Quick Read

While Sunday’s edition overall was mixed, the business section (which everyone should be reading given this economy) was outstanding. The centerpieces were mirror columns on the third page, one of which chronicled the crush of people seeking second jobs, the other chronicling the fluctuating job market (people who are either overqualified or under qualified, but still seeking a job)… Both painted a perfect picture of the moment where we find ourselves…

Equally intriguing was the front-page feature on former mediocre Buckeye turned successful car dealer Mike D’Andrea… The column was a beautiful portrait of how D’Andrea and his family have achieved success, despite difficult economic circumstances. The business section’s only flaw was a brilliant, but buried column on consumer overdraft fees and how they are hurting bank customers (given the climate, why would you bury that deep in the paper?)…

Another gorgeous piece of writing was the “Nothing’s Going to Waste” feature, which discussed how even the smallest scraps are being salvaged and utilized… Unfortunately, Metro and State offset that fine front work with a Kevin Boyce profile, which started with a great premise, then lagged and lost me in the middle… I cant say this enough… If the Dispatch is writing a story about someone who has had a hard life, make me think their life was hard…

The travel section showcased an excellent map of Washington D.C., as it discussed the inauguration… But the section fumbled with a seemingly complimentary piece about “experience vacations,” which was a calamity… Sports, was its usual self, writing a marquee story about Adam Foote’s orchestrated trade, then burying the story where no one could find it…
Finally, the front page was a complete disappointment, particularly two stories about the “Home Again” initiative and internet safety checks… Both had potential, unfortunately both lacked the probative value I expect of a front page worth column.