“Union says more job cuts coming at the Baltimore Sun” Thursday, November 13, 2008 Baltimore Business Journal - by Julekha Dash Staff

Hat Tip: The Gunpowder Chronicle

November 15th, 2008 - My thoughts, for what they are worth…

Lately the topic of another round of layoffs and adjustments in the business of Tribune and the Baltimore Sun has been the subject of some discussions among several of us who work for Tribune. (See my media disclosure here. I work for Tribune.)

I have also been a critic of the Baltimore Sun’s political coverage in the past and I agree that the widespread perception of bias on the part of the Baltimore Sun has been detrimental to the overall health of the paper.

Moreover I continue to believe that liberal media bias plagues too much of the traditional mainstream media.

However, when I read criticism that involves hyperbolic name-calling, the critic loses the argument with me. (And yes, I am aware of past columns and blog posts in which I have engaged in some name calling… I guess I am a recovering name caller…)

Nevertheless, the editorial board of the Baltimore Sun continues to promote the paper in an unfavorable light. The fact that I disagree with much of the editorial slant does not concern me. What concerns me is that all too often the position of the board is inconsistent, displays situational principles, and is personality driven.

Perhaps this is simply the nature of the beast, but I would much rather see objective consistent community-benefit-driven analysis and commentary, instead of a newspaper editorial board parroting the talking points and spin of a particular individual, political party, or ideology.

To say it clearly, anything Illinois Sen. Barack Obama or Maryland Governor O’Malley = GOOD. Anything conservative, Arizona Sen. John McCain, or former Governor Robert l. Ehrlich = BAD.

If you need a more recent example, take a look at slots: Slots under Governor Ehrlich = BAD. Slots under Governor O’Malley = GOOD. What changed…?

However, the local community newspaper arm of Tribune – The Baltimore Sun, the Patuxent Publishing Company, (Explore Baltimore Co., Explore Carroll Co. - the paper for which I write, and Explore Howard Co.,) continues to deliver quality news and reporting. Of course, part of the reason for that is that those of us on the local community level have a higher level of accountability in that we can often be found at the same pizza parlor and grocery store check out line with the very folks we cover.

Nonetheless, the current economic times are a strain on all businesses, including newspapers, the metros, and the community newspapers alike.

In spite of the bewildering approach of the Baltimore Sun’s editorial board, most all the reporters are quite professional, talented, and objective in their reporting.

In the end they all have families and unless a particular individual displays a personal animus or maliciousness; critics of the paper may benefit from a more constructive engagement with the reporters. And I hate to see anyone lose his or her job – especially these days.

And especially a writer: What do you call a writer without a significant other? Homeless.

There is a growing perception that the management of the Baltimore Sun is trying hard to adjust to the times – with more accessibility and less of the condescending arrogance that has manifested in the corporate personality of the paper in the past.

As an aside; whether I agree or disagree with the columnists, I like the sharp writing of most of the columnists (and most of the reporters) – and I like the paper’s recent foray into blogs. And I like the improvements in the web site.

The debate about blogger journalists versus traditional print media journalists has been getting increasingly boring – see 20070112 Some wisdom about the silliest debate in journalism. There are good and bad in both camps. If you don’t like a particular writer, don’t read them.

I read writers – not headlines - and not papers...

Attempting to promote blogs and new media by carelessly denigrating traditional print media is a disservice to all journalists and journalism and brings all of us down.

Considering the challenges at the local level, in Maryland and the nation; the press has, if anything, an increased responsibility and there is an important role for the Baltimore Sun to play.

We need greater cooperation, collaboration – and we need all hands on deck.

Kevin Dayhoff


A Baltimore Sun union said Thursday it expects another round of job cuts at the newspaper, and officials are preparing to fight any future layoffs.

The Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild said it expects more job cuts within days. Angie Kuhl, a unit chair with the union, said she does not know how many job cuts are planned. But union officials don’t expect buyouts to be offered, as they have been in the past, and the cuts will impact the newsroom.

Renee Mutchnik, a Baltimore Sun spokeswoman, said Sun management has no comment.

The Sun eliminated 100 positions at the paper in August. It also recently eliminated its standalone Maryland and Business sections as part of an overall redesign.

[…]

Tribune Co., the Sun’s parent, posted a $124 million third quarter loss this month.

The newspaper, Maryland’s largest daily publication, saw its average Sunday circulation number fall 3.9 percent to 350,640 during the period.

Read the entire article here: Union says more job cuts coming at the Baltimore Sun

Tribune Co. posts $124M loss

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/11/10/daily53.html

20081113 Some thoughts on Union says more job cuts coming at the Baltimore Sun
 

20051200 20061005 20080610 Kevin Dayhoff Brief Bio w Dates

Kevin E. Dayhoff – June 10th, 2008

Kevin, age 54, is a Westminster native who lives on Uniontown Road with his wife, Caroline Babylon.

He has been a self-employed businessperson and artist; a free-lance journalist and columnist since 1971. He is retired from being self-employed as a landscape designer, horticulturist and nursery stock farmer for 25 years (1974-1999).

