Philly Inquirer memo re calls to ex-subscribers

Poynter ^ | 01/12/05 | Jim Romenesko

[Pikamax]

Topic: Memos Sent to Romenesko Date/Time: 1/12/2005 4:03:08 PM Title: Philly Inquirer memo re calls to ex-subscribers Posted By: Jim Romenesko

Memo sent to Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board members making calls to former subscribers.

Thank you for doing this.

Pat will give your list of names and numbers shortly.

Here's a rough idea of a script.

Introduce yourself as a member of the editorial board. You've heard that the person stopped the paper over concerns with election coverage (do not pin it on 21 Reasons; in fact, many people who cancelled did so over Polman or other issues), and you wanted to give them a call after the heat of the campaign died down.

If they blow you off, thank them for their time and let them know that if they ever want to resubscribe they can do so by calling our customer service line at 800-222-2765. They can get a 50 percent discount on the rate by mentioning that they had stopped the paper due to election coverage.

If they want to talk, that's a bummer. But a couple of talking points:

a) Are they aware that during the month of October, the paper ran more than 30 commentaries supporting President Bush and his policies, including many we solicited from Cabinet members and figures such as William Bennett? Are they aware that we regularly run William Safire, Jonah Goldberg and Charles Krauthammer?

b) Are they aware that, in U.S. Congress endorsements, we endorsed 7 Republicans and 6 Democrats for Congress, and Specter for Senate.

c) Are they aware that nearly every newspaper in the country endorses candidates, and has done so, and most major newspapers run series of editorials on issues in the presidential campaign.

If the person blows you off, say thank you and mark them under the "Do Not Call Request" column. If you bring someone back to the fold, obviously make the reorder column. If no one answers or the number is not in service, mark that under "Do Not Recall Request." If there's a message machine, leave a message.

Good luck.

Chris

[old and tired]

They still don't get it. If they think the only editorializing being done in that paper is on the editorial page, they're fools.

We cancelled our daily subscription to the Inquirer shortly after 9/11 when they began running articles about Muslim families - They shop at Walmart and use Durkee gravy for their Thanksgiving turkeys for crying out loud. They're just like us, don't ya know?

We cancelled our Sunday subscription about two years ago when they started running articles about how normal gay families are.

I hope they call me to try to get my money back. But I'm on the Do Not Call list, so I'm not sure if I qualify.

[theDentist]

Here's a rough idea of a script. Introduce yourself as a member of the editorial board....

SO basically, LIE from the moment you open your mouth. Yeah, that'll prove your trustworthiness.

[MplsSteve]

Some subscribers cancelled over "Polman"?

Who or what is Polman?

Some damned liberal columnist?

Anyone?

[Tribune7]

ping

[rface]

there isn't nearly enough groveling in the script .... they have to rely beg before I would tell them to shove their paper up ...........

[So Cal Rocket]

If they want to talk, that's a bummer.

Telling... they view actually having to talk to you as an inconvenience.

[facedown]

Dick Polman

[dirtboy]

Since the memo is signed by "Chris", I'm going to assume it was issued by Chris Satullo, the Editorial Page editor at the Inky. He gained some mention on the NY Times the other day for this story:

Hi, Why Did You Drop My Paper?

It is too early in the dialing process to present any results or plans for future discourse, Mr. Satullo said. But he said that he relished the dialogue with readers, adding that he tried to steer them away from using the terms "bias" and "objectivity."

"Those terms have been drained of any stable meaning," he said.

-----------

Drained? It's more like you can't tell the difference any more, Satullo.

[old and tired]

Dick Polman is a socialist Clinton apologist "reporter" for the Inquirer. He did a lot of election coverage. He's fairly prominent in liberal circles, having made appearances on PBS and on other hallowed liberal grounds.

[hardworking]

My answer whan any newspaper calls re a subscription: "I don't make contributions to political parties and purchasing a subscription to your newspaper would constitute making a donation to the Democratic party"

[Onelifetogive]

"Those terms have been drained of any stable meaning," he said.

Mr. Satullo....YOU DRAINED THEM!!!!!

[R. Scott]

I cancelled my subscription to the local liberal rags – the Daily Press - after it was taken over by the Chicago Tribune. Its continual diatribes against Southerners, Republicans and gun owners and its towing of the PC line was getting too much for me to continue supporting it.
Every few months I would get a nice polite phone call asking if I wanted to subscribe again, and every time I was told that the editorial staff had changed. One time I gave them a chance and took a six month subscription at a very good “welcome back” rate.
Nothing had changed in their slanted news coverage. I cancelled after a month and took my refund.

[Kay]

Interesting.

[ditto h]

In October of 2000, Saint Katharine Drexel was Canonized. She was born in Philadelphia. The Inquirer had a special pullout section in their Sunday edition that was all about Saint Katherine and was meant as a keepsake. In the middle of this special "keepsake", was an ad for Planned Parenthood. We canceled our subscription soon after.

[AZ_Cowboy]

I see that the Lib-Quirer has changed very little from my PA days. This sums it all up:

"If they want to talk, that's a bummer. "

There is no single statement that more clearly sums up why the paper has gone straight to hell ans stayed there. They simply do not want to even listen to criticism. They are just your typical condescending left-wingers looking to take your cash and stick the firepoke up your butt while doing it. You can't defame the gentleman and then ask to dine with him that night, you know.

[Congressman Billybob]

The writer of this smarmy memo which totally misses the point is probably Chris Satullo, Editor of the Editorial Page of the newspaper. I have had an active correspondence with this "gentleman." He is a sanctimonious twit who does not have a clue why many of the potential readers of the Inquirer consider it to be a birdcage liner.

I sent an email to his boss, Editor in Chief Amanda Bennett, suggesting that he was unfit to work in media, and the paper was unfit to be a media outlet while it employs people like him. I know she received it, since she replied to me from her Blackberry, late Sunday night.

Congressman Billybob

Click for latest, "Lessons from Waves of Disaster"

[LoneSome Journey]

I think you might have missed this line.

Memo sent to Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board members making calls to former subscribers

Which indicates they were members of the editorial board.

[William Tell]

Where is the suggested script for re-subscribing Demoncrats and liberals who cancelled the paper due to biased coverage?

What? You mean there has not been even ONE liberal who might have misinterpreted their stories to be pro-Bush?

What an amazingly unlikely statistical outcome! NOT !

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

there has not been even ONE liberal who might have misinterpreted their stories to be pro-Bush?

amazing

You win the prize.