When he was named publisher, N&R editor Jeff “Grits” Gauger said:
“I expect to be out in the community a lot, meeting people, waving the flag for the News & Record, and looking for ways that the News & Record, working with other individuals and other organizations, can help make our community better,” Gauger said.
Gauger still may be doing that, but it’s also clear his flag-waving entails an all-out offensive on the Rhino. Just can’t help but notice —a couple weeks ago he noted how the Rhino staff had “spiffed up,” an improvement on the “dress code that was casual…..even, occasionally, slovenly.”
Then in yesterday’s paper Gauger writes about Rhino editor John Hammer:
Now the Rhino offers more content not tied to government, such as photos of community events and occasional friends-of-Roy features about local businesses.
And Hammer generally writes with less bite and venom. Rhino content about the Greensboro city election last month was about as tame as a field of springtime daisies.
And the Rhino completely ignored the dustup centered around N.C. A&T that led to challenger Jamal Fox beating incumbent Jim Kee for a City Council seat.
It’s as if Hammer isn’t digging his work. Perhaps he’s not. Perhaps he’s tired.
Perhaps the new owner has sheathed his Hammer.
Dang. But anyone who pays attention knows the truth— the Rhino bitchslaps regularly beats the N&R.