Media Nation

Up until today, my favorite story about the Lowell Sun involved the time in 1997 that then-editor Jack Costello — doubling as chair of a local government agency — banged out a story under one of his reporter’s bylines, even typing in quotes and attributing them to himself.

“Whether I generate that on the computer or tell it to a reporter, it’s irrelevant, isn’t it?” Costello told me in 1998. “I am the chairman, and you would logically go to the chairman of the arena commission to get a quote. You know what I’m saying?” Oh, yes. Absolutely.

Sadly, the tale of Two-Hat Jack may now have to give way to this Steve Bailey gem in today’s Boston Globe. It seems that the Sun is throwing a 50th-birthday party for U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Lowell. And if you’re a local business owner, you’re invited — to buy an ad in a special commemorative supplement, the proceeds from which will enrich both the Sun and a foundation Meehan heads. Bailey writes:

A full page in this special “Marty Meehan at 50” keepsake edition goes for $3,000; a half-page is $1,900. The back page, in color, is $6,000. If you are looking to feed at the trough — and who isn’t? — are you really going to say no when the congressman’s office calls? The only real question is can I get away with a quarter page (price: $1,250)?

Needless to say, this blows through every journalistic ethics test imaginable. And unless Denver-based owner Dean Singleton, head of MediaNews Group, does something about it — like, by the end of today — it pretty much makes a mockery of Singleton’s efforts to transform his image from media bottom-feeder to respectable publisher.

Earlier this fall I spotted Christian Science Monitor reporter Jill Carroll at a reception at Harvard’s Shorenstein Center, where she’s a fellow. I don’t want to read too much into my observations from across a room, but she struck me as shy and fragile, sticking close to her little group. I assumed she was still coming to terms with the ordeal she went through as a hostage in Iraq last winter.

Then, a few weeks ago, Karla Vallance, managing editor of the Monitor’s Web site, spoke to my Journalism of the Web class. Vallance was in charge of putting together this online presentation about what happened to Carroll. Among other things, Vallance told us that Carroll was initially reluctant to cooperate because she feared retribution against herself and her family.

Why am I telling you this? Because today, in the Boston Herald’s Inside Track, we learn that Carroll recently declined to be interviewed by WFXT-TV (Channel 25) when she was approached in a Harvard Square bar — and that, therefore, Carroll’s stint at Harvard had obviously made her “rather full of oneself,” as she “rather snootily” dismissed the Fox 25 reporter.

For good measure, the Tracksters describe Carroll as a “former reporter.” In fact, she’s on staff at the Monitor.

A pointless, wrongheaded, nasty little item.

Seth Gitell, a certified FOMN (Friend of Media Nation), has a sharp profile of Boston Globe executive vice president Al Larkin in the new issue of Boston Magazine. Gitell’s overall thesis is that the New York Times Co. might be doing better with its Boston outpost today if its officials had spent more time listening to Larkin, the last of the Globe’s Old Guard.

A bonus: retired editor Matt Storin, now at Notre Dame, checks in. Here’s Storin on Larkin: “He’s invaluable — maybe the most valuable player. He knows Boston, knows the players, and keeps up relationships very well. He’s a survivor because he understands power, he understands tribal forces. He has a good memory.”

The Boston Globe lends its editorial voice to those calling on Danvers Fire Chief James Tutko to get over himself and led the feds do their job. In the lead editorial today, the Globe argues:

Those who lost their homes and narrowly escaped death or serious injury deserve an independent federal probe that examines whether state and local failures might have contributed to the blast. Despite the presence of hazardous materials, it appears the plant wasn’t inspected by state authorities for several years. Federal authorities also will need to look closely at enforcement of local fire codes.

Yes, that’s right. By refusing to allow federal inspectors to come in, local officials are opening themselves up to accusations that they’re engaged in some sort of cover-up. Too harsh? Perhaps. But this turf war is inexplicable. You can’t blame people for wondering.

Update: The Salem News reports that State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan is worried that the U.S. Chemical Safety Board’s trained investigators would compromise what may prove to be a crime scene. On a credibility scale of 1 to 10, Coan’s explanation strikes me as about a minus-2. What is going on?

I’m tempted to saddle Ken Chandler with the blame for the Boston Herald’s plummeting circulation. But then I remember: Oh, yeah. The Web. The Herald claims that some 2 million people visit its Web site every month. Divide that by 30 days, and you’ve got 67,000. Add that to the weekday print circulation of 230,000 and you’ve got nearly 300,000. If Pat Purcell could sell that many papers every Monday through Friday, his tabloid wouldn’t be in trouble. (And yes, I know that one Web visitor doesn’t equal one print reader, but you get the idea.)

Chandler, the paper’s editorial director and acting editor for the past several years, is moving on, according to the Weekly Dig. His replacement: Kevin Convey, the managing editor. No doubt the two jobs will be consolidated into one. Thus, what this means more than anything is that Purcell no longer has to pay Chandler’s salary (although Chandler will be doing some consulting). Without question, Chandler was getting paid a lot more than some of the folks who’ve been leaving the Herald lately, either voluntarily or not.

