Well, we said the new direction for the Winnipeg Free Press was a work in progress, and we're starting to detect the end product.
They're turning the newspaper into a magazine.
They've scrapped two page of news (Page One and Two). Instead they have a front cover (the former Page One) and a table of contents (the former Page Two). And they don't worry about news anymore.
See, for example, what passed for "news" in Wednesday's paper.
"Katz ripped for 'Hefner' comment at tribute" declared the headline in a story so special it was shaded to stand out and command attention. And special, it was.
It was a classic case of the "Gotcha" journalism which has so degraded the profession that readers are abandoning newspapers by the thousands.
We can't blame reporter Gabrielle Giroday because we suspect she was assigned to the story rather than pitching it herself. If we're wrong, then Shame on you, Gabrielle.
Because this was a worst case scenario of a "story" manufactured by the reporter to create--rather than report-- news.
"Katz ripped" turned out to be one lone female professor of women's studies who called him 'pathetic.'
A second woman, one of their own columnists, Barbara Bowes, called it "an unfortunate slip of the tongue" but evidence of "systemic discrimination."
How hard did they have to work the phones before finding even one person, female preferably, to criticize Mayor Sam? It sure looked like there were scores of women in the audience at the tribute ceremony for our Olympic athletes, but Gabrielle couldn't catch up to even one of them for a comment. Wow, even the spectators are fast runners, eh, Gabby?
The newspaper even published a transcript of his remarks on the turn page. (Hey, what turn page? Didn't editor Bob Cox brag that they listened to readers who hate turning the page to find the rest of the story?...ed.) We guess it was to show how outrageous the Mayor was.
Unfortunately, the attempt at Smear Part Two failed as miserably as Smear Part One. CJOB's Vic Grant and talk show host Richard Cloutier had their fun "ripping" Professor Janice Dodd, and Cloutier's callers piled on.
To give credit when and where it's due, we give a nod to the CBC's coverage of the Winnipeg connection to the murder in Ontario of eight bikers, members or associates of the Bandidos motorcycle club.
Tuesday, they had a clip from the owner of the Holland House restaurant in Iona, Ontario, who described how Wayen Kellestine, the prime suspect in the murders brought five men from Winnipeg to eat. There had been rumours all day that the murders were somehow connected to a run the Bandidos were supposed to make to Winnipeg, but which the murdered men allegedly didn't want to make.
Then Wednesday, reporter Marisa Dragani quoted Ron Burling, a member of the probationary Manitoba chapter of the Bandidos currently in jail, about the murders. What's significant is that this is the first and so far only comment by any member of the Bandidos on the record in Canada.
Not some "source", or former Bandido, or "biker expert" who's written a book but a real, live colours-wearing member of the gang who insisted the club is far from finished. Good work, CBC.
The rumours and speculation of what sparked the killings have gotten farcical.
The latest theory is that drugs drove the men insane and into a killing spree. (We're not making this up.)
No doubt this is fuelled by the information that three of the Bandidos who wound up dead were trailed to Kellestine's farmhouse by Durham drug police who suspected a major drug deal was in the works.
When it looked like the men were just settling in for a party, the police left.
After the murders, police (apparently) found that the men had brought 200 kilograms of cocaine with them.
The story in the Toronto Star put the value of the cocaine at $400,000, but if its broken down into ounces, the value becomes $5 million.
The street value, if sold in grams, is closer to $12 million.
That's enough to commit murder for.
And we aren't even touching on the 4 man hit squad that was coming in from Chicago theory. Maybe later.
The dead in the Friday Massacre are
John 'Boxer' Muscedere, 48,
Frank 'Bam Bam' Salerno, 43,
Luis Manny 'Porkchop' Raposo, 41,
George (Gus) 'Crash' Kriarakis, 28,
Paul Sinopoli, 30,
George 'Pony' Jesso, 52,
Jamie Flanz, 37, and
Michael Trotta, 31.
The Black Rod has found web posts by some of the men to the Bandidos Canada and Bandidos International sites. They show the joy the men felt in the camaraderie of the club in happier days. It's something that's missing from the many stories about the crime itself.
