Grumpy Editor

‘Victory lap’ becomes very contagious term for media

Grumpy Editor notes newspaper readers/radio and TV listeners were bombarded last week with the much overused term “victory lap,” after the president trumpeted from the White House Rose Garden that 7.1 million people signed up by the deadline for the first round of ObamaCare.

Victory lap stems from motorsports to describe the extra lap around the racetrack after the end of a race.  It’s much like "hitting a home run,” as heard in baseball parks, to describe something such as a nifty presentation at the office. 

A sampling of headlines or leads from the many print/broadcast/Internet websites going for “victory lap” (emphasized in bold face, below) --- 

ABC News:  President Obama Takes Victory Lap After

Health Care Sign-Ups Top 7 Million

 

Washington Post:  7.1 million reasons for ObamaCare victory lap

 

NBC News:  Victory Lap: Obama Says Health

Care Law Is 'Here to Stay'

 

PBS News Hour: President Obama takes health care victory lap

 

Fox News:  White House runs 'victory lap' after 7M ObamaCare sign-ups, Republicans renew repeal fight

 

Roll call:  Obama, Democrats Have 7 Million Reasons for a Victory Lap

 

U.S. News & World Report:  Obama Runs Victory Lap on ObamaCare Sign-Up Success, Chastises Republicans

 

New York Post:  While ‘victory lap’ was not in the headline, it was in the lead of its story ---

WASHINGTON — President Obama took a victory lap at the close of the enrollment period for ObamaCare…

 

WebMD:  First paragraph under the headline, ObamaCare Hits Goal of 7 Million Enrolled --- 

The Obama administration took a victory lap Tuesday as enrollment through the health law’s exchanges topped 7 million... 

 

Meanwhile, in the Far East, English-language Japan Times picked up an Associated Press story, adding its own headline:

Obama takes victory lap after health care sign-ups top 7 million

 

Memo to media:  Did anyone check to see if there was an uptick in business at Victory Lap Auto Sales in Newnan, Ga.?

 

In case you missed these…

 

CBS ADDS COMBUSTION ENGINE SOUND TO QUIET TESLA MODEL S FOOTAGE.  Drivers of Tesla Motors, Inc.’s Model S electric car are still buzzing following CBS’s 60 Minutes report of March 30 that included several shots of the normally silent-running luxury car on the road --- but with dubbed-in sound of a traditional gasoline engine.  Seems strange that Scott Pelley, who reported the story (and whose wife, according to Fox News, drives a Tesla Model S), says he wasn't aware of the added audio ahead of time.  He didn’t comment on it after the segment with the false noisy engines aired. 

 

NEW JERSEY’S TOP DAILY, CUTS STAFF.  Advance Publications’ Star-Ledger, Newark, New Jersey’s largest newspaper, is cutting jobs, including one-fourth of its newsroom staff (leaving 156 on the editorial payroll), as it moves to consolidate operations and cut costs.

 

SUNDAYS WITH NEWS VIA NEW YORK.  The New York Times, seeking to bolster subscribers, is pitching its Sunday edition far from Gotham.  Folks in the far West are getting mailed pitches for subscriptions at $2 a week, with smaller print refining that to “for four weeks, plus free all digital access.”  Then fine print explains that after the introductory period “delivery will continue at the regular rate, which is $8.60 per week for Sunday delivery, unless you notify us.”  That’s $447.20 for a year of Sunday deliveries.

  

PATRIOTIC MARINE FLIES FLAGS, IS THREATENED WITH EVICTION.  Salem Run Apartment Homes in Fredericksburg, Va. threatens to evict a Marine who served three combat tours in Iraq because he is displaying the U.S. flag and a Marine Corps flag on his balcony.  Ex-sergeant Manuel E. Vega, who spent eight years in the Marines, told Examiner.com he has been flying the flags since October and apartment managers recently decided to take action via a warning tacked to his front door.  The notice reminds Vega that “you cannot have anything attached to the railing or any part of the building.”  Vega --- who received the Navy and Marine Corps commendation medal, combat action ribbon, presidential unit citation, Navy unit citation and good conduct medal --- says he will not back down.

 

SEND THAT MAGIFYING GLASS PRONTO.  One Reverse Mortgage, a Quicken Loans company, in pitching seniors with TV commercials, offers an illuminated magnifying glass as an inducement to seek more information.

For many, the magnifying item can be put to good use to enlarge the many lines of fine print that appear briefly on the TV screen.

