public would see certain other actions of theirs as hypocritical. And yet, that’s what they all obviously are.
Feder’s a great reporter, but his idol Walter Cronkite would be horrified by his blatant conflicts of interest.
to PJ Hawk…….what’s with the slap at white people? How would you like to be refered to as a stereotypical ( insert minority group here ) sports columnist? As an old white guy, and a member of a minority group, the bald community, let me tell you about this guy who was around when I was young, Martin King. He once said something about judging a person, not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Hmmm, something to think about as you grow older. Google him, you might learn something. BTW, disregard if you were talking about Mike Inrem.
Bruce: Oops, I didn’t proofread it. No matter how many “i’s” used in my spelling of narcisstic, it’s more eyes than ever watch you.
Satellite: Spot on re: Susan Carlson.
Hal: Walter wasn’t as objective as everybody thinks.
I haven’t picked up a S-T since Rob Feder left. Kent, you also are spot on.
How is Rick Morrissey a morale boost for the Sun-Times? Everyone at the paper took a 15 percent paycut, and was forced to lock it in for 3 years because, employees were told, there is no more money. Now Morrissey gets a 3-year deal that was so big that, he says, the Tribune tried to keep him but couldn’t come up with the big bucks the Sun-Times offered. Not to mention, sports people in town think of him as a fluid writer who is dull, not tough enough and not creating any buzz. How would you like for your boss to cut your pay, tell you it was going to stay that low for 3 years because there’s no money, and then immediately go out and offer a big-dollar deal for that exact length of time to someone you don’t think that highly of?
There was a time when it may have mattered (mostly to advertisers) who was No. 1 and who was No.2 in newspaper sports sections, but this archaic cheerleader mentality from these rookie sports editor reflects how out of touch they are. The reality: Your “ranking” doesn’t mean squat. It’s almost as meaningless as any APSE awards.
What matters is making a healthy business and growing new products. Not insipid and amateur “We’re winning” memos to your staffs and readers. Is the Tribune sports section rowing Tribune’s reader base? Is the Sun-Times sports s4ection growing reader base? Is innovative thinking in those two places driving the next generation of media applications?
I’ll hang up and go read ESPNChicago.com or any number of team websites while I wait for my answer.
I’m watching the development of the news cooperative Greising joined with interest. Here’s the link to the Times’s expanded Chicago coverage, if anyone’s curious:
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/national/usstatesterritoriesandpossessions/illinois/chicago-news-cooperative/index.html
The Tribune’s sports section is a shadow of its former self, but I won’t miss Morrissey. I get most of my sports news from Yahoo! Sports and the ESPN Chicago website nowadays.
Thank you for an interesting analysis, Mr. Feder.
David Greising is one of the very few brilliant journalists left on the literate landscape.
He can write and report about anything from any angle. And he can also analyze either in writing, or on broadcast.
Mr. Greising is the go to person when any managing editor or news director needs the impossible done.
And in return, David delivers not just a story, but a complete story presented in prose worthy of classic literature.
If great minds that can drive the dark problems of our society into the light of public examination are all leaving our nation’s newspapers; what’s left?
Timothy Jackson
Retired Sr. Writer/Producer
WGN-TV News
Chicago
Walter Cronkite was OBJECTIVE? Thanks for the laugh, Hal Newhouser. Stop carping at Feder and drinking your historic media kool-aid.
Incidentally, you accuse others of being “the moral police” and then proceed to spew your uninformed, poorly written drivel. Feder is Feder, but you are…a bottom-feeder. :-)
Bruce Wolf is like consuming Twinkies; not nutritious initially, but both stay with me, hit the spot, possess a unique, specific taste, and nothing else can match the experience. Oh, and they’re both yellow and filled with cream. Many I know don’t agree on much. What is uniform is that Bruce is fun to listen to and is astute at summing up sports personalities; be they players, coaches or media. The laugh is annoying and the hair is Beatle-like, but he’s genuine and he knows how to spell!
Greenlee, I agreed with everything you posted, save for the Wolf stuff.
Happy Hal Newhouser wrote:
“Feder’s a great reporter, but his idol Walter Cronkite would be horrified by his blatant conflicts of interest.”
Actually, what Walter Cronkite would probably do would be to slowly get up from his chair, walk up to Hal, get within inches of his face, and eloquently tell him to take his warped views of journalism and shove them up into his lower intestinal tract.
There’s nothing to be “horrified” about here, Hal. If you don’t like it, don’t click on it.