Front-page news: Waiting on Sears or the G20 summit?
It’s not uncommon for readers — and fellow staffers — to question the lineup of stories we select for Page One. Today, at least five readers told us that “Sears customer is left high and dry. Washer set hasn’t arrived 4 months after sale” wasn’t worth Page One play.
One reader emailed:
“I found the article by Matthew Hathaway regarding the Sears problem interesting, but far from “front page” news. I suspect that most thoughtful readers would be more interested in a story like the G20 Summit than they would be in learning that someone’s washer-dryer set hasn’t been delivered yet.
It’s decisions like this that really make me wonder about what you and the other editors think about your readers.”
The headline and first two paragraphs of the Sears story seemed narrowly focused — small-town, to use some of the readers’ words. But the story broadened in its third graph, noting that similar complaints have surfaced throughout the country.
All five readers who questioned the Sears story placement suggested the same story for its replacement: “G20 goal: Avoid 1930s mistakes. Move toward protectionism then helped worsen worldwide depression.”
Steve Parker is the deputy managing editor for news, and oversees the Post-Dispatch's front page. STLtoday's online news editors are on his newsroom team. Parker has been at the paper since September 1980. 
Well, I I understand the reason that you didn’t use the G20 goal. That would have made your Messiah look like a fool. As a 3rd option you could have done an article about the hoax of global warming A 4th option could have been on “How the Chinese will take over the market of motor vehicles, the day after they think we have a government that is “STABLE”. You could have shown pictures and technical detais of the Chery lineup, plus the PRICES.
If I was the managing editor, I whould have had a four column picture of Kurt, riding a horse, and waving a lantern. overprint in front of his mouth saying “The Chinese are coming”.
Aren’t you glad you asked? That way your messiah’s rebuff by the EU, and orhwea, and his faux pax in meeting the Queen would have not be known.
I gotta admit that you editors are clever in selecting the Sears story, It was the top story in the world, wasn’t it. Yep, if you think so.
Apparently you readers think that the most important story should be on the front page. The PD wants the paper to mimick your suburban journal. In fact, both of mine came at the same time Wed and I was reading the front page of the Sub Jour thinking it was the PD until I opened it up.
Also,
Steve, you never got back to me about how the PD printed the stock news on Wed. morning by repeating Tues’s paper - or was that an April Fools Day joke. Or just the PD being the PD.