[coalminecanary]

wow. just - wow. half the front page is a used car ad today.

STOP
denying

the spec is the
BIGGEST
JOKE
in the media world

http://neenerneet.net/images/spectator-joke-sm.jpg

they even covered their own nameplate

[raisethehammer]

hahaha! Wow. hilarious.

I've been getting it for free for the past 2 weeks for some reason, and so far I've read one paper.
It's amazing to think that I used to pay for this crap and I used to read them ALL!! Geez, what a waste of my time.

[flar]

They have those half page cover ads at least once a week.

[highwater]

That's nothing. At least it's a wrap that you can remove if you don't want to look at it. I'll never forget a few years ago when a new adidas running shoe was the FRONT PAGE STORY. Half page colour photo ABOVE THE FOLD. A flipping running shoe ad presented as a news story, and not just any news story, but THE news story of the day. Truly the lowest depths of journalism.

I still pay for this god-forsaken rag, but then I've always had self-esteem issues.

[FairHamilton]

Haven't read The Spec this week because it keeps arriving after I've left for work.

On a good note I played 1+ hours of uniterrupted 'Polar Bowling' on the GO Train this morning. Maybe that was more productive use of my time ;)

[raisethehammer]

haha...'polar bowling'?? what's that? sounds interesting.

[Millstone]

You're supposed to remove that before reading the paper. It's not like it's printed over the front page. Besides, who pays for a Hamilton Spectator?

[Jon Dalton]

Besides, who pays for a Hamilton Spectator?

Exactly. This is the domain of free newspapers, funded 100% by ads. The Metro has ad covers every other day and noone cares, it's free. But people do pay for the Spectator and expect some semblance of quality.

[MsMe]

I don't get the spec but I do read it online.

[vid]

Wow. That makes the Chronicle-Journal look high class! They never run ads above the fold from what I've seen, and the bottom ad is just a horizontal strip. They occasionally stick an ad above the nameplate, but that's usually just something promoting an upcoming news paper segment or some charity lottery.

I guess the competition from the freebies is getting stiff down there. :P

[FairHamilton]

haha...'polar bowling'?? what's that? sounds interesting.

http://www.wildgames.com/games/polar-bowler

[vid]

I was picturing Polar Bowling as something you would do on the train with something, like bowling something down the aisle? :shrug:

But, I'm weird. I don't have a cell phone so I forget that people can play games on them now.

[FairHamilton]

I was picturing Polar Bowling as something you would do on the train with something, like bowling something down the aisle? :shrug:

But, I'm weird. I don't have a cell phone so I forget that people can play games on them now.

lol, I'm sure you weren't alone with that picture. Hey that would be fun, but I can't see the people riding the GO Train getting into something too fun.

It was a laptop I was playing on.

[vid]

Yeah, I forgot about laptops, uh, existing. I've seen them on the bus a few times. Last place I'd want to bring a laptop, really.

[go_leafs_go02]

I grab a copy usually some mornings before school. I flip through it within 5 minutes. Nothing good in there.

[SteelTown]

haha I used to always grab the spec since it's free and go to class and read the paper during the lecture.

[go_leafs_go02]

i spend more time looking at the ads or flyers than the paper content.

[highwater]

I think you may have struck a nerve, coalmine. Today's adwrap was buried inside the front section.:haha:

[hamtransithistory]

my 2 cents on the Spec.

I subscribe to the online version, mostly as a resource for local Hamilton news and for transit related items for my website.

My favourite thing about the Spec is Paul Wilson's Streetbeat column, its a great mix of local interest and history.

What I dislike the most is the Spec's website. There are some design issues that have given me a lot of aggravation. Namely:
-occasionally the webpage with the links to each pdf page has a design flaw. The links are placed so that Adobe opens in the webpage on top of the links, making them inaccessible.
-It would be nice (and faster) if you could view an entire section at once as a multi-page document, rather than viewing 14-24 pages individually.
-And bring back the 'view this page in pdf' links that used to be with each news article
-Finally, some quality control is badly needed at either the Spec or at Torstar. Get this. Yesterday (Oct 17) I clicked on the link for pg A10. I got pg R10-of the Oct 18 Kitchener-Waterloo Record!:koko:

[FairHamilton]

-Finally, some quality control is badly needed at either the Spec or at Torstar. Get this. Yesterday (Oct 17) I clicked on the link for pg A10. I got pg R10-of the Oct 18 Kitchener-Waterloo Record!:koko:

lol, I lived in K-W back in the days when The Record was independently owned by the Motz family. Ah, the good old days of local ownership.

