New Detroit daily?

**Detroitnerd** · November-11-09, 02:13 PM

I love how publications that call themselves "REAL DETROIT" or "DETROIT DAILY PRESS" are not based in Detroit proper.

crawford · November-12-09, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

I love how publications that call themselves "REAL DETROIT" or "DETROIT DAILY PRESS" are not based in Detroit proper.

Maybe because most of what constitutes "Detroit" is no longer in the city limits?

What's more "real"? The middle class families of Macomb County, or the wasteland that is much of the East Side of Detroit?

**det313grrl** · November-12-09, 12:29 PM

"A newspaper is not just for reporting the news. It is to get people mad enough to do something about it."~Mark Twain
It would be great if we had such a newspaper.

**maxx** · November-12-09, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by det313grrl

"A newspaper is not just for reporting the news. It is to get people mad enough to do something about it."~Mark Twain
It would be great if we had such a newspaper.

From an era when newspapers were important at least to the people who wanted to know something. OTOH, maybe Hearst took this comment from Twain when he reported on the sinking of the Maine.

**BShea** · November-12-09, 03:26 PM

I don't think they suggested they're just covering Detroit. They said from the start they're covering Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Maybe it makes sense then to be in RO? They've also said they'll targeting traditional readers who prefer a home-delivered newspaper daily. I'd guess their target audience lives in the 'burbs, but we'll know more tomorrow.

**Diehard** · November-12-09, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by det313grrl

"A newspaper is not just for reporting the news. It is to get people mad enough to do something about it."~Mark Twain
It would be great if we had such a newspaper.

Have you completely forgotten about the Freep and KwameGate?

How about today's front page story in the News about the blatant abuse of forfeiture laws by Metro Detroit police? If that doesn't get some people mad, I don't know what will.
http://detnews.com/article/20091112/...n-the-innocent

If the new daily can break important stories like that, more power to 'em. There's plenty of news here to keep them busy.

Stosh · November-12-09, 04:47 PM

I think that any newspaper in this region would succeed if they concentrated on LOCAL news, not just parroting national or international wire service reports. IT seems as if every paper around here wants to cover everything, and ends up covering nothing. National and international news is great, but you can get that a lot of different places. Cut that back to a half a section, then go all out on local.

What do you have to lose?

**Detroitnerd** · November-12-09, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by Stosh

I think that any newspaper in this region would succeed if they concentrated on LOCAL news, not just parroting national or international wire service reports. IT seems as if every paper around here wants to cover everything, and ends up covering nothing. National and international news is great, but you can get that a lot of different places. Cut that back to a half a section, then go all out on local.

What do you have to lose?

I agree totally with that sentiment.

**thefishwrap** · November-12-09, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by Stosh

I think that any newspaper in this region would succeed if they concentrated on LOCAL news, not just parroting national or international wire service reports. IT seems as if every paper around here wants to cover everything, and ends up covering nothing. National and international news is great, but you can get that a lot of different places. Cut that back to a half a section, then go all out on local.

What do you have to lose?

They don't focus on Detroit [[as both are in the 'burbs), but C&G News [[www.candgnews.com) and the Observer/Eccentric [[www.hometownlife.com) both fill this niche well.

For those ripping on Real Detroit Weekly -- have they ever claimed to be anything more than an entertainment rag? While the Metro Times is more newsy, I don't think Real Detroit does any sort of news whatsoever.

Stosh · November-12-09, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by thefishwrap

They don't focus on Detroit [[as both are in the 'burbs), but C&G News [[www.candgnews.com) and the Observer/Eccentric [[www.hometownlife.com) both fill this niche well.

For those ripping on Real Detroit Weekly -- have they ever claimed to be anything more than an entertainment rag? While the Metro Times is more newsy, I don't think Real Detroit does any sort of news whatsoever.

I can't see how a bi weekly paper can be considered local news, maybe more like local history by the time you get it. C&G fills a niche, but only in relation to what amounts to an advertising cow. I WANT to hear about Detroit, as well as the burbs.

