Toledo Free Press VS. The Blade

I read the first day section and came away with a ,where's the news, feeling. Someone profits from connections in the government, are we talking about the Chinese or Toledo's Department of Neighborhoods?

^ yes, what OldTimer said. I was a little puzzled by the Blade article, especially given the sidebar on the first day (in which the owner felt he had to justify why they were writing the series -- something you rarely see on Page One).

My overall impression is that the Blade wanted to write something in a hard-hitting manner and to expose issues that would make Toledoans squeamish about dealing with the Chinese. Then, in the body of the articles, nothing really very bad (or unusual) was exposed. So it was "neither fish nor fowl."

It's hard to get information that is not required to be made public in other countries, especially when you don't speak the language or have any business connections. In addition, I would compare the boom-town atmosphere of certain areas in China to business and social conditions in any rapidly industrializing area -- including our beloved Rust Belt back when it all looked shiny, and formerly obscure citizens were raking in lots of money.

I do begin to question if the Free Press's business model relies too much on bashing the Blade. It's an ongoing campaign of negativity. I don't especially want to bring more of that into my life, so I mostly bypass the free copies of Free Press.

That Blade series is exactly why I will never subscribe to that abhorration. They like to "create" news instead of reporting it.

first the toledo free press... they do so little orginal reporting much less day to dao coverage of anything and reliance on free-lance often extremist contributors that they are unfortunately irrelevant. being the burr under the blades saddle is not a business model (as already rightly noted).

the business practices in china are certainly a worthy area of investigation for the blade specifically and the nation media more generally - whether right or left, we all see the inherent contradiction in the chinese model as they move from communism to some hybrid model of capitalism... it isn't open capitalism or open markets that's for sure... but they have not exactly settled into what they are either.

the blade is investing in the story and probably feels a need to have some sensational to say in order to justify the expense... take it with a grain of salt... and again we all recognize that the publisher does like to push people around. dashing is a bit of a mystery and the chinese model would not pass muster under common business practises nor U.S. government regulation.

i would rather the blade chase down some of these leads and come up empty (and, yes sensational the little they find) than to NOT investigate and have something very bad at the core of this.

I thought the idea of the original Blade article was good, but it came up short on facts. The 'series' could easily have been condensed into one article that basically said, we looked into it as best we could but China is a tough place to report from and we didn't find anything. I agree with Sandwich, though. I would rather they look into this matter and find nothing rather than ignore it and miss something big.

As for the Free Press, they rally need to dump Miller as the Editor. I'm not sure that they can ever make it work, but as long as they hold the current course, they are doomed for Toledo City Paper status.

I just know that I hate that both of the business get to throw their yellow and blue trash in my yard after repeated polite requests that they stop. Very frustrating.

ryors, there are enough people in town who might join you in a class-action lawsuit against their constant littering. They would be sensitive to the bad publicity, I think.

Really, does any business have the right (under law) to drive around and throw things out the window?

I've gone out in the country past abandoned farmhouses with no mailbox, and the Free Press bundles were stacked up 30 deep by the road.

The Free Press could turn themselves into heroes if they would purchase a software/database/tablet that shows the delivery people where to NOT deliver. The technology exists ... if they have the will to buy it and reap some good publicity as a result.

The Blade is no different - weekly, they toss a plastic bag full of advertising into the lawns/driveways/shrubs of each person who does NOT subscribe to the Blah.

I don’t mind TFP, but it’s not really much of a newspaper. I can’t remember the last time I read the one dropped on my curb. My kid goes out every week, picks it up, puts the plastic wrapping in one recycling container and the paper in another. IF there is anything worth reading, I’ve already read it on line at their site.

There is a lot to dislike (or outright hate) about the Blade, but it’s done a lot of good reporting to, exposing corruption and what not. It’s also a good base source of general news info. When was the last time anyone at ToledoTalk linked to an article in the TFP that wasn’t about the Blade. If were talking about Packos, a cop shooting, local politics, etc, it’s the Blade we link to.

Speaking of Packo's I wonder if Jr is gonna run the business from jail if convicted of stealing money from the company.

not Jr. meant the Third._