About that ad...

C.Y. mentioned the full-page ad the Alerus Center took out in the Herald yesterday, the day that my story about the Alerus Center was in the paper.

I was going to talk about that in the last post but forgot. I knew about it Wednesday morning because the folks at the Alerus Center told me about it. Obviously, they knew there was going to be a story in the paper because there is always a story in the paper when they release year-end financials. Had they not said anything, I would never have known because the gang in advertising, if I remember right, are told not to call reporters about this sort of thing.

I resent the presumption that I somehow tilt my story because of money issues. It always seems like the people making such accusations are the last honest people in the world because everybody else is crooked. And, of course, accusations are so much easier when you're anonymous and don't have to answer to anyone. Clap, clap, clap! There's a brave chap!

Well, let me tell you a little bit about the view from the other side.

On Wednesday, in the course of somewhat heated discussions at the Alerus Center, I was asked why I continue to put headlines in the paper about the center losing money or whatever the bottomline happens to be when the most important thing about the center is the economic impact and the "quality of life" for area residents who get to go to nice shows.

I said that they were quite mistaken because I don't get more money when we sell more papers. I get money because I'm improving as a reporter -- please note the FOUR stories by Tu-Uyen Tran in the paper today (Friday) -- and because I find hot stories that people want to read.

For there to be a clear link between my stories and my pay, I would have to get paid more when we make more money, and, as many people know, most of the money that newspapers make is from advertising not readership.

So to make my point: If the pro-Alerus Center people and the anti-Alerus Center people suspect the City Beat of taking a cut, where, then, is my frickin' money?

Please put the cash in an envelope marked "Doctor's bill for Tu-Uyen Tran" with the receptionist at the Herald. No one will ever think to look in there.

Posted by: Tu-Uyen on 2/27/2009 at 1:52 AM | Comments (19) | Permalink