Quick Read

The Dispatch’s single greatest problem is not a lack of competent writers or intriguing stories… Their problem is that they bury the most compelling in spaces where they are either not likely to be read or likely to only be read by those people who spend more than twenty minutes reading the paper (for example, someone who reads the paper and then writes about it on their website)…

The prime example of their if it’s best, it’s buried philosophy was their A3 story on whether Senator George Voinovich is reconsidering seeking re-election… The story was mixed, sources saying he is reconsidering, outgoing chairman Bob Bennett saying no way; but the inconsistency isn’t the point… Voinovich’s potential reconsideration, especially given recent Republican incompetence and Mike Dewine’s defeat in 2006, is a page one story if ever there was one…

While the paper’s lead story on a proposed light rail project was outstanding, the Voinovich news should have led and another fascinating feature, “Reading Rates Dismal” (metro front) should have found it’s way onto the front page… The column’s statistics were excellent and given the always heated exchange of the immigration issue, the fact that Franklin County’s immigrant population is rising, made this story ideal morning coffee discussion…

Two other stories worth mentioning, which were buried were the stories on Columbus church marketing (B9) and a Life and Arts story on black directors (D6)… Both stories were unique and presented angles of issues I assume most haven’t considered… Unfortunately, they are so well hidden; they will line birdcages before being read…

Finally, our city’s biggest news, that of Chris Wells’ exit, was a mostly rehash, Ken Gordon and Tim May mirage, that painted Wells’ decision as difficult… So difficult, it took him all of fifty hours to make it, when he had another week to spare… The column was sadly typical of two writers, both of whom I respected, that are becoming less and less objective and more and more public relations ambassadors for OSU…