These posts bring a little humanity to the horror.
Wishing you all a fat RED & GOLD Christmas and a great New Year
from Bandidos Canada " NO SURRENDER CREW ".
LOVE, LOYALTY & RESPECT
Bandido Concrete Dave 1%er
Vancouver Canada Saturday, 24. December 2005 02:31
Name: Grmg Hafiz
City: Twin Tower, Kuala Lumpur
Sent: 29/12 2005 04:11 AM Fatz
Congratulation to Bandidos MC Canada "No Surrender Crew" on your 5th Years Anniversary. We wish all the brothers & families A Merry X-Mas & A Glorious & Joyful Year 2006. Have a Safe & Happy Holiday Season. With much LOVE, LOYALTY & RESPECT Grmg Hafiz Hang Around Chapter of Bandidos MC Malaysia
Name: BANDIDO BOXER NO SURRENDER CREW
City: TORONTO WORLD
Sent: 25/12 2005 10:50 AM
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEWYEAR TOO THE BANDIDO NATION AND TOO THE NO SURRENDER CREW WHO LOVES YA BABY FROM BOXER PBOL NINA AND ANGELINA LOVE LOYALTY RESPECT IT JUST DOESNT GET ANY BETTER.
Name: BANDIDO BOXER1%ER
City: TORONTO ONT
Sent: 27/07 2004 10:03 AM
LOVE LOYALTY RESPECT MY HEART AND PRAYERS GO OUT TOO A YOUNG MAN THAT WAS KILLED A FEW DAYS AGO HIS DAD IS MY BROTHER MY BRO I FEEL YOUR PAIN AND SORROW LOVE LOYALTY RESPECT BANDIDOBOXER 1%ER FOREVER.
Name: BANDIDOBOXER1%ER
City: CHATHAM ONTARIO
Sent: 27/07 2004 09:55 AM
WE WERE IN WINNIPEG WE RODE THREW SPENT THE NIGHT THE SUPPORT COMES FROM PEOPLE YOU KNOW AND TRUST SOMTIMES THIER FEW AND FAR BETWEEN BUT GOING THREW THE RIGHT MOTIONS GETTING TOO THE RIGHT PEOPLE IF YOU HAVE A HEARTBEAT AND BELEAVE IN BROTHERHOOD THERE ARE PEOPLE JUST DOWN THE RODE THAT CAN HELP YOU OUT ALL I CAN SAY THE COPS OUT THIER ARE FUCKED SOME HAVE A REAL PROBLEM THATS NOT UNUSAUAL LIKE GUN POWERED DOGS JUST MY OPPION THEY MIGHT CHANGE OVERNIGHT AND DO THERE JOBS AND KEEP HONEST
Name: bad compagny frenchy
City: the no surrender crew
Sent: 27/07 2004 05:43 AM I MISS YOU ALL MY BROTHERS,
I M GETHING BETTER FROM MY CAR ACCIDENT AND SHOULD BE BACK SOON.
IT S GOOD TO EAR THAT THE CANADIAN NO SURRENDER CREW
WASSABEE CHIEEEEEEEEEEEEEFFFFFFFF IS RIDING DOWN
THE STATE
LOVE LOYALTY AND RESPECT
BAD COMPAGNY FRENCHY
NO SURRENDER CREW
Name: BANDIDOBOXER1%ER
City: TORONTO ONTARIO
Sent: 27/07 2004 05:26 AM
GOOD DAY TOO THE GREAT BANDIDOS WORLDWIDE EVERYDAY IS A GREAT DAY GONNA START MY BIKE AND RIDE WITH MY PBOL WHAT A DAY JUST GOT BACK FROM CROSS CANADA RIDE IT WAS BREATH TAKING LOVE LOYALTY RESPECT TOO THOSE THAT COUNT
Name: BANDIDOBOXER
City: TORONTO
Sent: 26/07 2004 05:00 PM
CHIEF MY BROTHER WHAT DID I TELL YOU YEARS AGO ONE DAY WHAT LOVE LOYALTY RESPECT FOREVER MY BROTHER SPYKE RICK WHO LOVES YA YOU CAME THREW LIKE ALL BANDIDOS WILL IN A PINCH MUCH LOVE RESPECT BANDIDOBOXER NO SURRENDER CREW ALL OF CANADA AND WORLDWIDE ONLY THE BEGINNING WHAT A RIDE RED AND GOLD EVERTWHERE.
