On Monday, the newspaper returned Tom Skilling’s WGN-TV weather report to the more convenient back page of the Metro section. That decision was the result of hundreds of reader objections during the last several months.
Tribune editors and executives planned the return well before last week’s column where I listed 20 things that drive readers crazy, but the initial move of that page came up again and again.
Readers are passionate, whether they are writing about color reproduction, their paper being delivered late or the political leanings of Commentary page columnists.
Here’s a smattering of the issues raised — and though I cannot promise that every issue will be resolved, I am forwarding all messages to those responsible:
– “No, this is not another e-mail lamenting the loss of Ms. Ivins. It’s an e-mail lamenting her replacement, Mr. Goldberg. … The Tribune has always been a bit more conservative, but I always looked forward to a little liberal humor on Thursdays.” — Jerry Gabrielatos
Actually, Jonah Goldberg’s column began running about eight months before Molly Ivins died. A syndicated columnist to replace her has not been chosen.
– “The dropping of features we have become used to over many years. I sent an e-mail … when the Friday printing of weekend sports TV schedules was dropped.” — John Lee Becker, Elmhurst
– “Thanks for your recent column on readers’ pet peeves. I feel emboldened to share mine with you so I can stop ranting at my husband. I have been railing about your obituary format. Why … do you put the deceased’s name in small print and in large print tell the reader that ‘Pedestrian always crossed at crosswalk’? I want to know who died, not that ‘Dentist with no cavities is dead.’ ” — Kathy Hall, Evanston
– “There used to be a magazine section in the Friday editions … called Life. I really looked forward to it. … Did anyone else miss it, and complain about it?” — Lucile Lee
Life magazine is owned by Time Inc. They ceased its publication to cut costs.
– “I have subscribed to the Trib for many years. The delivery service has been outstanding. But, twice in the past year my paper was not there… The first time, I called the phone number. … The second time … I reported my missing paper I waited in vain for a replacement paper.” — Allen Matthews, Oak Park
– “I don’t get the Tribune on Saturdays and I was most disappointed about the Books section moving to Saturday from the Sunday paper. I miss it greatly.” — Barbara Gilblair, Palatine
I have heard this complaint a lot, but there are no plans to return the section to Sunday.
– “What are the plans to replace ‘Ask Jim?’ You can’t leave us computer people stranded in the dark without hope.” — Roy Schroeder
The Business section is evaluating its technology coverage now that Jim Coates has retired. It hopes to have some news on that front soon.
– “I’m a longtime subscriber in Freeport — only two hours from the Chicago Loop, but might as well be in Kansas or Oklahoma as far as the edition of the paper we receive. It is a much-condensed version of what is available to your city and suburban subscribers.” — Diane Neal
– “Your reporters call every drawing a ‘raffle.’ There is a significant difference between a ‘free drawing’ and a ‘raffle.’ ” — Kathy Gilroy, Villa Park
– “The headline on the continuation of an article (on the inside page) is often completely unrelated to the headline on the first page.” — Richard Holland, Evanston
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– “Please bring back the Chess column. It seems to me that the game of chess has a greater following of active players than contract bridge.” — Anthony J. Pelligrini
– “The advertisement on the back page, I still miss turning to the last page for a continuation of a story.” — Dodie Shields, Arlington Heights
– “Please add that the paper often curls at the corner of the sheet — right where your column was today.” — Bill Farley
– “Why was the ‘My Biggest Mistake’ column taken away from the business section? I loved that column and would love to see it again. Thanks for lending your ear.” — Lauren Milligan
That column was discontinued because of the lack of people who wanted to write about their biggest mistake. Business editors also liked it and want to bring it back.
– “Thanks for that column. This column is sort of a FAQ for those folks. But you forgot one item: late delivery.” — Barry Wallis, Downers Grove
– ” If a misstatement of fact appears in a column that would require a correction elsewhere in the paper, it cries out for a follow-up correction as well.” — Mike Nielsen, Burnham
We do correct factual errors in columns, just as we do news reporting, in the Corrections and Clarifications column on Page 2 every day. There is no policy to require a columnist to acknowledge the mistake in a subsequent column, although they are free to do that, and some regularly do.
– “I have been a fan of Dick Tracy for over 60 years and I truly believe that just like Brenda … it is time for these old favorites to go. They are boring, redundant, and take a week to complete a thought.” — Ray Mampe, Pleasant Prairie, Wis. (born and raised in Chicago)
– “Since the papers have two plastic wrappers when rain is anticipated how about putting one on in each direction instead of both going in one direction? Rain happens but wet papers don’t have to.” — Bob Paull
– “Thanks for putting the weather page where it belongs. Now, let’s bring back into Sunday’s Section 9 Comics the large Jumble.” — Helen Miller, Hinsdale
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Timothy J. McNulty is the Tribune’s public editor. He listens to readers’ concerns about the paper’s coverage and writes periodically about journalism issues. His e-mail address is [email protected]. The views expressed are his own.