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RE: BRIAN WILLIAMS KNOWS NEWS

Yesterday I complimented Ed Bark on his Brian Williams column and made an aside about Bark's embargo on local news coverage. At the risk of getting into more trouble, Bark decided it was okay if I shared his thoughts:

I appreciate your kind words on the Brian Williams article. Even more appreciated is your reference to local TV news. Our ban on coverage or critiquing of the locals, dating to Feb. 2000, is a continued source of frustration and embarrassment. I've argued the case for years, but recently got smacked down again by various levels of decision-makers.

Anyway, the ban seems especially foolhardy in light of our new direction toward localism. I'm probably being more blunt than I should be during these decidedly tenuous times at the DMN. But everyone at every level of the paper and the corporation knows exactly how I feel about this, so what the hell.

Still, it was nice of you to take notice. Ignoring the history of local TV news in the seventh largest market in the country is not a wise policy. If only I had any hope anymore that it would someday be rescinded.

Adam McGill · August 4, 2006 12:27 PM