 

 

Non-stop coverage of Toronto mayor Rob Ford continues

Extensive U.S. broadcast and print coverage focusing on embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who admitted smoking crack cocaine, public drinking and foul language, goes into the third week today, notes Grumpy Editor.

Media became excited when his rambling rage was captured in a video.

CNN and Fox News dropped everything earlier this month to cover “live” one of his press conferences from the Canadian city. 

Yet, his woes started six months ago when a video caught him smoking crack. 

Ford’s actions until this month were overlooked by U.S. media which suddenly went overboard detailing the escapades of a foreign country’s mayor like he was head of a major American city. 

"In terms of America's coverage of Canada, (the) story has gotten more coverage than anything I think since the War of 1812," summed up Howard Kurtz, host of Media Buzz on Fox News yesterday. 

As Wall Street Journal writer Ben Dummett pointed out Saturday, “The mayor of Toronto is in many ways a figurehead, with much less power than in comparable U.S. cities.”

Ford’s mayoral grip was clipped somewhat on Friday when Toronto’s City Council voted to strip some of his powers. 

Despite the negative coverage and cries for him to resign, Ford, according to the Associated Press, said he intends to seek re-election next year.

 

In case you missed these…

PROBLEMS PERSIST WITH THE OBAMACARE WEBSITE.   Opening page of HealthCare.gov shows the advisory:  "The Health Insurance Marketplace online application isn't available from approximately 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. EST daily while we make improvements.  Additional downtime may be possible as we work to make things better." 

Not widely mentioned by media is that the price tag in developing the website cost more than $400 million.  And costs in fixing it will add to that figure.

 

POLL: SOME VIEW PRESIDENT OBAMA AS CONSERVATIVE.  Three percent of likely U.S. voters consider President Barack Obama conservative, is a finding from a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. 

The tally also notes 68 percent consider the president at least somewhat liberal, including 43 percent who believe he is very liberal, while 24 percent rate the president politically moderate. 

 

Bloomberg Businessweek issue, now on newsstands, is the largest --- at 212 pages --- since 1999…CNN named Brian Stelter host of Sunday’s “Reliable Sources” and the cable network’s senior media correspondent.  He was the New York Times media industry reporter...Griffin Communications, owned by David and Kirsten Griffin of Oklahoma City and John Griffin of Muskogee, citing “business is very good,” gave each employee of its media outlets $500.  The privately-held media firm includes TV stations KWTV, Oklahoma City, and KOTV and KQCW, Tulsa…Forbes Media, which includes Forbes magazine and Web properties, is considering selling the operation.

 

Writer’s Digest is pitching a one-year subscription for “only” $11.96.

But wait.

Potential subscribers have to add $3 for shipping and handling.

So why not make the offer simply $14.96 without the fine print?

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Greenhouse gas ‘highest in 800,000 years’ stirs CBS News

Media continue to intensify global warming reports while overlooking unseasonal cold, finds Grumpy Editor.  Latest example was the excitement at CBS News. 

Matthew Balan at NewsBusters points out, “Scott Pelley hyped the latest global warming report on Wednesday's CBS Evening News, proclaiming that "climate scientists have never seen greenhouse gas readings like what they announced today...scientists with the United Nations said that greenhouse gases, which influence climate change, have hit their highest level in 800,000 years,” pinning the blame on industry ramping up in the developing world. 

Were any eyebrows raised at CBS on the 800,000 years reference?  At around 797,987 B.C., Grumpy Editor wonders what kind of weather instruments and tree rings were used to calculate "warming." 

Nothing is mentioned about meteorological specialists in United Nations’ purposes and principles that include maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and “to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character.” 

Meanwhile, most media are quiet about unusual cold smacking parts of the U.S.  The Climate Depot website reveals Spokane International Airport received 1.9 inches of snow Tuesday, snapping a 66-year-old daily record.  It edged the 1.8 inches recorded on Nov. 5, 1947.  Also on Nov. 5, a record snowfall of 5.7 inches was measured in Sioux Falls, S.D., breaking the old record of 1.5 inches set in 1959. 

Into the mix, NewsBusters last Thursday reports:  “Far from disappearing, Antarctic ice levels reached a record high on Sept. 22.”

 

In case you missed these…

Is the Teleprompter responsible?  With President Barack Obama last week altering what he said (at least 36 times) about OmabaCare with:  “What we said was you could keep (that plan) if it hasn’t changed since the law was passed.”  This differs from earlier statements that repeated, “If you like your health plan, you can keep it.” 