[ryan_mcgreal]

What I dislike the most is the Spec's website. There are some design issues that have given me a lot of aggravation.

The problem, as I understand it, is that they are forced to use an in-house content mangement system (CMS) developed for Metroland. All the papers use the same system, and it's very restrictive in what it allows an individual paper's web content developers to do.

[Boomtown_Hamilton]

I like the print version of the spec. I don't like their web site I just find it too cluttered and too messy.

With the print version I like the way they cover the local news, the entertainment section is excellent.

The thing I don't like about the print version they do a poor job of covering Hamilton Bulldogs hockey, they should cover more of the local hockey scene here in town, especially from a town like Hamilton that likes to think it can support an NHL hockey team. I also think Andrew Dreschel does an ok job with his articles except that I think they have it in the wrong section of the Spectator. They should place it at the back of the paper with the horoscope and comic strips. :D

[MsMe]

I noticed as well if you don't pay for the web version many days it doesn't show all of the obits.

[highwater]

They should place it at the back of the paper with the horoscope and comic strips. :D

:haha:

[omro]

How did this (http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/466983) make "local" news?

[the dude]

i've been saying for years that they ought to just turn the spec into a tabloid and stop pretending. the headlines would read, "My Wife Had an Affair With an Alien." or, "Elvis Seen at East End Eatery." that would be cool.

[raisethehammer]

not only 'how did that story make the news' but it was printed in yesterdays Star and the Spec felt it worthy of reproduction in their paper today??
What the heck.

[FairHamilton]

And how did it find it's way to PAGE 1????

I saw on the CH 11pm news (yes, I watch the beginning of the local news on TV), they are in negotiations with the newsroom staff and some buyouts have been tabled. So less local news than now.

I have to renew my subscription by the end of this month and with that news I'm sitting on the fence on what to do....

[BCTed]

not only 'how did that story make the news' but it was printed in yesterdays Star and the Spec felt it worthy of reproduction in their paper today??
What the heck.


I agree that the story is very stupid and should not be news, and somebody must have made an error by placing it into the "Local" section. However, all of you are being terribly unfair to the Spectator. This is an AP story and it has been picked up by the Globe and Mail, CNN, TIME, the BBC, ABC News, et cetera, et cetera.

This is not a story that has been printed by only the Star and the Spec.

[fastcarsfreedom]

It's a ridiculous story, we can all agree on that. It is, however, patently unfair to single-out The Spectator. As another poster pointed out -- The Toronto Star -- often held up on this Forum as some paragon of nobility and journalistic intergrity -- ran the story first. As a wire story it turned up just about everywhere (including our local paper)...it's fluff, but not exclusive to The Spec. I know there are many here who like to play "pile on" with The Spectator, CHCH, CHML, etc--it's almost become "tradition" here--throw your darts at the industry, or perhaps the AP, and try to let go of the notion that the local outlets are somehow worse than average.

[raisethehammer]

so why is a 'fluff' story landing on the front page??
Mind you, the lead story on the front page today was about rabbit ears for your TV.
Are we really piling on???

[fastcarsfreedom]

Quote
Are we really piling on???

At every opportunity, whether warranted or not. The odd thing is that this is a paper several regular posters here proudly boast they don't read/subscribe to...so I actually don't understand the concern. I subscribe to the local daily and take an interest in it's content (and have taken them to task in the past for editorial decisions--as any critical reader would do of any paper)--I fail to see what the worry is over a paper you proudly don't care about.

