We’re so excited! We’re almost positive Craig Newmark is going to stop being coy with us about the much mentioned possibility he might help bail out the Chronicle! See, he says so right here on his blog:
(okay, not feeling 100% but gotta get to an event down the peninsula
while keeping up with customer service, will get a car service thing
and bring my netbook and cell modem. however, will be distracted and
maybe napping. will return all communications by tomorrow.)
Aw, Craig, we’re sorry you’re not feeling well. We can’t wait to hear from you tomorrow, as we know that you want the media to ask “the hard questions.” You said so yourself!
In an interview, Newmark said it’s not just consolidated corporate
media ownership that leads to a lack of public trust, but a herd
mentality in the mainstream press. “Let’s suppose Scott McClellan lies
to the White House press corps,” Newmark said. “With the exception of
Helen Thomas (the long-time Washington columnist), nobody calls him on
it. No one asks hard questions.”
The question we’re asking ain’t even that hard: Has anyone asked you to buy or otherwise help subsidize the Chronicle? If they haven’t yet, and they did, would you?
It’s fine if you don’t want to buy the paper, Craig — no one’s going to judge you (well, maybe Tim). But tell the people, man!* Because blovating about journalism, while you, yourself, have your colleagues cock-block folks asking those tough questions you want so bad? It kind of stinks.
*So we’re clear, this isn’t about the Appeal getting the story, though we sure wouldn’t turn it down. But, Craig, there are Chronicle employees who think you’re gonna buy that place! I am not kidding, I have spoken to several — none of whom read this site or any internet website blog pages — in the last few days who believe just that. And it’s not Gawker‘s fault or some “rumor and speculation” trading site’s fault. You have positioned yourself as the guy who might do this. So, heck, just give those poor folks an answer!
