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Comments:
Laura - 2005-01-27 23:20:45 The orthodontist puff piece is not on the Courier's online edition, mercifully--only in the print edition. You really have to see it to believe it. Don't miss the 70s-era high-school-newspaper-caliber photomontage of smiling kids under the headline. We're talking scissors and paste, not Photoshop. Tacky. Laughable.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura, yet again - 2005-01-28 00:17:37 Ypsidixit will bet dollars to doughnuts that the sort of person who would make "journalistic" decisions as inept as this would have to feebly resort to Googling to try and squintingly figure out whom "buncombe" even refers to. Looks like Ypsilanti is ripe for a new local paper.* * * * * * * * * * * * Judy Busack - 2005-01-28 08:03:26 Laura, will you contact me? I have a proposal for you if you are interested. Judy Busack* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2005-01-28 08:45:16 As far as I could tell the knife of journalism failed to try to slice through the tensions at last night's move toward regime change on the board and restriction in the policies of the Ypsilanti District Library.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-01-28 09:11:45 Ms. Busack: you flatter me again by coming by. Thank you for visiting. Emailay omingcay. Raymond: you make a good point. That is another important community issue going on. I will say that the Riverside Park/Frog Island sledding photo spread in the latest Courier was good--it reflected the community in a fun way. A light, fun little feature, but there's nothing wrong with that occasionally.* * * * * * * * * * * * Reply from Mr. Wilcox - 2005-01-28 10:45:57 >From: "Wilcox, Justin" To: "Laura B." CC: "Collins, Renee" Subject: RE: Publication of Orthodontist Puff Piece Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2005 08:08:50 -0500 Ms. Bien, You are correct, the ad should have read paid advertisement. It did not. It was not caught by myself until after the fact and rest assured that it will not happen again. As far as the full page ads, yes we were running a special this month to help boost revenue which is required to compensate reporters and photographers to cover the items you mentioned below. January is a historically slow period time for the newspaper industry, so we must be innovative in our ways to generate revenue. Thank you for your comments and please keep them coming. Without feedback, we can not effectively create change for the better. Thank you, Justin Wilcox Publisher Heritage Newspapers - West 106 W. Michigan Ave. Saline, MI 48176* * * * * * * * * * * * Anna - 2005-01-28 10:51:11 Oh, wow... so it *was* an advertisement. I was sure it was a fluff peice. Whoops. Oh well, at least it wasn't really an article.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-01-28 10:58:02 It's a particularly sleazy form of advertisement, seeing as it has the potential to, or even intends to, deceive. After all, the orthodontist could have taken the exact same information and put in a graphical form that makes it clear it's an ad. Another troublesome point is that it had a byline by a Courier writer (I'll check which one when I get home). Now, I'm sure they could have found a more interesting and worthwhile item for a writer to work on. But when a paper starts sending its reporters to write advertising copy, it's a definite red flag to me. There should be a Berlin Wall between the ad department and the editorial department. Period. In this case, there was not. Ask yourself the reason why.* * * * * * * * * * * * Reply from Ms. Collins - 2005-01-28 12:08:17 Ms. Bien, I know Justin Wilcox has responded to your letter. I wanted to personally add my thanks for calling the mistake to our attention. You are correct, it was a paid ad and should have been designated as such. I hope� that you will continue to contact us with your concerns and provide feedback on the Courier as we�move forward. This is a community newspaper and we want to do the best job we can covering the community. We need to hear from you. Again, thank you. Sincerely, Renee Collins Renee Lapham Collins Editor The Belleville View The Ypsilanti Courier * * * * * * * * * * * * brett - 2005-01-28 16:21:32 orthodontist gets new life.....as art! sorry, i now have to fit every news article title into that framework.
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brett - 2005-01-28 16:24:22 Buncombe. I missed a quotation mark. that should do it. A year ago I couldn't even spell 'HTML', and now I are one.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-01-28 16:32:27Buncombe County is the place to be if you're a preschooler.* * * * * * * * * * * * brett - 2005-01-28 16:39:50 damn. unfortunately* * * * * * * * * * * * brett - 2005-01-28 16:40:11 damn. unfortunately this is the closest thing i could find to a Buncombe Historical Society. I was really, really hoping on that one.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-01-28 16:48:05 cute idea. Nice web design there, on that page. And the pious candle is a nice touch. At any rate.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-01-28 20:32:59 Regarding Mr. Wilcox's claim that the orthodontist item was required to pay writers and photographers, Ypsidixit has learned from a reputable source that the writers and photographers in question were paid $7 an hour. She also learned that this is allegedly less than is paid to employees in other Heritage newspapers. Interesting item to investigate, if you ask me.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-01-28 23:15:01 The item was written by Candace Platt, who is designated in the byline as "Special Writer." The presence of a byline is deceitful. It implies that this item is a news story. I am disappointed that Heritage chose to publish such a deceitful advertisement in the guise of a news story. * * * * * * * * * * * * Andy - 2005-01-29 05:49:08 How much more can they insult our intelligence by coming to this very site and claiming it was a "mistake"? Hogwash. I wish them the best fortunes in the world during a difficult January, but really, they don't have to get all corporate-denial bullshit on us!* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-01-29 09:35:18 Actually, the replies by Mr. W and Ms. C were posted by me--they'd sent me emails to my hotmail account (and I indicated up front I'd post their email replies). It may well have been a mistake--one missed by the design staff, their entire staff of proofreaders, the local managing editor, ubereditor Ms. C., and publisher Mr. W. Oops.* * * * * * * * * * * * Anna - 2005-01-29 11:38:18 Is this the new fad in advertising? Crest ads with the ad-person's name? "Whitens your teeth in ten minutes -- by June Cleever, Special Reporter to People Magazine" * * * * * * * * * * * * Brett - 2005-01-29 12:47:38 in a case of extremely well-timed coincidence, I was up late last night reading a book about the history of advertising and (thinking of this thread) was very amused to read the following passage:
(QUOTE) -from "They laughed when i sat down", frank rowsone, 1959.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-01-29 13:44:44Anna: I think this form of advertising is as old as the hills, as Brett's comment suggests. But it is deceptive. Brett: that is timely indeed. I note especially "It was a time, remote from later canons of propriety, when good-natured chicanery was expected and even appreciated. And the masquerade ad, wearing the false whiskers of a news story, article, or even short story, has had a place ever since." But only in the sleazier venues.* * * * * * * * * * * * Scott - 2005-01-30 12:03:57 Laura, this is what your meant to do there. Stir the pot graciously. I love the fact that you have taken this on in a fashion in which maintains your dignity and respect for all involved. Excellent* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-01-30 13:27:09 Well, I can't tell, due to contextless text and my own insecurities, whether you are being kind or sarcastic [which I doubt, since I know you to be a kind person], but if it's the latter, I pray I did not disrespect anyone nor damage my own dignity. But if I did go out of line somewhere, I am open to a gentle reminder to get back on track.* * * * * * * * * * * * add your comment: |