Name: BANDIDO CHIEF1%ER
City: CANADASent: 26/07 2004 09:41 AM
HELLO TO MY BROTHERS IN CANADA EVERYTHING IS GOOD IM IN WASHINGTON KNOW HAVEING A GREAT TIME RIDEING WITH MY BROTHERS IN THE STATES TOOK SOME GOOD PICS.BOXER JERRY OLD MAN MISS YOU TO ALL MY BROTHERS IN T.O LOVE YOU.TAKE CARE CHOW FOR KNOW WAZUPPIE HEHEHEHEHE.MEETING LOTS OF WOMAN HERE TAKEING THEM FOR RIDES WISH YOU ALL CAN COME BUT I WILL HAVE FUN FOR YOU HEHEHEHE.
LOVE LOYALTY&RESPECT
BANDIDO CHIEF
NO SURRENDER CREW
CANADA.......
Name: BANDIDOBOXER1%er
City: TORONTO ONTARIO
Sent: 25/07 2004 06:24 PM
YA GOOD OLD TIME RIDING IN THE WIND FROM TOWN TO TOWN SLEEPING ON THE GROUND BEING REAL WITH OUR ONLY CONCERN IS OUR BROTHERS WELL BEING HAVING FUN PARTYING TURNING IT UP A NOTCH FLYING THE GREATEST COLOURS IN THE WORLD ROOSTER CHOPPER CHIEFERONE JOHNNY BIG PAULIE GRUMPY JAY WHAT A RODE TRIP LOVED EVERY SECOUND OF IT TO OUR BROTHERS IN EDMONTON AND CALGARY LOVE LOYALTY RESPECT BANDIDOBOXER
Name: Bandido Chief 1%ER
Sent: 21/12 2003 06:23 AM
Just writing to say hello to all my brothers Boxer is still recovering from friday night old man cant keep up with the chiefarone got tired of stareing at the whisky bottle so had to have a drink boxer say i dont know how you do it i say watch i will show you well chow for now
Name: Bandido Chief 1%ER
City: TorontoCANADA
Sent: 20/12 2003 01:46 PM
Just wanted to say i had a great time last night.good to see most of my brothers Crash Beaver Boxer Chopper frenchie circlehead and the one with the red and smelled like diesel fuel you know who you are . Bam Bam i know you were working to bad i know we would have cracked jokes all night L.L.R Cisco fucking site looking great ... i love it.Good to see our friends and hangarounds Had a great time Love.Loyalty and Respect B.F.F.B
UPDATE ON KATZ SMEAR PART TWO
As we expected the relay torch was passed to Lindor Reynolds to continue the attack on Mayor Sam under the guise of defending the honour of the Olympians. However another blogger, our friend Raskalnikov at The Times of Winnipeg, has already made the relevant observations:
There are a few other mysteries I would like to solve as well, such as if Brad Pitt was offended when Reynolds penned a column about him last fall while he was in town shooting a film.
Reynolds’s column was a pathetic, schoolgirl-obsession type of juvenilia, peppered with sexually-overt comments about Pitt’s looks. She took the same route with her columns about Richard Gere when he was in town a few years ago. Ditto for the various male Juno performers at last year’s awards. (In these articles, Reynolds proudly included photos of her and her daughter camped out at the airport stalking boys like Kalan Porter to gurgle over)...
... Such banality, however, is to be expected whenever any celebrity (or attractive local bigwig for that matter) comes waltzing through town; for there will be Lindor, half paparazzi, half insatiable-MILF, trying to look cool by describing her flushed cheeks and thigh-sweat.