Newspapers--particularly those in single paper markets--have to provide a range of articles--and while some of us may still equate the front page with "what's important"--the front page is actually there to sell the damn paper--it's what's beyond the A1 page that actually counts--columnists, op/ed, etc. While TV rabbit ears may seem like journalistic fluff--it may have sold a few papers today--mission accomplished. I love papers--always have--that's not to say I've ever forgotten what business they're in--selling advertising.

[BCTed]

Quote
Are we really piling on???

At every opportunity, whether warranted or not. The odd thing is that this is a paper several regular posters here proudly boast they don't read/subscribe to...so I actually don't understand the concern. I subscribe to the local daily and take an interest in it's content (and have taken them to task in the past for editorial decisions--as any critical reader would do of any paper)--I fail to see what the worry is over a paper you proudly don't care about.


Don't forget that it was only a couple of days ago that raisethehammer stated his hopes that job cuts continued at Hamilton's only TV station right up to shutdown. He doesn't ever have to turn to that channel --- he can remove it from his programmed lineup --- so why wish such ill will upon Hamiltonians?

[raisethehammer]

'selling advertising'.
which is exactly why I cancelled my subscription.
If they want to call it a flyer, no prob. But as long as their calling it a 'news' paper, yet not having the news as their top priority I'm not subscribing.

by the way, saying 'at every opportunity' doesn't answer my question about piling on.
Is it really piling on when 2 of the front page stories are about some loser's online life and rabbit ears???

[raisethehammer]

Don't forget that it was only a couple of days ago that raisethehammer stated his hopes that job cuts continued at Hamilton's only TV station right up to shutdown. He doesn't ever have to turn to that channel --- he can remove it from his programmed lineup --- so why wish such ill will upon Hamiltonians?

you're right. how crazy of me to not realize that once E! Entertainment closes down there will never be another TV station allowed to open in Hamilton replacing those jobs.
I forgot about that secret bylaw at city hall outlawing any future media endeavors.
Grow up bud.

[markbarbera]

I'm not a big fan of the Spec personally, but the weekend edition of any newspaper in the industry has a lighter treatment than the weekday editions. I don't understand the shock over these articles being run on the front page of a weekender. It isn't like there was any big-breaking overnight news that was misplaced by them. All in all, it was a slow news day, as they would say in the business.

[thistleclub]

Curious as to how long it'll take until Torstar/Metroland/Brabant owns all local print media and the Spec is reduced to a Hamilton section in the Star.

[raisethehammer]

Curious as to how long it'll take until Torstar/Metroland/Brabant owns all local print media and the Spec is reduced to a Hamilton section in the Star.

In all honesty, I might subscribe to that. The Star is still a good read. A small Hamilton news section would have as much Hamilton news as this flyer they call the spec.

[the dude]

sorry but i'm not an appologist for mediocrity like so many others on this board. it's a rag and it deserves to be treated as such. this attitude of acceptance has allowed, at least in part, hamilton to become so shockingly underserved by its media outlets. time to stop the complacency and demand better.

[thistleclub]

Apologies in advance for getting a little Rain Man here. I did some electronic cut-and-paste and some math that might stoke discussion.

Looking at Saturday, November 15, we've got approximately 4,700 words of local news, 1,800 words Op/Ed, 1400 words local entertainment, 800 words local sports, 500 words local business. (those numbers include headlines, subheads and bylines). That gives us a baseline of 9,200 words total in the fattest paper all week. Working with an evrage of 25-35 words per column inch, that’s 262-368 column inches. And before headlines and bylines, an average single page might amount to around 40-42 column inches, without ads. So that’s 6-8 pages of original local content in Saturday's paper, before ads. Now let’s throw in another page for local opinions and letters, and another for additional local coverage. So 10 pages tops, just straight local stories. Even it was fat on ads (which it might be, considering its appeal for local advertisers) you'd end up with a 28-page section.

[BCTed]

Apologies in advance for getting a little Rain Man here. I did some electronic cut-and-paste and some math that might stoke discussion.

