Anatomy of a MooseShag

The "b", the Baltimore Sun Media Group's free daily which is meant to kick-start the daily conversation, did just that yesterday. The conversation seemed to continue through today.

And yes, I can't believe I'm even writing about this, but here goes....

The cover of the "b" yesterday featured a young man with the huge, vertical headline of a word that begins with "D," stands for an item connected to gynecological hygiene, and rhymes with "MooseShag," which will be used from here on in as the replacement term. (Curious to read an independent definition of the actual word? Check out this Wiki.)

Inside, in Anatomy of a MooseShag, the article's author explored the contemporary cultural meaning of MooseShag -- a term which I, now in my mid-30s, probably last used seriously in early high school. Apparently, the word's been dusted off and appropriated by the young folk, and given this wonderful cultural revival in our daily lexicon of bad names we can call each other.

So yes, people seem to like to have semi-serious debates about who's a MooseShag and who's not. It's happening, in fact, all over the darn Internet. Crazy!

Anyhow, you can imagine the debate that ensued. Journalists at The Baltimore Sun -- the daily newspaper whose revenues apparently continue to bankroll the "b" -- were shocked. Shocked, I tell you!

The "b"'s editor wrote a letter to some journalists who previously complained to Sun publisher Tim Ryan (whose idea was to launch the "b" earlier this year) about the MOOSESHAG]! cover. The memo got leaked to Romenesko, of course.

Sure, journalists at a daily metro broadsheet newspaper would cringe at a sister tabloid that screams such a headline across the cover. It goes against our grain as newspeople, but also as participants and contributors in the daily discourse of civil society. Sure, we "get" there's a segment out there that loves to chatter away about "MooseShaggery." (Apparently, a word, according to the "b.")

Comments on the "b"'s Website pertaining to the article were brisk, but it certainly wasn't a tidal wave of online interaction, the way, say, Susan Reimer's controversial column on Repub VP-pick Sarah Palin generated 9,700+ responses on the Baltimore Sun's website. The "b"'s Anatomy of a MooseShag article, by comparison, had 29 comments as of 5:52 p.m. today.

We'd guess that most readers who pick the "b" up were either amused or ambivalent, or mildly disgusted, but hey, whaddya gonna do? Complain about something you get for free? That's such a MooseShag thing to do.

No, I suspect that us media folk -- especially workers at The Baltimore Sun who are a part of the Guild and who saw many of their professional colleagues leave last month -- probably talked about it more than anyone else. Out of sheer irritation. Here's why:

The Baltimore Sun Media Group last month jettisoned 55 journalists as part of a major cost-cutting measure, many of whom made indelible marks on Maryland news over decades, and chose instead to invest in a product that screams "DOUCHEBAG!" to its readers.

Oops, I mean: MooseShag!

Printing a bigger newspaper?

The Baltimore Sun Media Group today announced that it will be printing the daily edition of the Washington Times. Cha-ching.

This is great news.

Though, I have to admit, I was a little bummed when I read the press release announcing the deal. A WT official said the deal would allow them to print a bigger newspaper, with SIX sections instead of four. Wouldn't that mean that we're printing a bigger newspaper for a Washington paper than the one we publish ourselves?

I hope this makes money for BSMG. It's a move that reminded me of what Sam Zell said he would push the Trib newspapers to focus on, which is squeezing the most out of its facilities.

This is a good thing 'cuz our facilities need to work smarter, not harder. :-)

For a blast from the past, check out the video of Sam Zell talking about facilities management at The Sun, from back in March.



And here's today's press release on the BSMG-Washington Times printing agreement:

THE BALTIMORE SUN MEDIA GROUP AND THE WASHINGTON TIMES ANNOUNCE PRINTING AGREEMENT

Washington Times decision to outsource adds to Baltimore Sun Media Group's
significant commercial printing operation


BALTIMORE, August 6, 2008 — The Baltimore Sun Media Group (BSMG) and The Washington Times LLC announced today that effective September 8, The Washington Times will outsource the printing of its daily newspaper to the Sun Park facility in Baltimore.

Executives of BSMG and The Washington Times developed the agreement in the spirit of cooperation within the newspaper industry.

"There are many advantages to being printed by the Sun," said Dick Amberg, associate publisher and general manager of The Washington Times. "The expanded capabilities of their modern presses allow us to print six sections instead of four, to print many more pages, to have more color pages, to print more quickly, and to have better inserting. We are pleased to expand our relationship with the Baltimore Sun Media Group."

BSMG also delivers The Washington Times in the Baltimore distribution area, an arrangement which will continue, and BSMG will meet all current delivery deadlines. In 2001, BSMG began distributing papers to retail outlets for single copy sales of The Washington Times in the Baltimore area, and has provided quality service to home delivery customers in that market since 2004.

"We are excited to provide printing services to The Washington Times," said Stephen G. Seidl, senior vice president, operations and technology, BSMG. "Capitalizing on our significant printing and distribution operation, while maintaining a high level of service to all of our clients, is an important part of our strategy."

The Baltimore Sun Media Group has over 50 commercial printing arrangements through both The Sun and its Community Newspaper Group. Customers include the New York Post and New York Daily News. The company also has local distribution agreements with more than 20 publications. In addition to The Washington Times, the company delivers 700,000 home delivery and 400,000 single copy publications each month for clients including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Financial Times and Investor's Business Daily.

The Washington Times is embarked on an aggressive path of growth that in the past three months has included the launch of a new WashingtonTimes.com web site, ongoing incorporation of multimedia features to meet viewer demand, a redesigned local print edition and national weekly edition, and the prior engagement of Landor Associates, one of the world's leading strategic branding firms to help position the company in the digital age.

About The Baltimore Sun Media Group
The Baltimore Sun Media Group, a Tribune company, publishes The Sun, baltimoresun.com, 30 community newspapers and magazines, and a growing portfolio of targeted print and online products, including b and bthesite.com. In print and online, the Baltimore Sun Media Group reaches 1.2 million readers each week in the Baltimore area, making it the region's most widely read source of news and information.
About The Washington Times

The Washington Times LLC is a multimedia company in the nation's capital that publishes The Washington Times, a full-service, general interest daily newspaper and other media products. Founded in 1982, The Washington Times is one of the most-often-quoted newspapers in the U.S. with a reputation for hard-hitting investigative reporting and thorough coverage of politics, policy and culture. The Washingtontimes.com web site includes all of the original content from the daily printed newspaper plus original content produced for online users in print, audio, visual and interactive formats.