Read his entire post, Indignation coordinator working OT .
They're turning the newspaper into a magazine.
They've scrapped two page of news (Page One and Two). Instead they have a front cover (the former Page One) and a table of contents (the former Page Two). And they don't worry about news anymore.
See, for example, what passed for "news" in Wednesday's paper.
"Katz ripped for 'Hefner' comment at tribute" declared the headline in a story so special it was shaded to stand out and command attention. And special, it was.
It was a classic case of the "Gotcha" journalism which has so degraded the profession that readers are abandoning newspapers by the thousands.
We can't blame reporter Gabrielle Giroday because we suspect she was assigned to the story rather than pitching it herself. If we're wrong, then Shame on you, Gabrielle.
Because this was a worst case scenario of a "story" manufactured by the reporter to create--rather than report-- news.
"Katz ripped" turned out to be one lone female professor of women's studies who called him 'pathetic.'
A second woman, one of their own columnists, Barbara Bowes, called it "an unfortunate slip of the tongue" but evidence of "systemic discrimination."
How hard did they have to work the phones before finding even one person, female preferably, to criticize Mayor Sam? It sure looked like there were scores of women in the audience at the tribute ceremony for our Olympic athletes, but Gabrielle couldn't catch up to even one of them for a comment. Wow, even the spectators are fast runners, eh, Gabby?
The newspaper even published a transcript of his remarks on the turn page. (Hey, what turn page? Didn't editor Bob Cox brag that they listened to readers who hate turning the page to find the rest of the story?...ed.) We guess it was to show how outrageous the Mayor was.
Unfortunately, the attempt at Smear Part Two failed as miserably as Smear Part One. CJOB's Vic Grant and talk show host Richard Cloutier had their fun "ripping" Professor Janice Dodd, and Cloutier's callers piled on.
To give credit when and where it's due, we give a nod to the CBC's coverage of the Winnipeg connection to the murder in Ontario of eight bikers, members or associates of the Bandidos motorcycle club.
Tuesday, they had a clip from the owner of the Holland House restaurant in Iona, Ontario, who described how Wayen Kellestine, the prime suspect in the murders brought five men from Winnipeg to eat. There had been rumours all day that the murders were somehow connected to a run the Bandidos were supposed to make to Winnipeg, but which the murdered men allegedly didn't want to make.
Then Wednesday, reporter Marisa Dragani quoted Ron Burling, a member of the probationary Manitoba chapter of the Bandidos currently in jail, about the murders. What's significant is that this is the first and so far only comment by any member of the Bandidos on the record in Canada.
Not some "source", or former Bandido, or "biker expert" who's written a book but a real, live colours-wearing member of the gang who insisted the club is far from finished. Good work, CBC.
The rumours and speculation of what sparked the killings have gotten farcical.
The latest theory is that drugs drove the men insane and into a killing spree. (We're not making this up.)
No doubt this is fuelled by the information that three of the Bandidos who wound up dead were trailed to Kellestine's farmhouse by Durham drug police who suspected a major drug deal was in the works.
When it looked like the men were just settling in for a party, the police left.
After the murders, police (apparently) found that the men had brought 200 kilograms of cocaine with them.
The story in the Toronto Star put the value of the cocaine at $400,000, but if its broken down into ounces, the value becomes $5 million.
The street value, if sold in grams, is closer to $12 million.
That's enough to commit murder for.
And we aren't even touching on the 4 man hit squad that was coming in from Chicago theory. Maybe later.
The dead in the Friday Massacre are
John 'Boxer' Muscedere, 48,
Frank 'Bam Bam' Salerno, 43,
Luis Manny 'Porkchop' Raposo, 41,
George (Gus) 'Crash' Kriarakis, 28,
Paul Sinopoli, 30,
George 'Pony' Jesso, 52,
Jamie Flanz, 37, and
Michael Trotta, 31.
The Black Rod has found web posts by some of the men to the Bandidos Canada and Bandidos International sites. They show the joy the men felt in the camaraderie of the club in happier days. It's something that's missing from the many stories about the crime itself.