Looking at Saturday, November 15, we've got approximately 4,700 words of local news, 1,800 words Op/Ed, 1400 words local entertainment, 800 words local sports, 500 words local business. (those numbers include headlines, subheads and bylines). That gives us a baseline of 9,200 words total in the fattest paper all week. Working with an evrage of 25-35 words per column inch, that’s 262-368 column inches. And before headlines and bylines, an average single page might amount to around 40-42 column inches, without ads. So that’s 6-8 pages of original local content in Saturday's paper, before ads. Now let’s throw in another page for local opinions and letters, and another for additional local coverage. So 10 pages tops, just straight local stories. Even it was fat on ads (which it might be, considering its appeal for local advertisers) you'd end up with a 28-page section.

I don't have time to verify all of your numbers, but I know that you are pretty far off on local sports --- there is an article on the new Pro Hockey Life store, which, at 1000+ words, is larger than your number for all of local sports. Don't forget that there is a high school write-up as well.

[thistleclub]

I don't have time to verify all of your numbers, but I know that you are pretty far off on local sports --- there is an article on the new Pro Hockey Life store, which, at 1000+ words, is larger than your number for all of local sports. Don't forget that there is a high school write-up as well.

Thanks, BCT. I thought the sports number was low. I'm happy to hear alternative opinions. Also just going from the online content, so I'm not sure if there's more local stuff that didn't make it to the web. In terms of local sports, what I found there was: Marauder cagers fall to Gee-Gees (http://www.thespec.com/Sports/article/467047), Bulldogs need late goal to beat Rochester (http://www.thespec.com/Sports/article/467324) and Local heroes (http://www.thespec.com/Sports/article/466948). I overlooked The Word (http://www.thespec.com/Sports/article/466949), St. Thomas More HWCAA champs (http://thespec.com/sections/highschoolsports), Laurier honours Zwolak (http://thespec.com/Sports/article/467029) and Radley's Store Wars ( http://thespec.com/Sports/article/466960), which beef the sports number up considerably: it jumps 2,100 words to sit at 2,900 words. (BTW, I’m not counting local scribes when they focus out-of-market – Scott Radley’s take on UFC, for example, or Steve Milton on the Sabres.)

The revised math on Saturday's paper, then: 4700 words of local news, 2900 words local sports, 1800 words Op/Ed, 1400 words local entertainment, 500 words local business for a baseline of around 11,300 words total. Divided by an assumed 25-35 words per column inch, that’s around 322-452 column inches. And before headlines and bylines (and without ads), I estimate an average single page might amount to around 40-42 column inches. So that’s 8-11 pages of original local-focused content in Saturday's paper, before ads. Now let’s throw in another page for local opinions and letters, and another for additional local coverage. So say 13 pages, just straight local stories. Throw in ads and you’re maybe looking at a 28 to 32 page section, which is large enough to not feel like a sleight. (If Torstar had regional ambitions and used the Spec as a regional printing hub, maybe you could also replace plates of the Star’s sports section to give it greater GHA flavour, maybe four broadsheet pages on local, since grassroots sports are a strong suit of the Spec.)

I know it's more complex than that quick thumbnail lets on, but I found the exercise interesting all the same.

[adam]

I'd highly recommend installing a feedreader. Its like having access to all the top papers across North America. Amazing stuff. You can read all the headlines in a very short period of time.. Any article you want to read, you just click and it appears.. You'll never want to go back to the spec except for local news.

Check this out if you are just starting out: http://webtrends.about.com/od/webfeedsyndicationrss/tp/top_windows_rss_readers.htm

[BCTed]

you're right. how crazy of me to not realize that once E! Entertainment closes down there will never be another TV station allowed to open in Hamilton replacing those jobs.
I forgot about that secret bylaw at city hall outlawing any future media endeavors.
Grow up bud.

Another TV station, especially in the short term, would not be a given.

