Some friends and neighbors asked what I thought of J.R. Labbe’s column yesterday regarding the healthy outlook for the Star-Telegram. Was it a fluffy crock? High-profile cheerleading with no hard facts? A biscuit tossed to "dittohead bloggers "(love that label…thanks, Kathleen Parker)?
J.R. wrote from facts, experience and a heart not only for the paper but also for the region the Star-Telegram serves. She shared what was reasonable to share even if it was of necessity heavy on rhetoric. At least it was wise and accurate rhetoric comprised of things that needed to be said. I was glad, and not surprised, to see her step up and pop a few caps in the direction of the death-watch crowd. J.R. ain’t afraid of getting in faces.
She referenced a conversation with publisher Gary Wortel in which he said the Star-Telegram is profitable and positioning for survival. Details would have been wonderful, but, as with personnel developments, such cards are held close to the chest in private-sector matters, and newspapers are not in the business of withholding information unless there is compelling reason.
I'd say that whatever J.R. knows from her meeting with Wortel and from her insider perspective gave her good reason to write what she wrote.
Was she whistling past the graveyard, as one blog put it? I doubt it. Those of us who know her know that she’s a strong, principled journalist –- one of the most powerful opinion shapers in Texas as are the other editorial board columnists Bob Ray Sanders, Linda Campbell and Jack Smith –- and not motivated by flakkery.
Remember, J.R., as with any journalist, puts her credibility at stake with every word she writes. Remember, too, that her column carried that invisible line: “Trust me.” I doubt she’s going to bet her credibility on a dying horse.
Beyond that, those of us who know the Star-Telegram feel confident that the paper has a good stretch of life ahead not only because of its profitability but also because there are extremely wealthy folks around Fort Worth who probably wouldn’t stand by and let the paper fold or become a Fort Worth edition of some other paper. The sense of ownership that’s out there is awesome.
Plus, it’s hard to imagine that some of those folks would tolerate Dallas having a daily newspaper and Fort Worth with nada. Boy does that thought stink up the place.
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