The Post-Standard Strikes Out

Syracuse, N.Y., a working class town that thrives on sports and local politics, lacks the sophistication often associated with large cities. This is also clearly evident in the The Post-Standard, the print and online versions of the local paper. Users access the site’s blogs or weblogs via “Living” on the navigation bar and then click on “Weblogs,” which links to a page that lists News & Biz Blogs, Sports Blogs and Entertainment Blogs.

Approximately 15 blogs cover high school, college and professional events at the local and state level. The news blogs spotlight local happenings, including endorsements of Eliot Spitzer for governor and Andrew Cuomo for attorney general, as well as short stories with curious headlines such as, “Truck ends up in Butternut Creek.” The entertainment blogs utilize a more informal writing style and incorporate more photos. From a visual standpoint, these postings are far more interesting than the news and sports blogs.

A blog titled “The Daily Dose” seems to provide a daily dose of truly weird stuff, such as the impact on a cell phone when dropped into a toilet. The writing is far more informal than used in the entertainment blogs, and from my perspective not entirely appropriate for a news site.

The blogging efforts of The Post-Standard site reveal a blatant lack of consistent news value, and in specific postings, a mature and seasoned approach to the dissemination of news. Syracuse is home to Syracuse University and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications; one would think that a school of this stature could inspire quality journalism in its hometown newspaper, not to mention the pool of available talent that could lead the charge.