Currently:

Since June 9, 2005, he currently writes a weekly column for an on-line magazine. The Tentacle. The topics include politics, current events, agriculture, art and culture, and history column.

Since June 2, 2005, he has written a weekly, community events and history column, for the Westminster Eagle, a weekly newspaper publication of Patuxent Publishing Company, a subsidiary of Tribune. [Get Westminster Eagle RSS Feed]

Since October 28, 2007, he writes a history column for The Sunday Carroll Eagle – in the Sunday Carroll County section of the Baltimore Sun.

He has written an on-line column, the Winchester Report for the Westminster Eagle, since December 2005.

He was media-credentialed with Maryland State government on January 6, 2006.

From June 30, 2004 through October 21, 2005, he wrote a weekly column on Westminster, Carroll County community affairs, and history for the Westminster Advocate, weekly newspaper published by the Carroll County Times, a Landmark Community Newspapers publication.

He has also authored a web site (blog) with an emphasis on agricultural issues, art and culture, history, community events, and politics, “KevinDayhoff.net” – www.kevindayhoff.net, (formerly www.kevindayhoff.com) since December 2005.

The URL was moved October 1, 2006 to blogspot’s platform: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ or www.kevindayhoff.net – “Soundtrack Division of Old Silent Movies” – “Soundtrack.” Since June 30, 2006, he has been a member of the Maryland Blogger Alliance, a consortium of Maryland bloggers.

On September 15^th, 2006, the blog was recognized by George Washington University’s “Institute for Politics, Democracy and the Internet” as one of the top 12 Maryland and Virginia political blogs: “Who's Blogging the 2006 Maryland And Virginia Elections?”

“KevinDayhoff.net” was one of the blogs included in a feature-length article by Dan Gainor in the Baltimore Examiner on November 6, 2006.

Since October 30, 2006, he has appeared several times on the “Marc Steiner Show” on WYPR – 81.5 FM, as a political commentator.

Former elected official:

He is a former elected official in the City of Westminster. He was first elected to the Westminster City Council in May of 1999 and served as the Mayor of Westminster from May 2001 until May 16th, 2005.

Kevin served on the Maryland Municipal League’s Legislative Committee in 1999-2000 and 2001-2002. He served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Carroll County Chapter of the Maryland Municipal League for five years (12/07/1999 – 05/16/2005).

Kevin served on the Maryland Municipal League Board of Directors annually for five consecutive years, from June 2000 to May 2005.

He graduated from the University of Maryland Academy for Excellence in Local Government in June 2001.

Maryland state appointments:

Kevin was appointed by Governor Ehrlich on September 7th, 2004, to the “Bay Restoration Fund Advisory Committee” (09/07/2004 – 06/30/2005) to oversee the administration of a dedicated fund, financed by wastewater treatment plant users, to upgrade Maryland’s wastewater treatment plants with enhanced nutrient removal (ENR) technology. He was additionally assigned to the “Best Available Technologies” Workgroup and the On Site Disposal Systems Subcommittee.

He served on the Carroll Co Conservancy District Board (The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forestry Board) from 10.88 - 07.91.

Carroll County appointments:

On November 23rd, 2004, the CCBOC appointed Kevin to the Route 140 Blue Ribbon Panel – Westminster Bypass. (11/23/2004 – 06/16/2005)

He has served on a number of state and county advisory boards including; the Carroll County Landscape Manual Committee (1987 – 1989) and the Carroll County Planning Commission "Carroll County Tree Preservation Committee" from 04.90 - 11.90.

He was appointed to the Carroll County Right To Farm Agriculture Reconciliation Committee by the CCBOC on July 22nd, 2003 and elected Chair of the Committee on November 29th, 2004 (07/22/2003 – 05/16/2005).

Teaching:

Kevin has taught design and horticulture classes for various institutions since 1979: including C.E.T.A., Federated Garden Clubs’ landscape design study course November 4^th, 1991, and various green industry classes for the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service.

Kevin team-taught with Tom Ford and Steve Bogash, "Landscape Design Summer School" to green industry professionals with the Extension Service 07.01 - 08.05.93.

Kevin taught art, landscape design, and horticulture classes an Adjunct Faculty Member: Carroll Community College (Branch of Catonsville Community College,) 14 classes taught 03.88 - 02.91.

He participated on a panel luncheon on development of landscaping and horticultural classes for Carroll Community College chaired by Janet Nickels on 03.25.88.

Agriculture:

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forestry Board (1988 – 1991), and University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service Agriculture Advisory Committees (1980-1989.)

He served on the Cooperative Extension Service Maintenance Conference Planning Committee 1980, 1981, and 1989.

He was a participant in the University of Maryland's Vice Chancellor for Agricultural Affairs (Dr. Raymond J. Miller) panel luncheon on present and future challenges to Carroll and Frederick Counties agricultural community 04.13.89.

Environmentalism:

In 1997 he was asked by the CCBOC to participate in the Carroll County Department of Public Works’ development of Carroll County’s Ten-Year Solid Waste Management Plan.