Strange selection.  The Wall Street Journal’s sole front-page photo last Monday was an above-the-fold, one-liner caption-only showing four women in Jordan watching a “hybrid” eclipse.  Captions on other photos that day brought confusion.  An Associated Press-supplied photo linked to a story on India’s plan to launch a spacecraft was incorrectly attributed to Agence France-Presse/Getty Images in some editions.  Also, in connection with an article on voting in Kosovo, some editions credited a Reuters photo to Zuma Press.

Had enough of the Toronto mayor coverage?  A whole week of focusing on a mayor based in another country filled U.S. broadcast and print news.  That included coverage of a press conference, live on Fox News and CNN, in which Rob Ford, Toronto mayor, admitted smoking crack cocaine plus additional extensive airtime and print space --- all the way through the weekend --- devoted to Ford’s rambling rage captured in a video.

Another mayor story few know about.  Ed Engler, editor and president of the Laconia Daily Sun is the new mayor of the New Hampshire city.  He will be sworn in tomorrow and begins his term in January. So who will cover City Hall for the Sun?

Good comparison.  A print ad by State Street Global Advisors for SPDR, an exchange traded fund, grabbed readers’ eyes with:  TRADED MORE OFTEN THAN A VETERAN BASEBALL PLAYER.

More print jobs lost.  The move to print the Fort Worth Star-Telegram at the Dallas Morning News next year means 275 people, including 75 full timers, will be dropped from the payroll.

 

Zombies in Washington?  The latest Rasmussen Reports finds 37 percent of adults surveyed feel zombies would do a better job running the U.S. today.  On the other hand, the survey notes just as many (37 percent) believe the federal government would do a better job than zombies in running the country while 26 percent can’t decide between the two.

Benghazi night/Obama in White House saga continues; AARP's CEO warns seniors about proposed chained CPI

The much-discussed whereabouts of President Barack Obama on the night the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya was attacked Sept. 11, 2012 popped up again via Roger Ailes, Fox News chairman and CEO, and chairman of Fox Television Stations Group, notes Grumpy Editor.

In receiving a $250,000 award last week from the Bradley Foundation, Ailes’ acceptance speech included reference to the Benghazi attack that resulted in the deaths of four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stephens.  

 “I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t even care what the president of the United States was doing that night,” Ailes said. “However, I would like to know what the commander-in-chief was doing that night” --- which yielded applause from the audience.

Meanwhile, a photo, presumably shot on Sept. 11, 2012, resurfaced last week after its first release, without much fanfare, in early January.

The caption read: “Denis McDonough, Deputy National Security Advisor, left, updates the President and Vice President on the situation in the Middle East and North Africa. National Security Advisor Tom Donilon and Chief of Staff Jack Lew are at right.”  All five are standing.

Strangely, Benghazi or Libya are not mentioned in the caption.  The photo shows Donilon holding a red file folder.  Lew and the president have hands in pockets.

However, details are given on the camera used by official White House photographer Pete Souza: a Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

See the photo here.

Obama departed Washington the following morning (Sept. 12) for a Las Vegas fundraiser.

 

'Chained CPI' means less COLA for seniors

The phrase “chained CPI” and what it is all about made its debut --- with little comment from most print and broadcast media --- after President Barack Obama’s budget plan was formally announced on April 10. 

It deals with a proposed change in the formula for the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) that will negatively affect millions of older Americans receiving Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. 

Now, AARP’s CEO is alerting members that if enacted it “means cutting Social Security benefits by $127 billion over the next 10 years.” 

In a message to members of AARP (formerly known as American Association of Retired Persons) Addison Barry Rand warns:  “Can you afford to lose $14,076?,” pointing out “that’s what the cumulative cut in Social Security benefits will be for the average retiree by the time they reach 90.” 

Replacing the traditional consumer price index (CPI), long used in calculating the annual COLA, by chained CPI will cut yearly benefit increases. 

Social Security and SSI recipients grumbled when this year’s COLA barely rose to 1.7 percent, about half of last year’s 3.6 percent.  

The chained CPI “is not fair to you, me or other Americans,” declared Rand in this month’s message.

That caution communication from AARP’s CEO is in contrast to support of ObamaCare at a November, 2009, press conference when Rand proclaimed: “AARP is proud to endorse the Affordable Health Care for America Act."

