News & Observer

Publishers oppose online notice bill

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:54:09 -0400

Newspaper publishers oppose a bill to allow meeting notices be posted online.

Rep. Paul Stam, an Apex Republican, sponsored the legislation to allow certain cities and counties to stop buying classified ads to announce public hearings.

An earlier version of the bill would have exempted all local governments, but Stam scaled it back to just towns in Wake and Mecklenburg counties after it met resistance.

Stam said the bill would give government a break on its expenses.

"Let's look for the things that would save counties and cities money while we're cutting the heart out of their budgets," he said.

Publishers and editors at the N&O and the Charlotte Observer lobbied against it, saying many people don't have Internet access. (N&O)

A Parachutist's Guide to N.C.

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:44:10 -0400

Welcome to North Carolina, D.C. Reporter.

We're glad that your national publication found our state worthy of coverage, especially with all that stuff going on in your usual haunts: New York, California and Iowa.

In the past, some of your colleagues have made dumb mistakes when writing about North Carolina, so here are a few tips:

THE OBSERVERS: A lot of our newspapers have similar names: The Charlotte Observer, the Raleigh News & Observer and the Fayetteville Observer. Try to keep them straight.

RALEIGH, DURHAM: Yes, the hyphen at the airport is confusing. But there is no such place as Raleigh-Durham. They're separate cities. (Winston-Salem is one city, though.)

TAR HEEL: That's two words. It's the name of UNC-Chapel Hill (called Carolina or North Carolina in sports) team and one name for residents of the state.

NORTH, SOUTH: We're not South Carolina, and we hate being confused with it. For starters, Charleston is in South Carolina; Charlotte, in North Carolina.

BARBECUE: That's a noun, not a verb. It's made with pork. There's two kinds: Eastern style has a vinegar sauce; Lexington style, a tomato-based sauce.

That should cover the basics. Now get to reporting!

Co-chair's prior thoughts on drilling

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:21:16 -0500

Doug Rader has criticized drilling before.

As noted previously, one of the co-chairs of a legislative task force studying offshore drilling editorialized against it last year.

But he's also been quoted opposing it over the years:

* "Although it is questionable whether any drilling at all is compatible with North Carolina's sensitive coastal resources, there is absolutely no way any oil or gas activity should ever be permitted in this unique and valuable region of the Atlantic." — Wilmington Morning Star, June 16, 1998.

* About Chevron's decision to put off drilling: "That's a very important development, especially at a time when so many other threats stand at the gates of North Carolina's coast. ... That's among the worst places in the world to drill for oil." — News & Observer, Feb. 4, 1999.

* About the U.S. Supreme Court taking a case involving offhosre drilling: "We welcome a final resolution of the outer continental shelf drilling mess off the North Carolina coast. ... The Supreme Court hearing of this case provides an opportunity to correct mistakes of past administrations, which allowed leases where they never should have been." — Charlotte Observer, Nov. 16, 1999.

Easley's e-mail order surprises

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:57:15 -0500

An order by Gov. Mike Easley to preserve e-mail was a surprise.

The Raleigh News & Observer, the Charlotte Observer and eight other news organizations had sued the former governor in April after it became clear that some employees in his administration were deleting e-mails to keep them from becoming public.

Negotiations over the still-active lawsuit had ceased.

As late as December, the former governor said he would not give news organizations what they sought and that he thought the two newspapers were writing stories critical of his administration because of a lawsuit.

But Friday he signed an executive order agreeing in principle with many of the principles put forward by the newspapers.

Gov. Beverly Perdue, who is now the defendant in the lawsuit, said she is reviewing the executive order before she decides whether to modify or accept it. (N&O)

Update: Post now includes a copy of the order.

Document(s):
easley_email_order.pdf

Perdue gets invite to Gridiron

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:04:18 -0500

Gov. Beverly Perdue should get an invitation soon.

Although the new governor said at her inaugural ball that the time for partying would soon end, she will get an invitation soon from the McClatchy Co. to the annual Gridiron Club dinner in Washington, D.C.

Founded in 1885, it is the oldest and most prestigious journalism group in the nation's capital, and the annual white-tie dinner has featured speeches by every U.S. president since then except Grover Cleveland.

The newspaper chain, which owns the Charlotte Observer and the Raleigh News & Observer, has also sent invitations to Bono, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and nine other notables.

Easley blames 24/7 news cycle

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 09:13:03 -0500

Gov. Mike Easley said the "24/7 press cycle" has led to criticism of him.

In an exit interview with Mark Binker of the Greensboro News-Record, Easley said that the increased demand for news online had led to "gotcha" journalism.

"There's a 24/7 press cycle now," he said. "People calling all night long. They want access to the governor all the time ... So that's created a lot of competition, especially on the print side the pressure has been downsizing and original content. Original content is gotcha stories."

Easley said the Charlotte Observer and the Raleigh News & Observer had been hardest on him of state media because his administration would not release e-mails relating to personnel matters and corporate recruiting.

He said a recent series on problems with the probation system was a "hatchet job" on Correction Secretary Theodis Beck, though he argued that probationers killings are better than they used to be said the death of Eve Carson was being unfairly blamed on the system.

"Some young lady gets brutally murdered by a couple of probationers ... it's now the probation officers fault," he said. "When are we going to start holding some of these people accountable and get some of these executions going again?"

Easley said he tries to be fair to the media for his part.

"I try to keep my side of the window clean," he said. "My job is to be nice to other people and their job is to be nice to me. Just 'cause they're not doing theirs, doesn't mean I shouldn't do mine."

N&O Stylebook on Down East

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:19:55 -0500

The News & Observer's stylebook says Down East should be avoided.

