I realize the N&R’s failed public information request is a major part part of the evolving black book memo story. But I still find it fascinating that, in the process of breaking the story, both The Troublemaker and the Rhino take time to taunt N&R city reporter Margaret Banks, who spent all day yesterday catching up.
John Hammer writes:
Banks is told that the city will not give her the two-page memo that she requested because city attorneys “are not aware of the alleged two-page memo.”
Normally Banks would have to accept the city’s assertion that the memo doesn’t exist, but in this case banks is in luck because her friends here at The Rhino Times have decided to help her out by publishing the entire two-page memo here on our front page.”
I think it’s not unfair to say that Banks doesn’t have the hardcore investigative reporting skills necessary for covering city hall. She’s a features writer by trade who (correct me if I’m wrong) spent time on the religion beat before moving to city politics. Nothing personal, and I’m certainly not saying I’ve got the skills; that’s how ended up here analyzing the work of guys like Hammer and Holder.
Besides, who’s around down at the N&R to train Banks for such a difficult job? The seasoned reporters are all on the retirement plan and the editors are big-picture guys concentrating on feelings rather than details. Now we learn from Hoggard that the N&R is cutting paid local columnists loose due to to budgetary considerations. Somehow I don’t think they’ll roll those “savings” into more investigative reporting.
Expectations from our paper of record have lowered for quite some time now. Don’t expect much more. Real news and analysis of what’s going on with Greensboro city government is here.
