DA to Investigate DMN -- BFD

Reporters from around the country -- okay, two reporters, but it sounds better the first way -- have been calling me since the news broke that the District Attorney Bill Hill is investigating whether The Dallas Morning News' history of overstating circulation is criminal.

Several reactions to this:

1. About damned time. The reporters wanted contact info for folks I talked to, both inside and outside the paper -- who had direct experience and who went ON THE EFFING RECORD with their claims that this pattern of lying was systemic. I know I wrote this stuff for an alternative weekly, and I don't (as some in this town do) call up Those In Power after I right a story and ask why action hasn't been taken on its findings, but, c'mon, people. This is news. You'd think someone would have talked to these people besides me. I mean, they admitted they were part of or witness to the scandal. WTF, mate? Of course, I gave them the phone numbers. Look for upcoming stories in the American Journalism Review and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
2. Speaking of AJR, a belated "good job" goes to Charles Layton's story on the DMN woes, particularly for the scene at story's end where CEO Robert Decherd acts as though there is no discontentment at the paper. Priceless. Now, there's nothing wrong with saying the low morale is unfounded, or that the anger is misplaced -- for all I know, it may be -- but to deny it is exists is ridiculous. For reasons I've detailed before, no one should ever again believe Robert Decherd.
   
3. Re: the DMN: I hate folks in media who aren't honest, so full disclosure is necessary. After I left the Dallas Observer, I had lunch with a high up in the Belo food chain and all but begged for an editorial column-writing job that had just come open. I felt dirty afterward (because of my naked ambition), but the opportunity to spout off my opinion in a big-city paper was always my dream. I never followed through on it, not that they would have hired me anyway. For several reasons: First, my new job is great. Second, I don't think it's the sort of place that fosters (or even tolerates) passion, unless it's the Rod Dreher "the Euros ain't havin' enough babies" kind of passion. (Not that there's anything wrong with that, Rod; I still love you.) Third, I'm lazy. Just so I don't seem two-faced and all.
4. I still talk to folks seemingly every week from all over town who say they get the paper thrown on their lawn yet don't subscribe. I'm just sayin.
5. Mr. D.A.'s office: please don't call asking for my notes and whatnot during your subpoena process. Because Texas doesn't have a shield law, I already cooperated with you folks once (on advice of council) when you couldn't do your jobs yourself, and I never got my notes back despite repeated attempts to do so. So stay back, cowboys. Daddy's done with you.

Oh, and why the "BFD" in the title? Because this is all for show. No charges will be brought. The folks who own the DMN are rich and powerful. They don't have to play the game the same way everyone else does. We all know this, so stop trying to argue.