Comments on: Column: Outliving The Ann Arbor News

By: Dawn Albrecht-Parys

Dawn Albrecht-Parys — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:57:42 +0000

Jeff-What a delight and surprise! Great article, and you are STILL the best damned writer in the Universe! (o.k.-o.k…ummm, “State of Michigan” :D)
Dawn

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:49:07 +0000

Yahoo News lists its source under “Local News” as the Ann Arbor News. The stories after Friday are linked to AnnArbor.com.

By: Matt Hampel

Matt Hampel — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:56:46 +0000

Thanks Bob. I really hope that the Chronicle will cover the school board. It’s been operating without real coverage for way too long.

By: Bob Martel

Bob Martel — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:23:59 +0000

Matt (Hampel) I’m glad you pushed back against David Jesse’s milquetoast response to your request for some real reporting on the principal switches. Since I agreed with you I left my own similar comment. I hope the AnnArbor.com folks amp things up a bit over there. So far I am not impressed, but will hold to my intention of giving them a few weeks to get their act together before I publicly express my opinions on their content.

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 21:05:15 +0000

The MLive site has active links to AnnArbor.com current stories.

By: Matt Hampel

Matt Hampel — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 01:18:52 +0000

That Matt wasn't me, but I agree! At least it doesn't look like the Chron has serious competition yet. Check out this school shuffle press release rewrite, and imagine what it would be if it were a Chronicle article.

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:02:24 +0000

Boy, the News had its problems, but so far, the moral of the story is be careful what you wish for…

The new acorn site is all fluff. Worse than that, actually.

Today’s (Saturday at noon) home page features items on a community garden in Ypsi, “news” about an acorn affiliated food blog, a promo for another acorn blog, this time on parenting, and, wait for it, a post on somebody’s idea of a perfectly grilled steak.

OMG. Kill me now.

By: Bob Martel

Bob Martel — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:53:20 +0000

I suspect that it is way premature to make judgments about A2.com’s content or format. Let’s at least give them a few weeks to find their sea legs. Then we can criticize! The good news about web based delivery systems is that the format can change and hopefully improve over time. Remember, this is an experiment for them as well as for the readers. While I am very sorry for the loss of the AA News (and especially for the people who lost their jobs) I am looking forward to seeing how this new media develops over time.

By: Rod Johnson

Rod Johnson — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:46:25 +0000

I agree about the design. It’s kind of not designed, really generic. I compare it to the (also fairly generic but much more refined to start with) Chronicle and there’s no contest. The Chronicle is lovely to look at, if somewhat quirky to navigate. A2.com is just meh, top to bottom.

As to the content, well, those of you lamenting the death of the News, do you remember it as being especially good in that way? I sure don’t. I remember it as being one of the weaker dailies I’d seen. A2.com is starting out at a level of content that seems to me to be no worse than the News, at any rate.

But I imagine it will evolve on both fronts. Let’s hope so.

By: UMGrad1234

UMGrad1234 — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:47:33 +0000

Just spent 35 minutes at AnnArbor.com. Not impressed with the content or the navigation design. (Sigh.) Anyone else?