Shot In The Dark: Anatomy of a Booking

December 17, 2004

Anatomy of a Booking

The big news in the Northern Alliance this past week is Nick Coleman's reporting on a shortage of books - textbooks? - at a school in Saint Paul, as well as his "The Schools Are Burning!" jeremiad, and the Pioneer Press' Craig Westover's questions about the facts in the Coleman piece.

Now, today I may be merely a guy who writes withering social commentary in my underwear. But there was a time when I used to produce news and talk radio. And a vestigial voice in the back of my head said "let's get everyone in the same room". So I contacted all the principals, as it were, of the story: Westover, school principal Zelma Wiley, and of course Nick Coleman.

Last Sunday, I tried to book Nick Coleman to appear on the Northern Alliance show this weekend, to help kick off a discussion on schools, their funding, school choice, taxes, and so on.

Let's just say the discussion was interesting; curious phone messages, threats to slime me in his column ("I'd hate to have to write about how you cut and ran" being an excerpt) and much more.

I'm sitting on the story while I see where it goes - say, if I have to set any facts straight. But in lieu of an actual discussion on the Maxfield editorials (Ms. Wiley has also demurred on appearing), we'll be discussing the media exchange on this issue on the NARN show tomorrow.

Cutting and running. That's me.

Posted by Mitch at December 17, 2004 06:20 AM | TrackBack

Comments

"I'd hate to have to slime you?"

Slime away, SFB. Good God, the hubris. He's an alleged journalist, who allegedly knows things. If there are facts that need to be reported, why doesn't he just report them instead of offering to withhold them in exchange for...what? How much other important stuff is he sitting on and who's in his pocket? What a dweeb.

Sorry, Mitch, but I've got a feeling that you could withstand such a "sliming." Delete this comment if you disagree. I'll understand.

Posted by: Brian Jones at December 17, 2004 08:28 AM

I'm a pretty conflict-averse guy - I don't pick fights for the hell of it. And I can't imagine the Strib wanting to waste ink and paper on Nick Coleman's personal pissing match with a nobody blogger.

Part of me would love to see him try.

Posted by: mitch at December 17, 2004 09:34 AM

Poor Nick. He doesn't realize that he can't beat the blogs as long as he continues to pretend that journalism is a profession soely for J-school grads.

Posted by: Patrick at December 17, 2004 10:24 AM

Not to mention if he keeps beleiving that bloggers are pajama-clad dolts in their mothers basements. He's never really had to deal with criticism from intellectually superior individuals with a platform of their own. He's used to being able to just trash and/or mock his readers comments with impunity. He should soon learn that the time's they are a changin.

Posted by: honeycuttms@hotmail.com at December 17, 2004 01:21 PM

Mitch did his best. Unfortunately the other two must have already made plans and declined. I was available.

For the record, if protective security and home field advantage is more to Mr. Coleman’s liking, I’m sure with his influence he can arrange for the discussion to take place on MPR. I would have no problem with that. Good arguments, like good teams, can win on the road.

Posted by: Craig Westover at December 17, 2004 04:08 PM

Is that a slam on the Vikings?

Posted by: honeycuttms@hotmail.com at December 17, 2004 04:42 PM

If it isn't a slam on the 'queens , it should be.

Posted by: jdm at December 17, 2004 05:51 PM

Colemenless. What a jerk. Take it to him Mitch.

Posted by: Mike at December 18, 2004 05:50 PM

I think Nick is pissed about his hair line. Doesn't he listen to radio? Kevis, man, Kevis!

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