Furst Draft

Studio Academy: 'We have avenues to go'

Here's a note to Studio Academy staff that was also copied directly to me, from board chairwoman Sue Foster:

We all know the past few days the Rochester Post Bulletin has printed
articles that are not too favorable for the school.
Please be reassured that the board is fighting and will continue to fight.
We have Sen. Carla Nelson who is fighting hard for the school as is our
lawyer.
We are by NO means shutting down and we will not leave our students hanging
on so to speak as was mentioned in one of the articles the last couple days.
The board is fighting for the students and staff and the school. We have
avenues to go and we are researching all of them.

If the students want to talk I trust that each of you will allow this as I
feel this is very important for the students as well as for each of us.

Staff, please share this will your classes as well as the parents.

Thank you
sue foster

Lotsa coupons, proton beam coverage and TV listings

Here's a peek at my print column for manana:

Have you done your Mother's Day shopping?

Whoops -- neither have I! But help is on the way in Saturday's Post-Bulletin. This weekend's "always worth reading" edition will have a monster load of store fliers and advertising inserts. More than 30 advertisers have Mother's Day-oriented inserts in the Saturday paper, with a lot more than $500 in coupon value.

Some papers calculate the value of the advertising in a much more aggressive way -- one can argue, that the advertised deals in our weekend edition total thousands of dollars. But sticking just to coupons, we've counted up a minimum of $500 in value so far.

So, a coupon or two at the grocery or another favorite store and you've not only covered the cost of the Saturday paper on newsstands, you'd also cover the cost of home delivery for a full week.

As one of my favorite Rochester advertisers, attorney Jim Suk, says: "Think about it."

One last point on ad fliers and inserts: A few people have contacted us recently to ask if any inserts are left in our warehouse after the paper is out, and whether they can have those inserts free of charge. Sorry, Charlie: Advertisers make sure that any leftovers aren't distributed free, and I think it's reasonable to say we'd rather you buy the paper.


NEWS REASONS TO BUY: Among the 500 or more news reasons to pick up Saturday's paper: Jeff Hansel's coverage from Houston, Texas, on the MD Anderson Cancer Center, which uses incredibly high-tech proton therapy to treat cancer.

We went to Houston to check out the Anderson Center because it helps to make real what Mayo is about to do, which is create a $200 million "pencil beam" proton treatment center, named for benefactor Richard O. Jacobson. The Jacobson Center will occupy a full block in Mayo's downtown campus and represents one of the clinic's biggest investments ever in cutting-edge medical technology.

The center, as Hansel says in his stories, "is expected to be a draw for visiting physicians, scientists and reporters. Few treatment centers offer proton therapy, and only one in the United States currently offers the type Mayo plans to install: 'pencil beam' therapy that can target tumors electronically."

Mayo hopes to have the center open for business in 2014 or 2015, but we wanted to help readers get a clearer idea of what this program is all about and what it means for Mayo -- and the future of cancer treatment. Hansel came back from his Southern junket a few weeks ago with bags full of reporter notebooks, photos and videos, and we'll spread the wealth beginning Saturday.

MORE TV LISTINGS: If you're an attentive reader of our TV listings, hopefully you've noticed that we now run the program schedules for a few more channels. We've added two of KTCA's digital channels -- TPT Minnesota and TPT Life, Rochester cable channels 396 and 393 -- and KSMQ's Worldview and Create digital channels, Rochester cable channels 397 and 398.

Those are in the daily TV listing in the B section, as well as the Total TV book in Saturday's paper.

We take a fresh look at our TV listings frequently to make sure they're as complete and useful as possible. If you have feedback on ways to make them better, l'm all ears.

'Life is not what you did. It's what you're doing.'

An e-mail from a reader, with my response:

On Apr 23, 2011, at 10:57 AM, Denise Musser wrote:

BTW, I commented on your blog twice and then received a link to follow up on your comments.  Your link doesn't work either! Perhaps you can address this;  or maybe you don't want to.

I suggest that you take a refresher course in reading and start with your own paper. 

Perhaps you need journalism education.

I am still completely shocked and appalled that you were clueless about this:  http://www.postbulletin.com/news/stories/display.php?id=1427457&query=Cathy%20comic

You appear to not even be knowledgeable about what is in your own product;  some of us are shocked that you are still employed in your present position. 

Perhaps you should stop defending your bias, try to cultivate some true respect for others as well as the profession of journalism.  You might even start by listening to your readers and people who care about Rochester as a community, rather than your small circle of friends.

--
"Life is not what you did.  It's what you're doing."

 

++++++++++++

You might take this quote to heart and think about how you communicate with perfect strangers.

Jay Furst
Managing editor, Post-Bulletin
PO Box 6118, 18 First Ave. S.E.
Rochester, MN 55901
(507) 285-7742
furst@postbulletin.com
Web log: postbulletin.typepad.com/honk
Facebook: Jay Furst
Twitter: twitter.com/pbjfurst

Did the P-B 'roll out the red carpet' for the Tea Party?

