Okay, it's school holidays ....

... so who let the kids loose at APN?

Climatology 101 sees students provided with locations' air pressure readings and then requires them to prepare synoptic charts that involves joining places of equal air pressure - the lines drawn are called isobars.

Seems some bright spark at APN is doing a bit of in-house child minding during the school holidays. Well, that's the conclusion this reader arrived at after reading The Daily Examiner's weather reports lately. The evidence? Look at the weather maps (below) that appeared in The Examiner this week.

Here's DEX's map for Friday it (appeared on Thursday January 9):

And here's the BOM's map:

Need more evidence?

Here are more efforts provided by APN in DEX this week.

Since when have isobars been drawn using a ruler, and thus appearing as straight lines? 

Seems someone at APN gave their kids new pencils and rulers for Christmas and headed them in the direction of the weather page.

Images from The Daily Examiner (digital edition) and Bureau Of Meteorology.

It didn't take long for advertorials to rear their ugly heads in The Daily Examiner again

A local resident complained to me about what he described as a return to "the Chapman ways" with The Daily Examiner indulging select businesses with free advertorials.

Chapman being an editor who briefly graced Grafton with his presence and left once he realised that the social temperature was dropping in his vicinity.

There are no two ways about this print and online article in The Daily Examiner on 31 December 2013 - it is an advertorial pure and simple masquerading as local news on Page Three:

Just as the online real estate advertisement in the same issue also attempted to pass itself off as news.

Not that there are likely to be too many letters to the editor or online comments on the subject which see the light of day, as APN News & Media has recently issued a blanket warning that any criticisms of its journalistic efforts must be written in the mildest of terms or they won't be published or posted.

Apparently, when faced with paying for a print newspaper containing faux news APN would like its readers to be "positive". Oh dear........

Jenna Cairney retires as Editor of The Daily Examiner

Jenna taking a break from preparing for 

the removal van on 27 November 2013

North Coast Voices wishes retiring The Daily Examiner Editor, Jenna Cairney, all the best as she professionally advances to deputy editor of the respected national masthead The Land established in 1911 and widely read by four generations of Australian farming families.

Her interest in and enthusiasm for the Clarence Valley was always appreciated.

I’m sure valley residents look forward to incoming editor, APN News & Media Northern Rivers chief sub-editor and Woolgoolga resident David Moase, sharing that same interest and enthusiasm.

Jenna on Page 7 of The Daily Examiner, 7 December 2013:

It's been a grand ride

THE first five things I thought on arriving in the Valley were:

The Pacific Hwy sucks.

Is this Grafton? Ah no, it's South Grafton. Now how the Hell do I get to Grafton?

The internet on my phone is so, so slow.

Now, that's a river.

Yamba = paradise.

I wonder what will go through my mind as I drive out over the bendy bridge on Wednesday.

You see, this is my final editorial for The Daily Examiner.

I'm off to work as deputy editor for The Land, based in Richmond, west of Sydney.

I guess one of the first things I'll think about will be Grafton Jail. The community response over its closing was something I'd never witnessed. I've never been so proud to stand side by side with my fellow residents and fight for a cause. That experience still gives me goosebumps and it will live with me forever.

A jail was probably one of the last things I ever thought I'd think about.

I'll think about how, as I toddled down my path like a kid on her first day of school, a neighbour pounced: "You're the new editor of The Examiner - I read your editorial today ..." then gave me a critique of my writing and The DEX.

"Wow, they certainly read this paper," I thought.

And I wasn't wrong.

Every word, every slip-up and, of course, every time we got it right, there was a visitor, a phone call or an email.

So, I'll think about how much one region cares about its daily paper and about how privileged I was to sit in the driver's seat.

I'll think of the people I've met and, in particular, the impressive pool of talented and passionate people who work at The Daily Examiner.

Despite massive changes, in the face of big breaking news and even in the everyday humdrum, they've (more often that not) had a smile on their face, a spring in their step but, most of all, fire in their belly.