Real Detroit as news? Ha.
Metro Times? Not so much either.

I'm lookin forward to more options.

**Detroitnerd** · November-12-09, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by crawford

Maybe because most of what constitutes "Detroit" is no longer in the city limits?

What's more "real"? The middle class families of Macomb County, or the wasteland that is much of the East Side of Detroit?

Well, if you're a newspaper, you usually set up your headquarters near what you'll be reporting on. That's why the Detroit dailies, heck, even Metro Times, are a few blocks from Detroit's municipal center. That physical presence makes it easier to report on city government, and to swing out to stories in the surrounding areas.

A newspaper like Real Detroit covers mostly the suburban bar scene, with occasional forays down Woodward. It makes sense why they're headquartered in Ferndale: That's central to what they cover. Same thing with Hour Magazine in Royal Oak: It covers suburban upscale dining, suburban homes, with plenty of luxury advertising for the wealthier folks out there.

The idea that a "Detroit" daily would set up shop in Royal Oak suggests to me a few possibilities.

1) These guys are not serious about covering downtown Detroit.

2) These guys are older suburbanites who don't care to commute very far from where they live.

3) These guys are hobbyists setting up shop in their basement or garage.

None of those conclusions is very flattering.

I'll be waiting to see what Shea comes up with by way of coverage before I leap to any conclusions, though. My initial skepticism remains, for now.

**thefishwrap** · November-12-09, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

3) These guys are hobbyists setting up shop in their basement or garage.

No idea about the other points you made, but they have set up shop at the former home of the Daily Tribune newspaper on Third Street in downtown Royal Oak. The Tribune moved out of that building and into the Macomb Daily offices in Mt. Clemens late last year.

I'm intrigued to see what they produce. Although I wouldn't be surprised if it's a NY Post style paper for Detroit.

**Detroitnerd** · November-12-09, 02:25 PM

fishwrap: It's entirely possible that it's my complete pessimism at work.

**casscorridor** · November-12-09, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by crawford

Maybe because most of what constitutes "Detroit" is no longer in the city limits?

What's more "real"? The middle class families of Macomb County, or the wasteland that is much of the East Side of Detroit?

No. They are not Detroit. East Side "wasteland" is the REAL Detroit. And Downtown And West Side and SW Side. NOT ferndale.

I'm sick of hearing about suburban places robing the Detroit name. Just like they robbed all the people and stores and investment. But even tho they have all that, they are still not Detroit.

"Read Detroit" is a sham. Who do they really think they are calling themselves not only Detroit, but REAL Detroit?!?! I have all a question... how many people of color are pictured or writen about in RD? Not many. Why dont they rename themselves Real White Suburban Detroit? Guess it doesnt ring, eh? Well maybe they should actually locate in Detroit and start covering the real Detroit they CHOOSE to ignore.

**English** · November-12-09, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by casscorridor

No. They are not Detroit. East Side "wasteland" is the REAL Detroit. And Downtown And West Side and SW Side. NOT ferndale.

I'm sick of hearing about suburban places robing the Detroit name. Just like they robbed all the people and stores and investment. But even tho they have all that, they are still not Detroit.

"Read Detroit" is a sham. Who do they really think they are calling themselves not only Detroit, but REAL Detroit?!?! I have all a question... how many people of color are pictured or writen about in RD? Not many. Why dont they rename themselves Real White Suburban Detroit? Guess it doesnt ring, eh? Well maybe they should actually locate in Detroit and start covering the real Detroit they CHOOSE to ignore.

You get a standing ovation for this post. It's almost like when people here at Michigan or in the tricounty area make comments that imply that "no one" lives in Detroit.

Forget anyone who says my family, my friends, and I are less real than folks north of 8 mile or west of Telegraph... actually, make that west of Merriman and north of 14/15 mile. The cultural and social boundaries of the metro have changed... note that the person you're responding to didn't compare middle class families in Macomb County to middle class families in SOUTHFIELD or REDFORD. Things that make you go hmmm...