Detroit News buyouts

Didn't see this posted elsewhere.

Talent Drain: Detroit News Loses Columnists, Reporters, Editors

 

Interesting link at the bottom of that story. Among those taking the buyouts is Terry Foster:

"The News wanted me to cover Pistons full time. It conflicted with my radio career."

Another Sports Media Change: Terry Foster Will Leave News

 

Also interesting in that they say they're going to be hiring others of "the next generation."

Kinda sound age discriminatory to me.

 

Terry Foster, who I always thought was a decent columnist, is pushed aside and told to cover the fucking Pistons?

What people are making these decisions?

(Yes, I assume they made him an offer he had to refuse because of his radio show.)

 

It's income discriminatory.

 

How many columnists will the paper have after Foster leaves? I think that the days of papers carrying two or even three full-time columnists is coming to an end.

 

I would assume the same.

I've always been pretty leery of columnists working radio side. They give away their opinions for free. And Foster's opinions pale in comparison to his partner.

 

Both Boston papers still have two, although Gerry Callahan of my alma mater is more emeritus than real, writing only so often. But all the lead beat guys and gals have at least one weekly column on their beat.
PS: Alma, Gerry is an anomaly. He can still write really good columns from time to time, but after 20 years, he remains terrible radio, which is odd because in person he's very engaging.

 

Bob Wojnowski and John Niyo are the remaining columnists. Foster wasn't really a columnist. He wrote more online stuff and did a lot of general assignment stuff. Free Press has three columnists if you count Albom.

 

He hasn't been a true columnist in years.

 

I thought Callahan had stopped writing in the Herald and was doing stuff for WEEI.com.

 

I do think it is sad that a job at a sports radio station is now considered more stable than a job at as a sportswriter.