Downie (exec editor): 'Wash Post' Chandra Levy Series Worth The Effort

[Newsjock]

Source: Editor & Publisher

Even with a presidential campaign in high gear, a housing market crisis in full swing and a war in Iraq, The Washington Post believes devoting space for a 13-part series on the unsolved murder of Chandra Levy was worthwhile, according to Executive Editor Leonard Downie Jr.

... "We think it is the kind of story that would sustain readership over a period of time," Downie said Monday as the second installment of the series was published. "We purposely wanted to make this easy to read. It starts on the front page and has less than a half-page of text inside."

... At least three reporters, two from the paper's six-person investigative unit, worked on the series for nearly a year. Downie said the case was worthwhile even with so many other ongoing news events.

"We are covering the presidential race and at the same time we are still competing with The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal in covering Fannie Mae and the housing crisis," Downie said. "We are not skimping on anything else in order to do this. This is of great local interest."


Read more: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003827233

[babylonsister]

1. Not worth my effort to read it. Who cares? nt

[Mike Daniels]

2. It would be one thing if it was included in the "local/metro" section

but it ceased being a national story a long time ago.

I live in the DC area and I can't think of anybody I know in DC who is still remotely interested in this particular subject.

[babylonsister]

3. This story went on for months! What exactly new news has been

dug up or are they just rehashing the same ole? If so, that's journalistic laziness. Long, hot summer, let's just make it as easy as possible...:eyes:

[cstanleytech]

11. Never fear, they will drop it soon as the next shark attack happens or some rich celebrity

and or their child gets arrested for being drunk or buying drugs and or enters rehab not to mention the random girl disappearing from some island.

[Captain Hilts]

4. It's about why the cops and press screwed up. nt

[babylonsister]

6. That requires a 13-part series? And are they implicating themselves?

That would be interesting, but nothing they write will change anything.
Can I look forward to a 13-part series on how and why Anna Nicole died next year? (No, no, a thousand times no!!)

[roody]

5. She may have known something about 9-11.

Condit was on the intelligence committee. Any chance that that will be investigated? Cheney and Condit met the day she disappeared.

[WhiteTara]

7. Let's talk about Dead Intern Joe

Scarborough. There is a story that has never been investigated.

Of course, this is being brought up so that we won't notice something important. Maybe dumping bad investment decisions on us, the taxpayers?

[gratuitous]

8. And what's this about Judge Crater missing?

Stop the presses! It's time for a 25-part story! Get me re-write, stat!

[depakid]

9. Anything to avoid the issues

or cast Democrats in an unfavorable light

Pravda can't have folks focusing on issues, can they?

[Doctor_J]

10. I guess it beats investigating McSame's wet start, or his treatment of

his first wife, or the Keating 5, or his flip-flop on abortion rights, SS privatization, deficits, regressive tax cuts, and gay marriage.

Have I mentioned lately how much I hate these people?

[DebbieCDC]

12. How about a fucking year-long investigation of Bushco crimes?

Why can't the Post take on that subject???? Jeebus H Christ, what a friggin rag that paper has become. Wouldn't use it to line a cat box

[closeupready]

13. I always found it weird that it took them so long to find her body.

I mean, isn't this sort of like DC's Central Park? Can there be any square inch of Rock Creek Park than DC police don't know about? Or even, do people just not use the park, so that a dead body could just lie inside the park for about a year, and nobody would notice?

[Bacchus39]

14. the 25 Part Series on Natalie Halloway is next n/t

w

[Raineyb]

15. Figures

Apparently, there's no amount of media attention that can be considered excessive when covering a missing and or dead white girl.

God forbid we should expect this kind of coverage into the crimes of the Wanker administration.

:sarcasm:

Regards