Ludington Daily News Has New Leadership

[XLFD]

But Will They Have New Readership?

 

As reported in today's front page of that august local publication, Shoreline Media (which includes the LDN, the Oceana Herald-Journal, and the White Lake Beacon among its assets) was sold to an Illinois-based organization called Community Media Group.  The group serves eight states in the midwest and the northeast, and plans to continue providing the areas covered by those newspapers with coverage, and likely some changes.  

As Jim Young, who publishes both Oceana papers stated: 

“Every time, there was a little concern about what will happen (in an ownership change), and every time there was an influx of ideas that made the papers stronger and better.”

We at the Ludington Torch are happy for David Jackson, who, when he was fresh on the scene, was a positive force for the community, and put out a quality product.  With the absence of any solid leadership over the last few years, the newspaper's contents, editorial-direction, and reportage have deteriorated drastically, along with the readership. 

Meanwhile, it has been published that there have been a fair deal of debts piling up for the local papers to local lending institutions, which may have precipitated an earlier than wanted retirement for David Jackson, when he found a willing purchaser.

Whatever the case may be, we welcome aboard the new media group and hope they make the changes necessary to get the Daily News back to being a proud member of the Fourth Estate once again.  Here is a supplementary article about the transaction in MLIve

[Willy]

I hope one change will be an impartial look at the World instead of the usual nauseating liberal slant. And just maybe the new LDN will do some serious investigative reporting and expose the City's good old boy system of corruption and misdeeds. But I see little change if the current roster of reporters remains the same. Here's hoping  positive changes are in store. I might even start buying the paper again.

[XLFD]

I doubt there would be any major shake-ups among the reporters and photographers (bad news for electronic wanna-bees like us, Willy, LOL), but I would be surprised if they didn't make a couple changes in management, at least temporarily.  Always hope for the best in the new year, and positive changes for all. 

I am in the collossal task of organizing this years' 50 pages of threads on the Torch and compiling a list of the most newsworthy of our regional efforts that never saw any worthwhile analysis or mention about them in the local papers.  Perhaps we can encourage the new guys to consider looking beyond the smiles of the City and County leaders, and listening to words other than those supplied by their well-rehearsed scripts.

[Marty Redman]

Shoreline Medias initials SM should surprise none that it shares this with sado-masochism.  They treated there public duty sadisticly, and masochisticly caved in to the business and political mavens of Mason County. 

Let the truth escape from bondage.

[AQUAMAN]

Wishful thinking, and hopeful too. The New Year is the time for change, and a chance for improvement. The spokesman for the new buyer didn't sound too enthused about change to me though, more like keeping the sameo in place, probably due to the Michigan Press Assoc. lauding honors and praise on the LDN 7 times in the last 2 decades. Time will tell, but, I for one am not holding my breath on this right now. The more distant the buyer, the less pressure of power on the staff imho. If so, I predict the dwindling subscribers already in place, will dwindle even further, thus possibly creating a 2 or 3 day a week paper, then onwards towards 1 day a week until ceasing later in the game. Electronic media is bearing down heavily on printed media to a demise.

[XLFD]

Good analysis, Aquaman, I can't really argue with your perceptions and predictions, but I think if the LDN does cut back to a bland bi-weekly or less, that contrary to trends, competing newsprint will evolve in Mason County.

To usher in the future, we encourage all E-journalists to present their stories of local interest to all of us here at the Torch.

[Dave]

It wold be nice if the new owners make the reporters actually put those degrees in journalism to work, particularly in investigative journalism. Just printing feel good stories or hit pieces sooner or later catches up with any newspaper and it would appear it caught up with Shoreline Media as I'm thinking that readership has been shrinking. If local readers want real reporting, they have to pick up a Muskegon Chronicle or some other paper.

[snide]

amen to that , Dave.....! How about actual reporting instaed of being a slave to advertisers and the almighty dollar.......The LDN needs to take a stand on SOMETHING....My preferences would be the Badger fiasco and our inept man in WashingtonDC's "efforts". Or the library's head man violating the law and getting the county sued.Or the House of Flavors carte blanche to do whatever they see fit.Or the windfarm and our wonderful county commissioners and Zoning head.Or our wonderful DDA head that gave a contract to her live in boyfriend..or how the city pays someone to ride around as a "code enforcer",but does not "have any money" for lifeguards........BUT JUST REPORT SOMETHING ! 

[Heaven Therzke]

they do report that those things are either working fine or dont' if they don't see a problem.  they cover adult issues not baby issues. 

[Dave]

Oh yes, they covered the Baby Kate issue so grand that they were routinely scooped by news organizations 90 minutes from Ludington.

[Heaven Therzke]

thats not what i was talking about .  i meant little teeny weeny issues like your... brainwaves.

[Dave]

Oh yes, my brainwaves are teeny weeny.. yours must be the size of molecules.. specially if you can make sense out of your following posting:

"they do report that those things are either working fine or dont' if they don't see a problem. they cover adult issues not baby issues"

So what exactly are you trying to say here? LDN does report that things are working fine? Or that they don't?

While your at it... name 5 adult issues that they covered.

[Heaven Therzke]

man you guys are so ready to ridicule the LDN and belittle their award wining writing and photography.  I was looking at the e edition today and steve begnocke put this gloryfied facebook page to shame when he wrote 'Our broadcast friends like to use this site as a source for their news. If you want to know even more than they do, pick up a copy of the Ludington Daily News'.  heres a link to a real journalism citizen hacks, 

http://www.ludingtondailynews.com/news/62838-only-in-the-ludington-...