A few things to consider:
- If this TV station were to fail, then would that not frighten potential new entrants?
- What do the people who have lost jobs do in the meantime? Feed the pigeons at Gore Park while waiting for the new station to come on board? Or do they just leave?
- Hamilton could just become Toronto/Hamilton for TV purposes, much like your Spectator scenario under which the local paper would disappear and be replaced by a couple of pages of Hamilton coverage in the Star. Do you want this place to become a bedroom community?
- The Niagara region does not have a TV station and I do not know of any plans for one to spring up --- Hamilton could also possibly get used to living without one.
- Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States, lost two football teams and the assumption was that a replacement team would spring up very quickly. It has been nearly fifteen years and there are still no concrete plans for a new team.
- I do not see what is so wrong with the current level of coverage. It may be the E! Channel, but it has a multi-hour local morning show (which never existed in the past), noon hour news, early evening news, late evening news, and various local programs. I do concede that some of the quality of the reporting leaves a bit to be desired --- I still shudder whenever I see Lisa Hepfner fumble her way through a segment. But there is still a good coverage of local stories, so what exactly is it that you want? Would a new station be a guaranteed improvement?

[thistleclub]

For what it's worth, my numbers game was only meant to show that a Hamilton section was a move that a self-interested Toronto-based parent company might feasibly make. And I see that as a possible vulnerability with regard to most local media -- whether they're owned by Corus (Y108, CHML, Country 95.3) or Astral (KLite, CKOC, CHAM) or Durham (Wave 94.7) or Canwest (CHCH) or Torstar (Spec, Burlington Post, Ancaster News, Dundas Star, Flamborough Review, Hamilton Mountain News, Stoney Creek News), they're subject to the whims of out-of-town bean-counters.

[raisethehammer]

I don't have time to verify all of your numbers, but I know that you are pretty far off on local sports --- there is an article on the new Pro Hockey Life store, which, at 1000+ words, is larger than your number for all of local sports. Don't forget that there is a high school write-up as well.

wouldn't that article fall into the 'flyer' category??
It's not local sports...it's a retail store getting a big spread (I assume in return for signing an advertising deal with the Speculator).

[BCTed]

wouldn't that article fall into the 'flyer' category??
It's not local sports...it's a retail store getting a big spread (I assume in return for signing an advertising deal with the Speculator).

No. The "spread" is an article, not an advertorial, and it is does not have a positive (or negative) bent toward the store, but rather discusses how it may change the hockey equipment store landscape in Hamilton.

One of the fundamentals of journalistic ethics is that news be clearly distinguished from advertising --- I hope you are not suggesting something sinister here.

[adam]

What's sinister about a business getting publicity from a newspaper in return for something other than cash? This kind of thing happens all the time.

[BCTed]

What's sinister about a business getting publicity from a newspaper in return for something other than cash? This kind of thing happens all the time.

Please enlighten me.

[raisethehammer]

No. The "spread" is an article, not an advertorial, and it is does not have a positive (or negative) bent toward the store, but rather discusses how it may change the hockey equipment store landscape in Hamilton.

One of the fundamentals of journalistic ethics is that news be clearly distinguished from advertising --- I hope you are not suggesting something sinister here.

no, nothing sinister.
This is how 'news'papers operate. You'll recall Fastcars said it best - these papers are first and foremost in the business of selling advertisements.
This particular ad (like many others) happened to include a big article on a big box store - is that really newsworthy??

[BCTed]

no, nothing sinister.
This is how 'news'papers operate. You'll recall Fastcars said it best - these papers are first and foremost in the business of selling advertisements.
This particular ad (like many others) happened to include a big article on a big box store - is that really newsworthy??

fastcars says many things well, but there was nothing profound about what he said in this case --- all newspapers are in the business of selling ads. This is not exactly a secret --- what other business would they be in?

Did you read the article about the store? It's basically a take on the typical Wal-Mart story applied to a very specific niche and it seems to sympathize with the Kenesky's of the world. Are stories about the effects of Wal-Mart coming into town really just advertising for Wal-Mart?

Advertising has to be labelled as such --- are you suggesting that this article is a major breach of journalistic ethics?

[raisethehammer]

you and I are clearly on opposite ends of the spectrum here.
You're talking about 'ethics in journalism' etc....
there is no such thing.
It's about money, plain and simple.
It's not about news, information, education or factual research. It's money, money, money.

