Barnicle to 'BUR?

Sulzberger's gambit: what it means for the Globe

Herald, Regan split

2 Comments

• Man who is a WBUR fan said:

  Okay, I've been willing to overlook LaCamera's seeming obsession with bringing everyone BUT radio people on board to work at, imagine that, a radio station.  (i.e. too many print and TV people)

  But this is crossing a line.  The bottom line is that IT DOESN'T MATTER what Paul thinks was or was not blown out of proportion.  WBUR must be Caesar's wife; not only are they considered to be an exceptionally trustworthy news source for Boston...they're also a news source with thousands of listeners that are actively invested in the station's operation (i.e. they're contributing donors).  Mike can, and should, feel perfectly free to have a radio career as a commentator or a talk show host where the stated purpose of the station is that it's a TALK station (i.e. entertainment), but it's unacceptable for him to be working at a NEWS station.   He has lost his innocence, it can't be regained no matter how many years have gone by.

  Besides, Barnicle was on WTKK for all those years - WTKK is the right-wing/conservatalker root of evil as far as most WBUR listeners are probably concerned.   If Mike's stint at TKK is supposed to prove he's appropriate/ready for WBUR, I'd say it probably did the exact opposite.

  I mean, would be "okay" for the NYTimes to hire Jayson Blair just because it's been 10 years?  Somehow I don't think anyone would buy that.  Why exactly is Barnicle any different besides that he's a friend of LaCamera?

  (shrugs) If Paul thinks that this one's gonna slide past the bobos of WBUR, I suspect he's about get an earful.

  I also see this as an escalating...and disturbing...trend by LaCamera to be more involved with editorial and news decisions than a General Manager probably should be.  Certainly more than Jane Christo did (well, beyond her culture of fear that permeated the entire joint).   For example, why isn't the program director (Sam Fleming) or news director (John Davidow) defending this announcement?

  March 16, 2008 4:37 AM

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