Further proof of the continuing downward spiral of the New York Times

The December 18, 2007 front page

The New York Times has been continuously published since 1851. Their motto is "All the News That's Fit to Print." It was once respectfully known as "the Old Gray Lady."

Like all major newspapers, they've been struggling to keep the presses running. Subscriptions continue declining for numerous reasons. The medium you're using to read this is one of the reasons. The Old Gray Lady, IMO, owes their troubles, in part, to another. Their motto has changed. Today it's more like "All the news (or not) we can fit on the pages. Especially if it's Liberal/Progressive."

And just possibly their Editorial Staff decisions aren't the wisest...

Does a story about pickles on a peanut butter sandwich sound like hard-hitting journalism? Maybe a tad "investigative." Maybe.

Does this story seem like something an Editor, knowing he's only got a limited amount of pages his bosses can afford to print, would use their ink on? Even at "by the barrel" discount prices?

Are the sophisticated, well-educated, urbane, literati of NYC clambering for information like this?

Well, at least the "reporter" has a flair for avoiding prose...

"The vinegary snap of chilled pickle cuts, like a dash of irony, against the stoic unctuousness

of peanut butter. The sandwich is a thrifty and unacknowledged American classic."

The Courier's “News from years gone by”

I enjoy reading this part of the paper. Not that I don't enjoy the other parts! But these old stories that Matt pulls from the microfiche files at our library tell interesting stories about our community's past, enlighten us about the habits and goings on of ancestors and give insight to a simpler way of living.

Through these snippets I've learned about: feuds between one town's newspaper and another's; coal being mined nearby; the number of hogs and bushels of corn or wheat shipped to market by local farmers; town bands entertained at just about any event wanting musical interludes; town baseball team rivalries; colorful descriptions about ne'er-do-wells and editorial admonishments directed to those not conducting themselves in what might be described as “upright.”

Any and everything was reported on. No topic was off limits. And I guess this was expected by the readers. After all, they did call them “news” papers.

My first “real” job was delivering the afternoon newspaper. Yes, we had morning and afternoon papers back then. And most households subscribed to both. Dad left for work informed of whatever went on the previous night and came home to catch up on further developments. It was a way of life.

To this day I still like the feel of a newspaper. I do get the bulk of my information on the internet, radio and cable news, but I'll never be without a newspaper.