'Inky' Eds Work Phones to Reach Subscribers Who Quit Over Kerry Backing

Editor and Publisher ^ | January 09, 2005 | E&P Staff

[Former Military Chick]

NEW YORK Last Thursday, top editors and editorial board members at The Philadelphia Inquirer, including Executive Editor Amanda Bennett, began calling a couple of hundred former subscribers in an attempt to woo them back to the paper. Why had they left? In many cases, because The Inquirer had backed John F. Kerry for president in a particularly insistent way.

Bennett told The New York Times, in an article appearing Monday, "If the people I call say, 'Yes, I was mad at your editorial,' then the next thing I say is, 'Would you like to come in and talk about it?'"

The Inquirer ran a pro-Kerry opinion piece every day from Oct. 10 to Election Day.

The calls are based on a list of people who had canceled during the election campaign and had not already been contacted.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E&P Staff

[Former Military Chick]

Hey I learn something new everyday. But, to read that a paper KNOWS why they lost readership due their support of a presidential candidate and then tries to woo them back, now that takes the cake.

If they were to have called me, I doubt you would like to read what I would say, but, I figure that you can guess on the first try.

It also makes you wonder how a publication can stay in business when they pull a stunt like this.

[hipaatwo]

Unfourtunately that and the Daily News are the only papers we have here. Both are lefties! They did start a new paper called the Evening Bulletin but it hasn't started to circulate in my area yet. They say they are like Fox news so I'm waiting! Plus, I will call the Inkie tomorrow and tell them I'm not a subscriber but stopped buying the paper at the newsstand because of the Kerry editorials.

[Windcatcher]

Every time someone from the Inquirer calls we make darned sure to tell them exactly why it'll be a cold day in Hell before we subscribe to that Socialist rag.

[Rabble]

I canceled my subscription to that bias rag during the 2000 election, when they heavily backed Gore.
I also received a phone call by someone begging me to restart my subscription. Well, needless to say I certainly gave her an ear-full.
Fortunately for us, in the Phila. region, "The Evening Bulletin" is returning, and will be published in Phila. As I understand it they will be conservative oriented. I'll subscribe as soon as I'm able.
They know there will soon be competition, and they're running scared!

[weegee]

Also being discussed here (from the New York Times):

Hi, Why Did You Drop My Paper?(Kerry supporting paper Philly Inquirer)

[hipaatwo]

Where To Buy The Evening Bulletin:



http://theeveningbulletin.com/

[Waco]

Isn't there a HUGE Kerry/RAT base in Philly to more than make this rag a pile of $$$$$$$$??? Maybe the were educated in public schools. Poor math skills, ya know.

[hipaatwo]

Philly unions stole the vote for Kerry. I know too many people that crossed party lines that voted for Bush. Ballot stuffing is common here. And the dead vote often.

[Banjoguy]

When lived in Philly, (40's 50's), The Evening Bulletin was a popular paper in Philly....hope they can bring it back.

[Rabble]

"If the people I call say, 'Yes, I was mad at your editorial,' then the next thing I say is, 'Would you like to come in and talk about it?'

But first they should read Ann Coulter's book "How to Talk to a Liberal". Like someone is going to take a day out of their busy schedule to travel all the way to center city Phila. to discuss ideology with someone who won't hear a word you're saying. Fat Chance! The Phila. Inquirer has become so liberal I equate that rag to the N.Y.Times. I don't think anyone would walk into that liberal nest, and attempt to discuss the direction that paper has taken, for it would be to no avail. A complete waste of time!

[Windcatcher]

Yeah the Bulletin closed down in the '80's. That was a decent paper. After that we moved to the Delaware County Daily Times, but that turned leftist and we dropped it. I hear it's changed since, but we haven't been willing to risk it (grin).

[Zeppelin]

I would say "I tell you what, you leave a FREE paper at my door every morning, and I'll promise to use it as firestarter." Sounds fair to me.

[Rabble]

"Where To Buy The Evening Bulletin"

Thanks for the heads up. It's still not being sold in my area, but I suppose it will be soon. I'm about 18 miles west of Norristown, Pa. As soon as circulation reaches my area I'll be a subscriber, as I want to support the Bulletin.

[Windcatcher]

Where To Buy The Evening Bulletin:

Bummer. They don't have anything down here in Delco yet, but thanks for the heads-up. I'll keep my eyes open for it.

[longtermmemmory]

Is this like some kind of co-dependent abuser relationship?

I don't see why anyone would subscribe to a newspaper this day and age. Newspaper content is at LEAST 24 hours old if not older. If you want information, internet is the way to go.

The only reason papers still exist because of the sales inserts and car circulars.

[Rabble]

My wife likes the coupons, TV section, and department store ads. We wouldn't buy it for the news content, especially since she and I listen to talk radio, and get most of the local news from that source.

[ApplegateRanch]

If they really wanted the lost readers back, they wouldn't have run the "cartoons" an outraged someone posted earlier today from it.

[Mad Mammoth]

'Would you like to come in and talk about it?'

I would have answered "Sure, when John F'in Kerry learns how to properly eat a Philly Cheese-Steak.

IOW, when Lucifer sends up a telegram asking for a new furnace because he's getting chilly down there.

[esoxmagnum]

I canceled my Chicago Sun Times after numerous incidents, ie, editorials calling the Boy Scouts the Nazi Youth, Roger Ebert lacing movie reviews with political commentary, all the leftist comics (I won't subscribe to any newspaper that carries that LaCoocha or whatever that anti-white cartoon is or Doonesbury), and every front page editorial bashing Bush and the troops.

About 2 weeks ago, someone from the Sun Times called and asked why I canceled and I said you were too left for me...

The guy on the other end laughed and told me (no joking here) "You must like Fox" and then he hung up.

Not sure if they were a telemarketing agency hired by the Times or from the Times actually, but I found it amusing.

I didn't even have a chance to reply.

The only thought that crossed my mind after wards, was what are the chances that if this guy is keeping records of why people aren't coming back to the Times, that he would actually mark "subscriber thought newspaper was too left", or would he probably just mark down something else, to obscure the fact that people are not subscribing to the newspaper because of the propaganda.

[dyed_in_the_wool]

I always find it amusing when liberals realize how capitalism works.
Moreover, why would they think us dumb Pubbies would ever want to read their enlightened Socialist banter (Philly being such a beacon of government stewardship and all).
What's worse is political commentary reaching into their sports coverage, just the occasional comment, here and there.

I would rather read a book, work on my laptop or just stare out the window than read their nonsense. Let them try to sell to the people they think should continue running Philadelphia.
Idiots.