OPUBCO / Oklahoman Business Practices

[jerrywall]

Out of curiosity, do you know the date from that paper? My eyes can't make it out.

[OKC Guy]

Please stop with the whining. This is historical record stuff.

That has zero to do with sitting POTUS and accusations made. My point is still that this thread belongs in politics.

For the record I do cancelled my sub years ago its a horrible newspaper. But Trump has zero to do with this discussion and if he did it should be in pol board

[Pete]

Let's please move on...

[Doug Loudenback]

Some things need to die and give way to a more evolved and enlightened approach. It's happened in virtually every industry, especially when monopolies are too mired in hubris and greed to make needed change before it's too late. And it's way too late for the Oklahoman.

It well may be too late for the Oklahoman, but not perhaps for the reasons you gave. I'm thinking that the new owner, GateHouse, may solve the problem. Consider this article in the Washington Post a few days ago: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...jUDXQOQHcP3pov

It’s a crisis that threatens American democracy. Local newspapers, despite all their flaws and limitations, have been a trusted — and necessary — source of information for citizens across the country.

When local news withers, bad things happen, studies show.

People vote less, and they vote in a more politically polarized way. Political corruption has more opportunity to flourish, unnoticed by the local watchdog. And municipal costs may rise.

More than 2,000 newspapers have gone out of business in the past 15 years, according to the University of North Carolina’s Penny Muse Abernathy, the leading expert on so-called news deserts that result.

Most are weeklies, but many metro dailies are in real trouble, too. The Vindicator, in Youngstown, Ohio, will shut down this month, leaving a substantial city without a daily paper.
* * *
But the crisis continues apace. Papers close, merge, shrink. Many have become shells of their once robust selves, inspiring the coinage “ghost newspapers.”

Ten years ago, the visionary tech writer and teacher Clay Shirky wrote a seminal article that forecast this demise: “Newspapers and Thinking the Unthinkable.”

What was once unthinkable is becoming reality.

The Gannett and GateHouse merger looks like one more step along that dire path.

It doesn't take a genius to see the atrophy which has already occurred with the Oklahoman. It may not be very far in the future that there will no longer be that institution to complain of.

As for me, I want it to survive.

[Pete]

For sentimental reasons, it would be sad to see them go.

But I also hate this broad-brush characterization of all local papers as being essential to their communities. Some are good, some are bad. And the Oklahoman in many ways is bad for the community as a whole and has been for a very long time; for reasons that have nothing to do so with their recent revenue woes.

In the meantime, they seem far more interested in stealing the work of other local journalists without attribution and defending their turf and jobs, which actually works directly against quality local journalism. Ironic, given how they are now begging people to prop them up as if they are the only hope for local news.

[Midtowner]

Out of curiosity, do you know the date from that paper? My eyes can't make it out.

I'd guess between 1907 and 1911based on Haskell giving a fair deal to labor. I'm guessing Haskell refers to our first governor who was in office at that time.

[Midtowner]

For sentimental reasons, it would be sad to see them go.

But I also hate this broad-brush characterization of all local papers as being essential to their communities. Some are good, some are bad. And the Oklahoman in many ways is bad for the community as a whole and has been for a very long time; for reasons that have nothing to do so with their recent revenue woes.

In the meantime, they seem far more interested in stealing the work of other local journalists without attribution and defending their turf and jobs, which actually works directly against quality local journalism. Ironic, given how they are now begging people to prop them up as if they are the only hope for local news.

I'd be sad to see them go as I can't imagine anyone coming in behind them and starting any kind of new daily paper. We need someone to cover obits, classifieds, social, real estate, local business. I even think the editorial page is of great value--even when I disagree with 75% of what they write.

Back in my undergrad, I had a chance to question one of the more prominent news reporters (if prominent is a thing a local reporter can be) in the OKC area. I asked him why he wasn't more critical, why he never reported on obviously corrupt practices. I was told he valued his sources and didn't want to burn bridges. I guess if you're just there to collect a paycheck, that tracks.

[okatty]

I played golf with 4 guys yesterday and I mentioned something in the Oklahoman sports page. As it turned out, I was the only one of the 5 who has kept my subscription in place (including online). Not a random sample, but it is a reflection as all 5 had subscriptions historically.

[David]

Edit: removing this since I see Pete asking us to move on. This was instructive about certain posters here, however.

[Doug Loudenback]

Out of curiosity, do you know the date from that paper? My eyes can't make it out.

The date was 9.13.1907. I discussed that cartoon and its associated editorial at length in a May 2009 blog post entitled, "The History of Jim Crow in Oklahoma City." Although EK Gaylord didn't own the Oklahoman then, he was in the organization at the time. The Oklahoman editorial was written by Roy E Stafford who later sold the paper to Gaylord.

[Pete]

Back in my undergrad, I had a chance to question one of the more prominent news reporters (if prominent is a thing a local reporter can be) in the OKC area. I asked him why he wasn't more critical, why he never reported on obviously corrupt practices. I was told he valued his sources and didn't want to burn bridges. I guess if you're just there to collect a paycheck, that tracks.

It's called access journalism and is a huge violation of ethics.