Because of that team we've been able to achieve some amazing feats - APN Newspaper of the year and the finals of PANPA. But most importantly, we have continued to be the voice of the Valley and to stand up for things that matter.

Now it's time to warmly welcome the new editor, David Moase, whom you will meet on Monday and who brings bucketloads of experience and talent.

Having worked with David in his capacity as chief sub editor of Northern New South Wales, I can attest to his professionalism and quality of his work. He's a worthy leader for such a dedicated team.

Lastly, as I head over that bendy bridge come Wednesday arvy, I'll think:

Please let me find my way back here one day. The Clarence Valley: God's Country.

How old is DEX's oldest reader?

Readers of The Daily Examiner are invited to submit online entries for its Christmas competition.

Readers are required to provide their date of birth and to facilitate that requirement a drop-down menu is provided. DEX, being ever so thoughtful, has made provision for readers whose DOB goes back to 01/01/1885.

Images from www.dailyexaminer.com.au

Today's APN reading competition

A court report appearing in an APN newspaper today makes one wonder what was deleted from the report. Readers who work out the answer might forward it to the editor of The Northern Star The Daily Examiner.

NCV suspects the editor probably has some prizes for readers who provide the correct answer. (Hint: find ****)

NCV apologises to The Northern Star for having previously stated that it carried the blooper. Having seen its print edition NCV acknowledges that the Star doesn't carry the blooper; however, the piece which was written by a Star journalist appears in the Examiner (see below) with the colourful language.

Image credit: APN

Spot the Difference - today's grey matter testing material

NCV has had reports that versions of Ginger Meggs appearing in APN publications, including The Daily Examiner, are being used in schools and retirement villages to test the grey matter of both the young and old.

1. Ginger Meggs in today's Examiner

2. Jason Chatfield's Ginger Meggs as it appears at gocomics

 

A couple of wags have noticed that APN's version appears a day or two (or three) after the real version appears elsewhere.They suggested NCV provides an advance copy of the Ginger Meggs that is scheduled to appear in the following day's APN productions. They reckon they can work out what APN's edited version will look like. Well, that's food for thought.

Let's give APN another chance to get its house in order and fix up this dreadful situation. Over to you, APN!

Today's Spot the Difference

1. Jason Chatfield's Ginger Meggs at gocomics

2. Ginger Meggs at today's Daily Examiner (and, presumably, at other APN productions)

Is APN getting a discount rate for its Ginger? It should be!

The Daily Examiner erects Coward's Castle

On 20 September 2013 The Daily Examiner published this rather silly and misleading, but otherwise unremarkable, letter to the editor:

Snapshot taken from The Daily Examiner digital edition

The letter’s subject matter did not indicate insider knowledge with regard to a contentious local issue or reveal circumstances of a highly personal nature to illustrate a point, which might perhaps at a stretch justify "Name supplied".

What this letter signalled was that the newspaper was abandoning the long held media policy that anonymity was not the default position in print editions. 
Anonymity via avatar/pseudonym may have become the default position for comments on a newspaper website because that is the default position of the Internet, but it clearly has not yet become industry policy for newspapers one holds in one's hand.

So anonymous political comment was again rearing its ugly skull where it shouldn't have been found - under a venerable print masthead. 

At least two readers^[1] independently wrote to The Daily Examiner about this letter to the editor and set out below are one of these emails and the reply received, with gleeful identity redactions in mock homage to the newspaper's new policy.

Because it turns out that the only criteria for being granted anonymity is that one be “a regular contributor” and “well known to The Daily Examiner”.

On that basis most regular letter writers could ask for anonymity.

Never one to let an opportunity pass me by I have since submitted a blanket request for anonymity myself, in order to participate on a level playing field within the confines of Coward’s Castle.

I suggest Fred Perring, John Edwards, and a slew of other regular print correspondents, all apply to have their names and addresses withheld.