Two liberal blogs were OUTRAGED by our report on the Rochester Tea Party Patriots organization last weekend.

Why? Because they don't care for the Tea Party, of course, but apparently they also believe our stories were motivated only by a rally that the local Tea Party had planned for Friday, then cancelled because of bad weather.

An anonymous blogger called Phoenix Woman wrote on the blog Firedoglake:

"...the sunshine patriots so beloved of the P-B get fawning treatment despite being total no-shows."

As far as I can tell, Phoenix Woman didn't even see our paper or read the stories. She bases her gripe on another, equally goofy liberal blog called Bluestem Prairie, where Sally Jo Sorensen wrote:

The paper published three stories Saturday about the local tea party...

What’s the problem? Check out the lede for the first story of the three handed in by Tea party toadie and PB political reporter Heather Carlson:

    It appears that only a blustery, rainy forecast has been able to keep Rochester Tea Party Patriots from speaking out.

    The group canceled what would have been its third annual tax day rally Friday in Rochester. But while they weren’t out at Soldiers Field waving signs calling for budget cuts and an end to the “nanny state,” Tea Party activists say it won’t curtail the efforts that have made them a growing force in local politics this year. . . .

Yeah, you read that right. The Tea Party Patriots of Rochester cancelled their rally because of a weather forecast (probably assisted by that nanny-statish National Weather Service), but still got three stories in the Post Bulletin.

Aside from being ignorant and offensive, Sally Jo's comment is also pretty funny. Tea Party "toady" Carlson worked on those stories for more than a month and we promoted the report in advance. Yes, the "timepeg" was Tax Day and the Tea Party rally, but the coverage was far deeper than just news coverage of an anti-tax rally.

They were well-reported, even-handed stories -- two stories plus a Q & A, for the record -- that no one could reasonably say were the work of a "toady." But consider the sources of the complaint.

The FDL post continues -- again, just passing along garbage from Sorensen:

As Sorensen goes on to note, union members of her acquaintance have told her that the Post-Bulletin routinely ignores pro-labor protests, ones with actual protesters who are out in all sorts of weather and who don’t leave when the news crews do. Yet the sunshine patriots so beloved of the P-B get fawning treatment despite being total no-shows.

Sorensen and Phoenix Woman are welcome to check our archives for recent reports on "pro-labor" events in Rochester. There've been a few events, not hugely attended but newsworthy, and we covered them.

I'd be surprised if local union leaders have a problem with our coverage in recent years, and if they do, they can call me.

There's more to say about this (including FDL's assertion that Russian TV covered the protests in Madison better than most U.S. media), but honestly, I've wasted enough time today on kooky bloggers.

New U of M regent to challenge Klobuchar?

The Hotline/On Call column in the National Journal about U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar's "formidable" status headed into her 2012 re-election campaign, includes this improbable tidbit:

Peppin mentioned three GOP names who have surfaced as possibilities for the race: Randy Gilbert, a former candidate for state auditor, former state House Speaker Steve Sviggum and Bill Guidera, who works for News Corp. But they are hardly household names.

Well, if Sviggum's not a household name after being first elected to the Minnesota House in 1978 and making some headlines recently, he's never gonna get there. In fact, though, contrary to the National Journal, he has name recognition galore.

'I'm sure my TV reception will only get worse'

Last Friday, the Answer Man had an item on wind farms and their impact on property values, as well as on TV reception, etc. He asked readers to chip in their own experiences and here's one note, from Sharon Sowers of Dexter.

Dear Answer Man,

In Saturday's (April 9) Post-Bulletin, you said you were curious to hear more from people who already live near wind farms.

Well, I have quite a few southeast, southwest and south of me. One is a mile south of my home and they do impact my TV service. I have a 40-foot tower with an HD antenna and some days it gets rather disgusting trying to watch one of my favorite programs. I have to keep adjusting the rotor to try to get the picture and sound back.

They seem to cause more wind where I live. I can't put out lawn decorations as they blow away.

I have been to meetings on these wind farms and these companies only tell the farmers what they want them to know, which makes it sound like it's such a good deal. No mention of stray voltage.

I have been told several farmers west of me, where more turbines are to go up, wish they hadn't signed for them.

I am not looking forward to seeing them go up and spoil my nice view. Plus have to see the red lights blinking at nights. And I'm sure my TV reception will only get worse.

Does this look like an apology to you?

How does C.J., the Star Tribune gossip columnist, parse Jenn Sterger's comments in her column Tuesday (quoted from "Good Morning, America") as an apology to Brett Favre's family? Sterger doesn't owe Favre's family one, as far as anyone knows, but I'm intrigued by how C.J. interprets Sterger's comments:

C.J.: Sterger said Favre's family deserves apology

In a manner of speaking, Jenn Sterger apologized to Brett Favre's family, if not the future NFL Hall of Famer, even though she has received no such expression of regret from him.