He served on the Carroll County Environmental Affairs Advisory Board (1994 – 1999.)

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners (CCBOC) also appointed him to the Carroll County Environmental Advisory Council on September 23rd, 2004 (09/23/2004 – 07/05/2006). He served as Chair until December 14, 2005.

Business:

He is currently retired from being self-employed as a landscape designer, horticulturist and nursery stock farmer for 25 years (1974-1999.) Additionally, Kevin did property management consulting, farm consulting and landscape designs.

Kevin grew up in the 1960s in the “tree street” development just east of Westminster in between the Hoff family’s dairy farm and Westminster Nurseries. In the 1960s I established a “childhood business” doing yard and farm work, and mowing yards.

Kevin worked for Pasquale Donofrio at Carroll Gardens 1969 – 1970, and Tom Senseney Landscape Contractor from 1971 – 1973.

From 1979 to his retirement in 1999, he performed landscape and tree evaluations and appraisals, casualty loss evaluations, and he was an expert horticultural and design witness testimony in legal disputes.

Examples include: C. C. Board of Zoning Appeals (case #2873) Genstar Stone Products Co. Attorney Charles O. Fisher, Sr. changes in plant selection as proposed by client accepted 09.28.88.

Berman vs. The Pines at Deep Run. for the law firm of Kaplan, Heyman, Greenberg, Engelman, and Belgrad, P.A. Case settled in favor of my client - O'Hara. fall winter 1991.

He was a member of the Maryland Nurserymen's Association 1976 – 1989.

He was a guest horticultural expert for Stu Kerr's radio talk show, "The Garden Club,” on WCBM several times in 1989 and 1990.

Kevin has taken short courses, seminars, and classes too numerous to mention - by professional organizations, Longwood Gardens, Extension Service, government and colleges. He has taken numerous field trips, from KEW Gardens and Oxford Botanical and Research Gardens (where Darwin studied) in England; Estonia; to the Arnold Arboretum in Boston; to San Diego, California; Anchorage, Alaska; and the Virgin Islands National Park, Grand Cayman Islands and Mexico.

4-H:

Kevin has been active in 4-H since the 1960s. In recent years, he has served as judge for various 4-H and agriculture events, including public speaking, demonstration day. He is a volunteer with the 4-H Therapeutic Riding Program of Carroll County (1995.)

Art:

He has been exhibiting art – mixed media collages, drawings, and photography - since 1981.

He illustrated a tenant education handbook for "The Westminster Office of Housing and Community Development" and "Human Service Programs of C.C., Inc." in summer of 1990 "A Guide to Renting in C.C." was released 03.90

Photography:

His first photography art show was in 1983. Photography assignments have included: "Alternative High Density Development in Montgomery Co." 01.27.90; "Community Character Series" Carroll Co. Dept. of Planning summer 1990; Documentation of capital plant and equipment and operations for Jack Haden & Phoenix Recycling fall 1990 and numerous assignments documenting people for brochures and political materials....

Community Involvement:

Kevin donated time and materials as Piney Run Park and Hashawha were being developed in the 1970s.

He met regularly with an ad hoc citizens group on growth and development issues and concerns in the late 1980s - early 1990s.

He served on Committee for Charter Government 02.90 - 06.91.

He also participated in an effort to reestablish an arboretum and nature center at Greenway Gardens in 1993 and a successful effort to alter SHA's reconstruction plans for Westminster’s East Main Street with regards to saving existing old trees 09.90

Kevin served as an election judge for the Carroll County Board of Election Supervisors (1990-2000). He is a member of Grace Lutheran Church (10/25/1998), the Westminster Fire Department (01/05/2001), the Carroll County Chapter of the NAACP (01/2001 – became a “Life member” on 01/15/2008.)

He currently serves on Carroll County Red Cross Disaster Action Team (11/2001); and on the board of Junction (a community drug rehabilitation outreach facility) (10/05/2000), He is an Honorary Board Member of the Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation (05/2004).

In the past he has served on the board of the Westminster Town Center Corporation (06/12/2001 – 05/16/2005), Historical Society of Carroll County (11/08/2001 – 11/13/2003) and the Westminster Cemetery Board (01/2000 – 05/16/2005).

Education:

Kevin attended Carroll County Public Schools from 1959 through graduation from Westminster Senior High School in 1971. He served in the United States Marine Corp Reserve (1971-1973). He has also taken classes at Elon College, NC 1971-1973, Towson University in 1980, and McDaniel College 1999-2001 without receiving a degree.

Please feel free to contact Kevin Dayhoff at kdayhoff@carr.org or kevindayhoff@gmail.com.

His USPS address is: P. O. Box 1245, Westminster, MD 21158-1245

Dayhoff Brief Bio: 19990518/19990804/19991115/20000717/20000803/20000816/20001001/20001211/20010530/20010704/20010805/20011109/20020309/20020720/20030101/20030813/20031230/200408/200410/20041024/20050322/20050610/20051002/20060203/20061005/20071219/ 20080610