[BCTed]

you and I are clearly on opposite ends of the spectrum here.
You're talking about 'ethics in journalism' etc....
there is no such thing.
It's about money, plain and simple.
It's not about news, information, education or factual research. It's money, money, money.

Did you read the article?

[c@taract_soulj@h]

How did this (http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/466983) make "local" news?

LoL yeah somedays you're not sure if a story like that should belong in the Spec or view...sometimes though, there will be a slow news day and they'll do what they can to fill the newsprint heh

[realcity]

I only agree partly that newspapers have to appeal to everyone.

While a variety of content is important, trying to become 'all things to everyone' leaves the paper to become 'nothing to no one'.

The rabbit ears front page article I suspect was a tip-of-the-hat to East Hamilton Radio, whom purchases a lot of advertising.

Newspapers to be relevant (if they ever hope to make it to the next generation) have to get back to the basics. That is "Extra Extra Read All About It" type of news stories. Tell me something I don't know. Information is supersonic on the web, for that reason, no one under 25 reads a paper, for that matter no one under 25 listens to the radio or watches network Tv.

[ryan_mcgreal]

Newspapers to be relevant (if they ever hope to make it to the next generation) have to get back to the basics. That is "Extra Extra Read All About It" type of news stories. Tell me something I don't know. Information is supersonic on the web

I appreciate what you're saying, but your latter statement contradicts the former. Newspapers can't even keep on top of breaking news since they publish only once a day and the web publishes continuously. They only reason they still do usually scoop the other media is that they still have vastly more resources dedicated to straight reporting.

RTH, with severely limited resources, is sometimes days or even weeks ahead of the Spec on local issues that turn out to be highly important but emerge from the grassroots up rather than from the top down. They end up playing catch-up (though in their defence, usually do a good job of covering the issues once they start to pay attention).

RTH loses the scoops from well-connected elite Hamiltonians and major civic organizations because we don't have the professional and personal connections with the people who run these organizations.

Yet while the Spec is busy quoting Murray Martin on an issue that we don't even hear about until HHSC issues a press release the next day, they're missing the boat on too many other civic issues while bit-player upstarts hand them their lunch (look at the Bay Observer pwning the Spec by simply seeking an interview with the architect who designed City Hall).

If the Spec wants to stay relevant, they need to get better at doing journalism from the bottom up and following the political process more closely. By the time an issue is in front of Council, it has usually been developing for weeks or even months, and by the time it finds its way onto staff and committee agendas, it has usually been developing at the grassroots level for months or even years.

Granted, things have gotten a lot better since they put a really good journalist (Nicole MacIntyre) on the City Hall beat instead of leaving it up to a too-well-connected insider columnist with his own agenda. MacIntyre does process and does it well, attending committee meetings, interviewing staff, councillors and community advocates, and presenting straight reports with the relevant facts. Civic discourse in Hamilton is better since she has been on the job.

Incidentally (or perhaps not incidentally), she also has a a blog (http://hallmarks.thespec.com) which serves as an early destination and a kind of clearinghouse for her files, as well as spawning a vigorous discourse in the comments. This is a model the paper should consider growing and developing.

Where a daily dead tree edition lacks in up-to-the-instant timeliness it makes up in the time and space to provide background and context so citizens can take a more participatory role in local civic affairs. At some point, the print edition becomes almost an adjunct to the dynamic web presence, where issues develop in real time until they are mature enough for a formal report.

[adam]

I'm convinced the spectator would get a few nasty phone calls from counsel if they started reporting what was actually happening in the city.

[realcity]

that's a good position for newspapers to crush... maybe their only relevant position in news/media.

there was a time when newspapers published morning, and evening editions sometimes afternoon editions as well.

[BCTed]

wow. just - wow. half the front page is a used car ad today.

STOP
denying

the spec is the
BIGGEST
JOKE
in the media world

http://neenerneet.net/images/spectator-joke-sm.jpg

they even covered their own nameplate

Goodness me, today's Toronto Star was covered by a very similar ad wrap for the Princess Margaret Hospital lottery. I guess the Star is another joke.