The internal guide to proper language usage has been compiled over a period of years and is updated annually in strangely contentious meetings of a panel of copy editors and reporters.

(Dome once unsuccessfully fought new restrictions on the word "schmuck" for far longer than you would think it merited.)

According to the stylebook, the broader definition of Down East is incorrect:

Use sparingly. This term refers to localized regions. Traditionally in this state, "Down East" refers to the eastern part of Carteret County east of the North River and North River Bridge, which does not include Beaufort or Morehead City. For the coastal region or the part of the state east of Interstate 95, use (northern, central or southern) coastal North Carolina or Eastern North Carolina or, if accurate, the Coastal Plain.

Hat Tip: Steve Merelman

Previously: Down East Journal host disavows name; small business names Down East; a narrow definition of Down East; do Down Easterners have a lock on the governorship?

Newspaper endorsements: U.S. Senate

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:36:31 -0400

Editorial boards of the state's major newspapers are making their endorsements in the Senate race.

Here are links to the major unsigned editorials written so far about Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Democrat Kay Hagan.

Raleigh News & Observer: Hagan. "She is well-informed, not just well-meaning. She is astute. Her record in Raleigh indicates she knows how to make a legislative system work. It forecasts a promising career in the U.S. Senate."

Charlotte Observer: Hagan. "We believe she offers citizens the better hope of having an effective and independent voice in the Senate. She also offers them a voice that is more closely attuned to everyday life in North Carolina."

Asheville Citizen-Times: Hagan. "North Carolina needs and deserves a senator who stays in touch with her constituents and the changing dynamics of a fast-growing state. And it deserves a knowledgeable, collaborative, but forceful voice in the U.S. Senate."

Greensboro News-Record: Hagan. "She's responsive to constituents, communicates well, works hard, comprehends complex issues, makes good decisions and is not content to be average. She can become an outstanding U.S. senator."

Winston-Salem Journal: Hagan. "Hagan, 55, is a bundle of brains and energy. A lawyer and former banker, she has been a leader in the state Senate almost since the day she entered 10 years ago."

Wilmington Star-News: Hagan. "Washington is a lot different from Raleigh, but a knowledgeable, energetic and assertive politician such as Hagan can provide strong representation."

Durham Herald-Sun: Hagan. "Her record after 10 years in the General Assembly is pro-business and pro-education, with a deep streak of practicality."

Greenville Daily Reflector: Hagan. "She brings experience to this race that lacks a national profile, but aptly demonstrates her comfort with the legislative process and the capable leadership she brings to it."

High Point Enterprise: Hagan. "Over the span of Hagan's legislative career, we've seen a state senator committed to and capable of getting things done for the people she represents — and even once represented."

Wilson Times: Hagan. "What sets Hagan above Dole is the fact that she has spent most of her life living and working in North Carolina. She has served her constituents in Greensboro well and has assembled a team that will work to represent the interests of all North Carolinians."

Newspaper endorsements: President

ryanteaguebeckwith — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 10:04:39 -0400

Editorial boards of the state's major newspapers are making their endorsements in the presidential race.

Here are links to the major unsigned editorials written so far about Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.

Asheville Citizen-Times: Obama. "Obama's tax proposals are more favorable to the beleaguered middle class, his energy policies more likely to result in job creation and eventual energy independence and his plan to address the health care crisis more likely to result in a healthier nation."

Raleigh News & Observer: Obama. "His would be a government of thought before deed and of strength given by the people, not just exercised from above."

Charlotte Observer: Obama. "His intellect, his calm, rational approach to difficult issues, his coolness during the heat of debate and his sense of humor and humility offer something millions of Americans have yearned for in national politics – the ability to examine issues thoughtfully, to listen to competing interests and to develop solutions that more closely meet the needs of all."

Wilmington Star-News: Obama. "Barack Obama has demonstrated that he is ready for the challenge. For starters, his economic plan addresses the worries of regular Americans while recognizing that it's important to invest in industries that will create the jobs of the future."

Durham Herald-Sun: Obama. "Obama's ability to energize millions of young voters to take part in the process, his ability to define an optimistic vision for this country reminiscent of Ronald Reagan's rhetorical gifts, his empathy for those citizens ... all are sources of encouragement for what an Obama presidency can be."

Greenville Daily Reflector: Obama. "Obama has responded by relentlessly seeking to raise the level of public discourse and by focusing on the path toward an America that lives up to its promise as the greatest, most prosperous nation in history."

McCrory pledges openness if elected

markjohnson — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:30:19 -0400

Pat McCrory promised if elected governor to provide: weekly or near-weekly press conferences, detailed copies of his schedule, access to his email and to prohibit his staff from destroying their emails.

Speaking to the News & Observer's editorial board, the Republican gubernatorial candidate pledged much the same kind of openness that he said he has practiced as mayor.

"I return your phone calls," he said to a group of reporters and editors. "To me that's customer service."

McCrory contrasted his promises with Gov. Mike Easley, a Democrat, who infrequently appears in public and often spends long weekends at his Southport home. Easley's public schedules include minimal information, and the N&O, Charlotte Observer and a group of other news organizations have sued his administration for "systematic deletion, destruction or concealment of e-mail messages sent from or received by the Governor's Office."

McCrory promised regular Q&A sessions with reporters and to make his email available, with the exception of information that would reveal confidential information in an economic development project.

"I do that as mayor," he said, referring to the Observer's practice of regularly reviewing his email.

He said state employees' work email is a public record and should not be destroyed.

McCrory also said he thinks too much confidentiality is afforded to some personnel cases, when public officials are prohibited from discussing why an employee was fired.

"I wanted to tell the public someone was fired because of unbecoming conduct," McCrory said.