These posts bring a little humanity to the horror.
Wishing you all a fat RED & GOLD Christmas and a great New Year
from Bandidos Canada " NO SURRENDER CREW ".
LOVE, LOYALTY & RESPECT
Bandido Concrete Dave 1%er
Vancouver Canada Saturday, 24. December 2005 02:31
Name: Grmg Hafiz
City: Twin Tower, Kuala Lumpur
Sent: 29/12 2005 04:11 AM Fatz
Congratulation to Bandidos MC Canada "No Surrender Crew" on your 5th Years Anniversary. We wish all the brothers & families A Merry X-Mas & A Glorious & Joyful Year 2006. Have a Safe & Happy Holiday Season. With much LOVE, LOYALTY & RESPECT Grmg Hafiz Hang Around Chapter of Bandidos MC Malaysia
Name: BANDIDO BOXER NO SURRENDER CREW
City: TORONTO WORLD
Sent: 25/12 2005 10:50 AM
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEWYEAR TOO THE BANDIDO NATION AND TOO THE NO SURRENDER CREW WHO LOVES YA BABY FROM BOXER PBOL NINA AND ANGELINA LOVE LOYALTY RESPECT IT JUST DOESNT GET ANY BETTER.
Name: BANDIDO BOXER1%ER
City: TORONTO ONT
Sent: 27/07 2004 10:03 AM
LOVE LOYALTY RESPECT MY HEART AND PRAYERS GO OUT TOO A YOUNG MAN THAT WAS KILLED A FEW DAYS AGO HIS DAD IS MY BROTHER MY BRO I FEEL YOUR PAIN AND SORROW LOVE LOYALTY RESPECT BANDIDOBOXER 1%ER FOREVER.
Name: BANDIDOBOXER1%ER
City: CHATHAM ONTARIO
Sent: 27/07 2004 09:55 AM
WE WERE IN WINNIPEG WE RODE THREW SPENT THE NIGHT THE SUPPORT COMES FROM PEOPLE YOU KNOW AND TRUST SOMTIMES THIER FEW AND FAR BETWEEN BUT GOING THREW THE RIGHT MOTIONS GETTING TOO THE RIGHT PEOPLE IF YOU HAVE A HEARTBEAT AND BELEAVE IN BROTHERHOOD THERE ARE PEOPLE JUST DOWN THE RODE THAT CAN HELP YOU OUT ALL I CAN SAY THE COPS OUT THIER ARE FUCKED SOME HAVE A REAL PROBLEM THATS NOT UNUSAUAL LIKE GUN POWERED DOGS JUST MY OPPION THEY MIGHT CHANGE OVERNIGHT AND DO THERE JOBS AND KEEP HONEST
Name: bad compagny frenchy
City: the no surrender crew
Sent: 27/07 2004 05:43 AM I MISS YOU ALL MY BROTHERS,
I M GETHING BETTER FROM MY CAR ACCIDENT AND SHOULD BE BACK SOON.
IT S GOOD TO EAR THAT THE CANADIAN NO SURRENDER CREW
WASSABEE CHIEEEEEEEEEEEEEFFFFFFFF IS RIDING DOWN
THE STATE
LOVE LOYALTY AND RESPECT
BAD COMPAGNY FRENCHY
NO SURRENDER CREW
Name: BANDIDOBOXER1%ER
City: TORONTO ONTARIO
Sent: 27/07 2004 05:26 AM
GOOD DAY TOO THE GREAT BANDIDOS WORLDWIDE EVERYDAY IS A GREAT DAY GONNA START MY BIKE AND RIDE WITH MY PBOL WHAT A DAY JUST GOT BACK FROM CROSS CANADA RIDE IT WAS BREATH TAKING LOVE LOYALTY RESPECT TOO THOSE THAT COUNT
Name: BANDIDOBOXER
City: TORONTO
Sent: 26/07 2004 05:00 PM
CHIEF MY BROTHER WHAT DID I TELL YOU YEARS AGO ONE DAY WHAT LOVE LOYALTY RESPECT FOREVER MY BROTHER SPYKE RICK WHO LOVES YA YOU CAME THREW LIKE ALL BANDIDOS WILL IN A PINCH MUCH LOVE RESPECT BANDIDOBOXER NO SURRENDER CREW ALL OF CANADA AND WORLDWIDE ONLY THE BEGINNING WHAT A RIDE RED AND GOLD EVERTWHERE.