After all, The Daily Examiner relies on correspondence from such people to create a regular letters section six days a week, so why should they be denied that which was so freely given to another.

Even the rather notorious Zussino might once more grace The Daily Examiner letters page under this very liberal policy, as he would no longer have to dream up so many pen names and fancy titles.

I’m sure many in the Clarence Valley would enjoy the ensuing confusion and endless identity guessing games at the breakfast table.

So what is actually known about the letter to the editor in question? It was sent as an email, the sender was not a Daily Examiner employee, he/she is a regular contributor of unspecified content, didn't want to be identified by readers - and he/she lacks a spine.

One wonders if this person is aware that anonymity may not last for long in a valley with closely linked communities.

One also has to wonder why APN’s Regional General Manager NSW would pen the weak excuse set out in the aforementioned email exchange:

From: Brent Rees [mailto:Brent.Rees@apn.com.au]
Sent: Wednesday, 2 October 2013 4:36 PM
To: [redacted]
Cc: Shannon Newley; jenna.cairney@dailyexaminer.com.au
Subject: RE: Letters to the editor policy and anonymous publication of political comment

Dear Ms [redacted],

Your email has been forwarded to me (Regional General Manager NSW).

APN’s rigour around validation of Letters to the Editor is bound by our code of ethics with regards accuracy, authenticity and respect of sources.

In the case of the letter you are referring to, I have established it was written by a regular contributor who on this occasion requested their name be withheld.

Given they are well known to The Daily Examiner, the request for anonymity was granted.

I trust this satisfies your enquiry.

Kinds regards,

Brent

	Brent ReesRegional General Manager NSW
	53 Moonee Street | Coffs Harbour | NSW | 2450 M 0417 200 090 F 02 6624 7265 brent.rees@apn.com.au | www.apnarm.com.au

From: [redacted]
Sent: Friday, 20 September 2013 11:00 AM
To: Shannon Newley
Cc: Jenna Cairney; Judy Lewis; Reception WilliamST
Subject: Letters to the editor policy and anonymous publication of political comment

Shannon Newley

Acting Editor

The Daily Examiner

20 September 2013

Copy to:

Jenna Cairney, Editor

Judy Lewis, Operations Manager

Peter Cosgrove, Chairman APN News & Media Board

Dear Ms. Newley,

Re: APN News & Media-The Daily Examiner publication policy in relation to Letters to the Editor and anonymous publication of political comment

I am seeking clarification of The Daily Examiner’s formal or informal policy concerning letters to the Editor, in light of the anonymous letter published under the heading “History of Women” in the 20 September 2013 print issue at Page 12. [See letter snapshot from the digital edition below]

I further ask:

(i) what is newspaper’s current formal or informal letter publication policy;

(ii) does this letter met the newspaper’s current policy;

(iii) does the newspaper’s current policy accord with any overarching APN News & Media policy concerning anonymous publication;

(iv) did the letter writer request anonymous publication; and

(v) what reasons if any were given if such a request was made.

I respectfully request a written explanation in reply, as a reasonable person could entertain the idea that this particular anonymous letter was written by an APN employee/The Daily Examiner staff member and, was published with the express intention of inciting further debate on the subject matter in the newspaper’s regular letters section.

Such a motive would not live up to either the ethical or good governance standards expected by readers of APN New & Media publications.

In anticipation and appreciation of your assistance with this matter.

Sincerely,

[redacted]

[redacted]

[1] It is my understanding that the second reader was promised feedback on her issues regarding the anonymous letter to the editor, but to date hasn't heard a word from The Daily Examiner.

Go halfway round the world and do well in an international triathlon - come home and the local media can't decide on your surname.

One can only guess how Ray Hunt of Yamba must have felt when he opened his morning paper yesterday.......

The Daily Examiner 25 September 2013:

VETERAN Yamba triathlete Ray Jones battled oversized wetsuits and freezing temperatures to pick up a silver and a bronze medal at the London International Triathlon World Championships.