[vid]

there was a time when newspapers published morning, and evening editions sometimes afternoon editions as well.

Indeed. It was called "before cable news and the internet".

[adam]

Goodness me, today's Toronto Star was covered by a very similar ad wrap for the Princess Margaret Hospital lottery. I guess the Star is another joke.

Just goes to show you... not everything coming from Toronto its automatically better than us.

[realcity]

has anyone checked out how light today's Spec is.

I'm sure this paper is heading towards a 3 day a week paper instead of 6 days

[astroblaster]

Don't worry guys:

http://www.thespec.com/news/article/472225

this is the best article ever.

[coalminecanary]

ahhhhahahahahahahah

that is amazing...

[coalminecanary]

btw another foldover ad today. I feel sorry for the kid on the front page not getting to enjoy his full glory.

[SteelTown]

Wow haha, is that for real? haha

[astroblaster]

i'm not sure if it's "real" but i'm positive that it's a work of genius.

[holymoly]

Don't worry guys:

http://www.thespec.com/news/article/472225

this is the best article ever.

Brilliant. Thanks for that.

[matt602]

What... the... hell.

[markbarbera]

btw another foldover ad today. I feel sorry for the kid on the front page not getting to enjoy his full glory.

To be fair, the foldover ad is a current phenomena not unique to The Spec. This is being done with most Torstar dailies.

[ryan_mcgreal]

To be fair, the foldover ad is a current phenomena not unique to The Spec. This is being done with most Torstar dailies.

It seems indicative of the state of newspapers in general. When you feel the need to force your readers to flip up an obnoxious interruption ad just to access the front page, that augurs pretty poorly for your revenue stream.

[hamtransithistory]

Don't worry guys:

http://www.thespec.com/news/article/472225

this is the best article ever.

Whatever it was, it looks like it's been pulled

[astroblaster]

http://bornawesome.com/worldgetsbetter_spec.jpg

[highwater]

nice catch!

[FairHamilton]

And the Front Page is fair game, no matter who you are, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090105.wnytimes0105/BNStory/Business/

[ryan_mcgreal]

http://thespec.com/News/Business/article/519200

Hamilton Spectator to lay off 35 TheSpec.com
The Hamilton Spectator
Feb 24, 2009

The Spectator is laying off 35 staff across the newspaper in reaction to the global economic downturn and the resulting slowdown in the media industry.

"We're confident these reductions, while painful for our team, can be accomplished in a manner that will be invisible to our readers and advertisers," publisher Dana Robbins said yesterday.

Layoffs were also announced at the Record of Waterloo Region and the Guelph Mercury. The Spectator and its sister dailies are part of Metroland Media Group Ltd., a division of Torstar Corp.

The Spectator layoffs represent 30 full-time jobs, or 7 per cent of a staff complement of 430. The layoff affects positions in the editorial, circulation, advertising, production and business units.

"This is an extremely sad day for the union at The Hamilton Spectator," said Paul Morse, CEP Local 87-M chair. "These layoffs will cut deeply into a newspaper that has always provided highest-quality journalism."

Robbins said it was hoped the economic downturn would be "sharp and short, but it's ended up not being short, quite the opposite.

"There is not a company in Hamilton that is not facing similar circumstances.

"When our community suffers, The Spectator suffers, and that's what we're seeing."

David Estok, editor-in-chief, told newsroom staff that specific layoff notifications will be made shortly.

"This is, and always has been, a caring newsroom," Estok said. "Our thoughts and support will be with our colleagues who will be leaving."

Layoffs at the Record are equivalent to 20 full-time jobs in a staff complement of 272. At the Mercury, it's 13 of 85 full-time jobs.

[coalminecanary]

hopefully no layoffs at RTH haha

[ryan_mcgreal]

hopefully no layoffs at RTH haha

Hey, you get what you pay for. :)

[realcity]

i give the Spec two more years as a 'daily' paper (only 6 days/week) until it becomes a Sat, Tues, Thurs paper only.

Hamilton, 9th largest city in Canada.
Zero TV stations
Zero Daily newspapers
One RTH