Working for a small paper in a highly-conservative pocket of NW Pennsylvania, I often found myself at odds with the decisions of my editors regarding which news stories were chosen for front-page coverage, which stories were buried in B and C sections, and which ones were ignored completely. Important stories about advances in gay rights were often left off the front page, or out of the paper entirely, because stories like that "would upset the readership." On several occasions, stories about global warming were replaced with stories about Anna Nicole Smith because "that's what the readers want." Many of the news decisions were made not only to sell papers, but to try and out-do the larger Erie, Pa. paper printed 30 minutes north that put out a special edition aimed at our area.
All these things I took in stride, realizing that for this small-town paper, keeping the readers happy and keeping the papers flying off the racks (and outdoing the competition) were the most important things. But, during my last week at this job, I had to comply with a decision that I was just plain embarassed about.
If any of you have heard of the Brian Wells Pizza Bomber case out of Erie, PA, you'll know that this has been a huge story for the past few years, with every new tip and investigative advance being front page, above the fold news. In early July, the case broke in the courts, with new evidence pointing toward the idea that the victim was actually involved in the planning of the high-profile bank robbery/murder. Top news story of the day, right? Wrong.
The editor, deciding that there was no way for us to beat Erie in coverage of the event, said that this story would be the top story on the news rail...and top story of the day, above the fold? OOPS! PENNDOT PAINTS OVER ROADKILL with a nice picture of a dead woodchuck with a yellow stripe across his flattened face. And I had to design the page (and listen to my friends from the Erie paper make several jokes at my expense the next day.)
The Brian Wells case was important, breaking news that a lot of people in our area would want to read. Our editor thought that by putting roadkill on top of the page, people might see something different and pick up the paper.
But, by doing this, and cutting down on our coverage in order to try to sell more papers...are we doing the public a disservice?
(And don't even get me started on giving in to advertising profits by placing FULL PAGE ADS on sections fronts.)
- Knowles
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