 

In case you missed these…

Sarah Palin, former vice presidential candidate, returns as a Fox News contributor, appearing today on the channel’s Fox and Friends…Despite a presidential visit and promises of federal assistance, West, Texas, scene of an April 17 fertilizer plant explosion that killed 15, injured hundreds and destroyed nearby properties, was denied funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  FEMA also rejected Gov. Rick Perry’s request for a major disaster declaration for the town…Al Jazeera America schedules its launch for around Aug. 24...the PBS NewsHour nightly newscast is laying off employees for the first time in nearly 20 years and closing its Denver and San Francisco offices…Helen Brush Jenkins, one of the few early female photographers on daily newspapers (at the original Los Angeles Daily News), died in Chicago at age 94. 

Newspaper reporter sinks to bottom of least-favored jobs; a reminder: HHS adds PR firm to tout ObamaCare

For those thinking about a career as newspaper reporter, some glum news:  that occupation ranks as the worst these days, tallies a 2013 CareerCast.com Jobs Rated Report, observes Grumpy Editor.

Newspaper reporter drops to the bottom of the list (No. 200) in a tally by the Carlsbad, Calif., firm.  That’s one notch below lumberjack and compares with a 126 ranking in 1988.

“Newspaper reporters have fared poorly in the report for years due to the job's high stress and tight deadlines, low pay and requirement to work in all conditions to get the story,” points out CareerCast.com.  “Ever-shrinking newsrooms, dwindling budgets and Internet competition have created a very difficult environment, driving the position to dead last on this year's Jobs Rated Report.”

Tony Lee, publisher, CareerCast.com mentions, "People who love to write can consider working for online publications or transition to advertising or public relations.  Many jobs in communications offer better hours, greater stability, a work/life balance and a healthier hiring outlook than being a newspaper reporter."

So what are the top five 2013 jobs?

Topping the list is actuary, followed by biomedical engineer, software engineer, audiologist and financial planner.

 

Another reminder of outside PR use by HHS

Making the rounds again on the Web after a Newsmax mention last week is the Obama administration awarding PR firm Weber Shandwick a $3.1 million contract “to help sell ObamaCare to the uninsured and persuade them to enroll in a healthcare plan.”

The repeat of an announcement almost seven months earlier does remind, however, how Washington --- with wall-to-wall chatter these days on budget cuts via sequester --- spends taxpayer money on an outside PR campaign when Department of Health and Human Services already has a mighty taxpayer-paid press office.

See the HHS lengthy press office list here.

Perhaps the Obama administration and HHS are swayed by inspirational words on the Weber Shandwick Web site.  The global public relations firm with offices in 81 countries, boasts:

“We are a creative studio of writers, designers, builders, strategists, conversation-starters, storytellers. We are passionate about our clients and, through our specialty firms and dedicated practice groups, we are deeply knowledgeable about their businesses. And while we are a big, global organization, we believe that collaboration is the best way to succeed.”

The PR firm also cites:  “We inspire. We incite. We shape ideas to move companies and organizations forward. We get people thinking and acting in new ways so they connect with and advocate for your brand. And we do it with a level of commitment and expertise that is simply unmatched by anyone, anywhere.” 

Undoubtedly, HHS couldn’t resist those stimulating words.

 

In case you missed these…

Not so fast:  “Air traffic controllers back at full strength,” proclaims a Saturday newspaper across-the-page headline over an Associated Press story.  Not quite.  The sixth paragraph of the AP piece reads: “There  was no immediate word on when the controllers’ furloughs would end.”  Sunday papers have the FAA controllers going back to work "within 24 hours." Actually, President Barack Obama was prepared to sign the bill on Saturday morning, but now must wait until tomorrow because a spelling error in the measure needs to be corrected. 

In an unusual promotional partnership hailed as a Hollywood first, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. customers will be able to buy tickets to June 13 screenings of Man of Steel, the latest Warner Bros Superman movie…The Express-Times, Easton, Pa., is eliminating its production department and will move its printing operations to the Staten Island (N.Y.) Advance starting June 3.  The move erases 12 full-time and 26 part-time Easton jobs

Cheers for radio coverage.  While most newspapers snub radio coverage with its many offerings, the Orange County (Calif.) Register says long-time radio writer Don Barrett is the newspaper’s new radio columnist…Traffic-clogged drivers already are squirming in Los Angeles with word that President Obama will fly to the city again on June 7 for a series of Democrat fundraisers.  LA Observed, which follows these trips, reminds readers to “mark your Obamajam calendars.”

An amusing, attention-getting ad from iGATE in Forbes magazine declares in large type:  “If this ad does not deliver results, we’re not paying Forbes.”  iGATE, with principal executive offices in Fremont, Calif., provides consulting, technology and business process outsourcing, and product and engineering solutions.