As for what it means beyond that, who knows? Convey is smart, solid and well-liked. He was co-managing editor from the mid-1990s until about four years ago. Convey left to run Purcell’s community-newspaper chain (sold off last spring), and was brought back to One Herald Square after the other two members of the ruling troika, editor Andy Costello and managing editor Andrew Gully, departed in 2004.

Chandler’s Herald was a hell of a lot tabloidier (if that’s a word) than Costello’s. Over time, though, it calmed down. And despite a dizzying succession of departures, the paper continues to show verve and a competitive spirit. I don’t know if the Herald will change much under Convey. Frankly, though, I’m optimistic that Convey will take steps to make the paper smarter. He can start by banishing the word “perv” (excuse me — “PERV”) from headlines.

Here’s a statement from Brian Whelan, president of Local 31032 of The Newspaper Guild, which represents more than 200 editorial and business-side employees at the Herald: “There are a lot of intricate issues right now concerning the future of the Boston Herald. All of us, Ken Chandler and Kevin Convey included, are doing everything we can to keep our newspaper strong and viable. We have worked well in the past with Ken and look forward to working with Kevin far into the future.”

And here’s what Convey told the troops today, according to the Herald’s Jesse Noyes: “On the one hand, I aim to try to keep the paper vital in print by focusing on enterprise, attitude and pop culture as well as by maintaining its traditional strengths in news, sports and business. On the other hand, finding ways to translate the paper’s particular appeal on the Web is a key part of the job as well. And all this has to be done in one of the most challenging business environments.”

The Salem News updates the dispute between Danvers Fire Chief James Tutko and the federal Chemical Safety Board, but doesn’t really add anything new. It looks as though Tutko thinks his department will be out of the explosion area in a few days, after which the feds can come in. But it remains unexplained why Tutko is taking this stance. It makes no sense whatsoever.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but weren’t people allowed to view Ground Zero almost immediately after the terrorist attacks of 9/11?

I’m eager to learn what the Salem News reports later today, but at the moment, I’m concerned about what I’m seeing. More than four days after the Danvers explosion, the neighborhood is still sealed off with police barricades. No one can get in or out without identification showing that they belong in the neighborhood.

Even more inexplicable is that Fire Chief James Tutko is refusing to allow federal inspectors to do their jobs. I’m trying to approach this with an open mind, but right now it’s hard to disagree with Boston Globe columnist Adrian Walker, who writes:

If James Tutko, the Danvers fire chief, really wants to do something to aid the investigation into the stunning explosion last week, there is one step he could easily take: Get out of the way.

It is absurd that the federal Chemical Safety Board can’t get onto the site to investigate the cause of the blaze, because the fire official has decided they aren’t needed.

The Globe reports on this strange development here and here. The Herald has another angle on the dispute here. The Chemical Safety Board Web site, in announcing its Danvers investigation, has this to say by way of background:

The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. The agency’s board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in safety management systems, regulations, and industry standards.

That sounds like exactly what we need. Those of us who live in Danvers deserve an explanation as to why the CSB isn’t being allowed in.

This is pathetic: Jessica Heslam flipped on WRKO Radio (AM 680) earlier today and thought it was strange that no one was talking about the explosion — until she realized the station was rerunning a show from Tuesday.

Right now Todd Feinburg is talking about what happens “if” the Boston College football team wins “tonight,” which I guess means that ‘RKO is back to live programming. Well, let’s give them all a pat on the back.

WTKK (96.9 FM), the city’s other all-talk station, already runs a lot of rebroadcasts during the weekend. It would be a shame to see WRKO follow suit.

You can’t tell from the Web site, but the Salem News today has the best coverage I’ve seen of the Danvers explosion. If you’re anywhere near the North Shore, you should try to pick up a copy. A terrific front page, comprehensive stories covering every angle and lots of photos make this the best overall package out there.

Of course, you might say, the local paper should have the best coverage. True, but we all know how rarely that happens. Too many community papers lack the staff and the smarts to keep up with the big out-of-town news organizations. So it was nice to see the News turn in such a strong performance.

Disclosure: Mrs. Media Nation is a former photographer for the News, and we still know a lot of people who work there.

I’ve been meaning to post this for a few days. Last week the Patriot Ledger published a story about a “newly discovered bootleg recording” of two 1975 performances by Bob Dylan and Rolling Thunder Revue, in Plymouth of all places.

“The shows still stand as the most significant musical event in the town’s history,” writes the Ledger’s Lane Lambert.

I nearly went to one of those shows. I grew up in nearby Middleborough, and a few of my older friends saw Dylan. I don’t recall thinking it was any big deal at the time, but it certainly was.

You can download the album yourself by clicking here.

Meanwhile, Nathaniel Philbrick shares Plymouth memories of Dylan in today’s New York Times.

Happy Thanksgiving!