Recommended reading: Kennedy on the BPD

Published Jan 02 2009, 08:41 AM by Adam Reilly

If you're confused about whether Boston might lay off 200 police officers or not, I urge you to check out Dan Kennedy's deconstruction of the Globe and Herald's duelling treatments of the subject. As Dan notes, this is partly a political story and partly a media one--and despite the Herald's bluster (online headline:"Riled mayor Thomas M. Menino: Reports of cop layoffs untrue"), it's not at all clear that the Globe got anything wrong:

Menino is angry — that's a given. What we don't know is if 1) he is genuinely angry because he didn't want the layoff numbers to be leaked, at least not yet; 2) he is genuinely angry because the Globe's emphasis on layoffs, rather than on Patrick's options, puts more pressure on City Hall than he had intended; or 3) he is pretending to be angry but is actually pleased that he succeeded in floating this frightening trial balloon.

Because officials appear to be dialing back, that gives the Herald the opportunity to claim that the Globe got it wrong. The problem is that what officials are actually saying, on the record, does not contradict the notion that as many as 200 officers could be laid off if more money can't be found.

Filed Under: Boston Herald, Boston Globe, Dan Kennedy, Boston politics, Boston Police Department

Sisters: doing it for themselves!

It goes up to eleven

Follow the Boston Phoenix

All Blogs

Laser Orgy (25)
On The Download (2,145)
Talking Politics (1,506)
Phlog (1,397)
Outside The Frame (299)
Dont Quote Me (511)

Filed Under: Boston Herald, Boston Globe, Dan Kennedy, Boston politics, Boston Police Department

Boston Phoenix
Difference of opinion
Published 11/6/2009 by ADAM REILLY
Peter Canellos reinvents Globe ’s editorial page. Plus, Tom Menino’s campaign gets late-breaking help from the Banner and Herald .

Boston Phoenix
Review: Law Abiding Citizen
Published 10/16/2009 by SHAULA CLARK
Kind of fun, if you can ignore its politics

more by Adam Reilly

Difference of opinion | November 06, 2009

The importance of being Ernie | October 16, 2009

Latter day taint | October 09, 2009

Globe staffers to publisher: save us from healthcare "caste system" | October 08, 2009

New in the Phoenix: Glenn Beck's Mormon roots | October 07, 2009

See all articles by: Adam Reilly

Latest Comments

Only one thing to do: Big Bear | Child Bite | Horsehands | Ice Dragon - Ice Dragon: Hoooooooooly shit!

By Carly Carioli on 11-11-2009 in On The Download

Coakley's Stand -- A Union Problem? - Sorry David, but it seems the only unions that have a problem with Coakley's vote are the Unions backing...

By Striker57 on 11-10-2009 in Talking Politics

Happy Carl Sagan Day! - It was stirring to see so many children attending and taking part in science activities, while showing...

By ROKeefe on 11-10-2009 in Laser Orgy

Obama's Fort Hood screw-up - This is such a non-issue. You need to pull your head out of your ass and look at the bigger picture.

By Randy on 11-10-2009 in Dont Quote Me

Ugh, ugh, ugh: Drummer Gerhardt "Jerry" Fuchs (!!!/Turing Machine/Maserati/Juan Maclean) dead at 34 - WHY DID YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT SUCH A STUPID TITLE :(

By Kendra on 11-09-2009 in On The Download

Latest Comments from Dont Quote Me

Recommended reading: Kennedy on the BPD

Leave a Comment