You should go out and get information, not rely on others to feed it to you. When someone feeds you a story, they do so because they want it told a certain way. The job of a journalist to seek the purest form of truth possible, not do the bidding of others.

The Oklahoman is one of the worst offenders, often serving as a PR outlet rather than performing real journalism.

Before I call anyone, I try and have all the facts I need for a story. Many times someone will say, "Well, we're not ready for that information to be out." Which tells you that they are used to merely putting out press releases when they are ready. After at first being confused by this, I learned to say, "I'm not asking for your permission; just providing the opportunity to answer some questions and add comment."

Every once in a while, I'll hold a story for a couple of days so they can provide added info. And more than once, I've had someone pick up the phone and call the Oklahoman so they can get the story written the way they want it.

Or in the recent case of Farmers Bank, they don't return my call and then after my story comes out, they give the Oklahoman some PR quotes that are printed without question or context.

[Doug Loudenback]

Pete, perhaps you can tone down your Oklahoman criticism, just a tad. You have expressed your point of view several times from your powerful position of forum owner. But, your point of view is not all that there is. It would be good to have a little peace on this topic. No one wants a fight, not me, at least. Can we agree to chill, just a little?

[gopokes88]

Criticize all you want Pete it’s your board.

But I’m def in the camp that doesn’t get super worked up about access journalism and what the Oklahoman is up to. I really like Steve’s chats and reading berry tramel, the rest is just white noise.

[citywokchinesefood]

Pete, perhaps you can tone down your Oklahoman criticism, just a tad. You have expressed your point of view several times from your powerful position of forum owner. But, your point of view is not all that there is. It would be good to have a little peace on this topic. No one wants a fight, not me, at least. Can we agree to chill, just a little?

If the Oklahoman changed their business practices they wouldn't need to be criticized. This is not a matter of opinion being discussed here. The largest paper in OKC is arguably one of the least reputable sources of information. This is not okay.

[cindycat]

Now on a serious note: The comics are usually on the last page of the last section of the paper. Occasionally they'll be on a separate page, backing a full-page ad. Today we got a bonus...we got both!! Lack of communication, perhaps?

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Anybody noticed The Oklahoman has now put in an even “harder” paywall? You can’t get any free articles without first signing up for their newsletter. Articles are now all blurred out. Cleaning cookies does nothing. This is now a “hard” paywall that disallows any free views to anyone without signing up for the newsletter for five articles a month. Of course, there is the subscription option, but prices are ridiculous.

[PhiAlpha]

Anybody noticed The Oklahoman has now put in an even “harder” paywall? You can’t get any free articles without first signing up for their newsletter. Articles are now all blurred out. Cleaning cookies does nothing. This is now a “hard” paywall that disallows any free views to anyone without signing up for the newsletter for five articles a month. Of course, there is the subscription option, but prices are ridiculous.

Well that marks the end of what little remaining interest I had in reading the Oklahoman. Definitely not worth any amount of money for a subscription

[Pete]

Four days ago, I posted that Tinseltown applied for a liquor license.

Somehow that tidbit of info warrants a nearly full front page of the Oklahoman's business section, complete with two photos of the theater from 2000 (on the marquee is Coyote Ugly and Kings of Comedy). There was also a small leader on the front page for this story.

[PhiAlpha]

Four days ago, I posted that Tinseltown applied for a liquor license.

Somehow that tidbit of info warrants a nearly full front page of the Oklahoman's business section, complete with two photos of the theater from 2000 (on the marquee is Coyote Ugly and Kings of Comedy). There was also a small leader on the front page for this story.

And let me guess...they cited you and OKCTalk for discovering the permit and breaking the story like a responsible news organization would.

[Pete]

^

I don't even care about that in this instance... Just that they are manufacturing stories to fill their scant pages and there was almost zero work done here. They couldn't even go out and take a photo that wasn't 19 years old.

[jerrywall]

Anybody noticed The Oklahoman has now put in an even “harder” paywall? You can’t get any free articles without first signing up for their newsletter. Articles are now all blurred out. Cleaning cookies does nothing. This is now a “hard” paywall that disallows any free views to anyone without signing up for the newsletter for five articles a month. Of course, there is the subscription option, but prices are ridiculous.

If someone were so inclined, the free Brave browser with the scripts turned off works for being able to read a certain news site without annoying blurring... not that I'd suggest this route... *cough*

[Mott]

Those who remember Taylor’s newsstand on Main, back when Downtown was empty of retail, they had every magazine printed, even out of town newspapers. One day I went into pick up that month’s Trains magazine, and they had taken an article from a Journalism magazine and put it on their windows, a full eight feet high, “Is this the Worst Paper in the United States?” I don’t exactly know what their issue with the Oklahoman was, but they left it in the window for a long time, and it made me chuckle every time I went in. This was in the early ‘80’s.

[Pete]

^

Loved Taylors!

It moved into the Century Center for a while before closing for good.

[d-usa]

The paywall has just caused me to avoid the site completely.

[CloudDeckMedia]

^

Loved Taylors!

It moved into the Century Center for a while before closing for good.

Before trips to other cities, I’d go to Taylors and buy their local papers - Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, Detroit Free Press, etc. - to get a feel for what was happening there. Long before the interwebs.