In an interview aired Tuesday on "Good Morning America" with George Stephanopoulos, Sterger broke her silence in the texting, telephoning, sexting scandal that tarnished Favre's exit from the Vikings and the NFL after a 20-year career. The interview continues Tuesday on "Nightline" and Wednesday morning on "GMA."

Sterger told Stephanopoulos she owes nobody an apology because she did nothing wrong.

"I don't really care if he gives me one or not," she said when asked whether Favre should tell her he's sorry. "If I owe anyone an apology, I feel bad that my parents; I'm sorry, that they had to go through this. I'm sorry that families involved had to go through this. That's it. Those are the only people that deserve to be apologized to."

So which is it -- "she owes nobody an apology" or she's apologizing to Favre's family?

Bottom line is, it apparently was a slow day in the metro gossip world and C.J. needed a column.

'Barking dogs are more than a nuisance'

The Answer Man's column last week on the Rochester dog barking ordinance drew some howls of protest from anti-dog people. OK, maybe they're not anti-dog, just anti-Answer Man...emails are unedited:

Answerman:

I thought your column is written to help the people of Rochester.

Your Saturday column makes me think your'e a politician and will

agree with any friends you have on the City Council no matter what

they say. This new law would be stupid and I'm sure those other council

members will change their minds. No thanks to you.

TRM

+++++++++

You recommend  "talking to your neighbor" about barking in your column today.  Okay and your neighbor pays no attention to you after several "talks".   In fact, neighbor says take a hike.  Now what is your next move?  Barking dogs are more than a nuisance and amending this ordinance is a big mistake.

+++++++++

Dear Answer Man,

I read your answer in the April 2 column about "talking to your neighbor if you've got a problem".  Specifically, it was in regard to dogs barking and the Rochester City Council's new revision on the ordinance.  I did talk to the neighbors, once last summer and the summer before.  Still their two small dogs continue their annoying yipping.  The dogs frequently are let out early in the morning and late at night, and frequently on the weekends.  Such an amazing coincidence that these are the hours the animal control people are unavailable, and the regular Rochester police officers have more important things to take care of.

My other neighbors and I have several times called the animal control people.  But the yipping continues.  Sometimes the owners are nowhere to be seen for over an hour, other times they are right there with the dogs.  Regardless, the yipping continues.  So, after those neighborly talks and animal control home visits issuing fines, the dog owners apparently have no regard for anyone else's rights or for the law.  Giving these people a loophole will mean they will have complete freedom to infringe on the rights of everyone else in the neighborhood.  What else would you then recommend?

Here's the Answer Man's response, which he shared with me:

Hi, Yipping...then, obviously, we have an ordinance and you call police. I really don't mean to minimize the issue, but usually this type of thing can be addressed short of a police call.
Thanks for the note,
A-Man

 

Where did the hyphen go?

For the record, here are a few changes in Associated Press style: email (no hyphen), cellphone, smartphone, hand-held (keeps the hyphen as an adjective) and handheld (no hyphen as a noun).

Following up on the abortion style question that's come up on this blog recently, here's an item from my print column today:

Also in keeping with AP, we avoid politically loaded terms such as "pro-life" and "pro-choice" and instead use "anti-abortion" and "pro-abortion rights." A few readers have questioned our news style regarding abortion recently, and my response is always that we do our best to use neutral, descriptive terms to describe the political views of people on this issue. Better yet is to avoid the labels entirely and use fuller phrases or sentences to explain points of view.

From the author of 'Where the Sidewalk Ends'

 

You might not know it, but a fair number of Post-Bulletin readers are poets.

They write for us every Monday in the Life section, on the Books page. We've been featuring work by local and area poets for a few years, and some of their names may be familiar to you by now: Betty Benner, Suzanne Cravens, Susan McMillan, Jane Belau, Walaska Battenburg and many others. They're good writers with important things to say about life in our region.

We had some questions about whether we could keep this going on a weekly basis, but that hasn't been a problem. From the outset, I've met plenty of talented area writers who are interested in contributing.

We're now hoping to do the same on our Teen Beat page, with student poets. We've published a few poems by younger writers on that Wednesday page, and we're hoping to make that a weekly commitment as well.

This being National Poetry Month, we have something more to offer regarding poetry: A weekly series of poems and drawings by one of the best-loved contemporary writers of children's poetry, Shel Silverstein. If you have children under the age of about 30, you likely know all about Silverstein's distinctive poetry and line drawings from books such as "Where the Sidewalk Ends" and "The Giving Tree."

Today through May 18, we'll publish a poem and drawing by Silverstein, who died in 1999 but whose art lives on. The series is made available by the Newspaper Association of America and HarperCollins Children's Books, and more than 60 classrooms in the area will make use of the poetry series through our Newspaper in Education program.

If you're a teacher or school administrator and want more details on the Silverstein series, call NIE Coordinator Connie Brophy at 285-7639. And if you're a poet and want to be published in the Post-Bulletin -- perhaps launching your own Shel-style career -- send your poems to me.