Russ Steele
When my Dad got ready to sell some of his logging equipment, he would get out a can of Fuller Paint and give it a "Fuller Overhaul." I am sorry, but this was what was going through my mind as I checked out the "Union's New Look" this morning. As Aaron Kenedi said "repackaged" news to make it more attractive to readers. Should we expect more than more bold face type, more color and more boxes? I was hoping the Union would give us more than just the news and tell us what it means, or why it happened. I can get the it happened news on the radio, on the Internet, but getting to the why is more difficult.
Some big city newspapers have discovered that readers want more depth in the news. A need that newspapers can satisfy with some more analysis and more in depth reporting.
Here is an example of what I am talking about. The snow survey story earlier this week in the Union told readers the snow level was 122 percent above normal, with no explanation as to why. With global warming on the lips of every politician in Sacramento, warming that is causing reduced snow packs, drought, and water rationing. It would be nice to know why this snow pack was 122 percent above normal, especially with greenhouse gases continue to increasing every day. With all global warming, why the increased snow pack?
This raises some questions. Did the reporter know why? Did the reporter care why? Did the reporter wonder if the readers would want to know why the snow pack is not conforming with global warming predictions?
OK, the reason we have increased snow pack is the Pacific ocean has cooled. A La Nina wind pattern has cooled the sea surface temperature and steered more cold moist air from the Gulf of Alaska into California's Sierra Nevada. You can get more La Nina details at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration La Nina web page here. The reporter could have also checked this very informative web page and provided a "why" level of information?