Name: BANDIDO CHIEF1%ER
City: CANADASent: 26/07 2004 09:41 AM
HELLO TO MY BROTHERS IN CANADA EVERYTHING IS GOOD IM IN WASHINGTON KNOW HAVEING A GREAT TIME RIDEING WITH MY BROTHERS IN THE STATES TOOK SOME GOOD PICS.BOXER JERRY OLD MAN MISS YOU TO ALL MY BROTHERS IN T.O LOVE YOU.TAKE CARE CHOW FOR KNOW WAZUPPIE HEHEHEHEHE.MEETING LOTS OF WOMAN HERE TAKEING THEM FOR RIDES WISH YOU ALL CAN COME BUT I WILL HAVE FUN FOR YOU HEHEHEHE.
LOVE LOYALTY&RESPECT
BANDIDO CHIEF
NO SURRENDER CREW
CANADA.......
Name: BANDIDOBOXER1%er
City: TORONTO ONTARIO
Sent: 25/07 2004 06:24 PM
YA GOOD OLD TIME RIDING IN THE WIND FROM TOWN TO TOWN SLEEPING ON THE GROUND BEING REAL WITH OUR ONLY CONCERN IS OUR BROTHERS WELL BEING HAVING FUN PARTYING TURNING IT UP A NOTCH FLYING THE GREATEST COLOURS IN THE WORLD ROOSTER CHOPPER CHIEFERONE JOHNNY BIG PAULIE GRUMPY JAY WHAT A RODE TRIP LOVED EVERY SECOUND OF IT TO OUR BROTHERS IN EDMONTON AND CALGARY LOVE LOYALTY RESPECT BANDIDOBOXER
Name: Bandido Chief 1%ER
Sent: 21/12 2003 06:23 AM
Just writing to say hello to all my brothers Boxer is still recovering from friday night old man cant keep up with the chiefarone got tired of stareing at the whisky bottle so had to have a drink boxer say i dont know how you do it i say watch i will show you well chow for now
Name: Bandido Chief 1%ER
City: TorontoCANADA
Sent: 20/12 2003 01:46 PM
Just wanted to say i had a great time last night.good to see most of my brothers Crash Beaver Boxer Chopper frenchie circlehead and the one with the red and smelled like diesel fuel you know who you are . Bam Bam i know you were working to bad i know we would have cracked jokes all night L.L.R Cisco fucking site looking great ... i love it.Good to see our friends and hangarounds Had a great time Love.Loyalty and Respect B.F.F.B
UPDATE ON KATZ SMEAR PART TWO
As we expected the relay torch was passed to Lindor Reynolds to continue the attack on Mayor Sam under the guise of defending the honour of the Olympians. However another blogger, our friend Raskalnikov at The Times of Winnipeg, has already made the relevant observations:
There are a few other mysteries I would like to solve as well, such as if Brad Pitt was offended when Reynolds penned a column about him last fall while he was in town shooting a film.
Reynolds’s column was a pathetic, schoolgirl-obsession type of juvenilia, peppered with sexually-overt comments about Pitt’s looks. She took the same route with her columns about Richard Gere when he was in town a few years ago. Ditto for the various male Juno performers at last year’s awards. (In these articles, Reynolds proudly included photos of her and her daughter camped out at the airport stalking boys like Kalan Porter to gurgle over)...
... Such banality, however, is to be expected whenever any celebrity (or attractive local bigwig for that matter) comes waltzing through town; for there will be Lindor, half paparazzi, half insatiable-MILF, trying to look cool by describing her flushed cheeks and thigh-sweat.
Read his entire post, Indignation coordinator working OT .