Competing in the 70-74 age group, Hunt picked up silver in the aquathlon (1km swim and 5km run) and backed it up with a bronze the next day in the sprint distance triathlon (750m swim, 20km bike ride, 5km run).

He rounded off his efforts with the Olympic Distance Triathlon (750m swim, 40km ride, 10km run) with a 5th placing.

Read the rest of the article here.

"Name supplied" - readers invited to guess who penned the letter

There are definitely times when newspapers publishing letters to editors shouldn't publish writers' names. However, today's edition of The Daily Examiner is not one of those times. One has to hope this was an oversight by the Examiner.

 

Today's Spot the Difference ... another in a series

If someone at APN doesn't soon lift their game and have the publisher subscribe to the non-budget version of Ginger Meggs "Spot the Difference" at NCV will provide contact details at The Daily Examiner and The Northern Star where readers can forward entries in the competition.
Today's hint: see yesterday's hint.

Today's Examiner and Northern Star

go.comics.com

  

Credits: Thanks APN and gocomics

Yet another Spot the Difference

Thanks to APN, or at least its two dailies in northern NSW that Clarrie reads, here's another Spot the Difference.
Why are The Daily Examiner and The Northern Star providing their readers with budget versions of Ginger Meggs?
Today's hint: punctuation (perhaps a devious APN staffer was a bit mischievous with the white correction fluid)

Today's Examiner and Northern Star

gocomics.com

Credits: Thanks APN and gocomics.com

Another Spot the Difference

Clarrie Rivers is a mighty big fan of Ginger Meggs so it's with a very heavy heart that another Spot the Difference is presented.

APN newspapers, including The Daily Examiner and The Northern Star, carried this version of Ginger in their Saturday editions.

This version appears at GoComics.com

 

Why is APN running budget versions of Ginger? Is it really that cash-strapped?

Credits: Images from APN publications (7/9/2013) and GoComics.com

If there's a high informal vote in the Senate in the Clarence Valley ...

Click on image to enlarge

Today's Daily Examiner has rewritten the rules for voting in the Senate. While the AEC's instructions for voters in NSW who vote below the line is to number every box (and remember, there are 110 boxes) in order of preference the Examiner on page 5 advised its readers to number every box from one to 10. That will see voters having to vote 1-10 eleven times - the end result will be eleven Number 1 votes, eleven Number 2 votes, eleven Number 3 votes, ...

Shame, DEX, shame

If there's not a red face or two at The Daily Examiner office today, especially in its classifieds department, there bl**dy well should be.

Today's Examiner has an In Memoriam notice with a conspicuous blooper (see below).

Enough said!

Credits: None worthy of mentioning!

Spot the difference

Ginger Meggs in The Daily Examiner (27/7/13)

Ginger Meggs at Gocomics.com (25/7/13)

It's pretty tough when even your so-called mates cannot get your name correct

Such was the level of mirth at the table of knowledge at the local watering hole yesterday a couple of the lads were thinking seriously they'd need to ring 000 and get an ambulance to take a few of their mates to the local hospital with instructions they have their sides sewn up - you see, they were splitting their sides while laughing after they read a piece in Monday's Daily Examiner.

The piece, titled Weekly Whispers, carried a copy of part of a NSW Farmers Association's notice of a meeting of its Grafton Branch. According to the notice, the special guest at the meeting would be Clarence MP Steve Gulaptis. 
Yep, that's right Steve Gulaptis!

In some circles the current Member for Clarence is referred to as Mr Walker (a.k.a The Phantom).

Credits: The Daily Examiner and Robbo

Add ups and gazintas

Daily Examiner reporter Lachlan Thompson's piece in today's paper provides proof that he's a words man and not an add ups and gazintas bloke. Check out what he wrote about Yamba Cinema's Merv Cousemacker and do the sums yourself.

End of an era for movie man

Sixty-four years ago a nine year-old boy had to fill in for his ailing uncle and change the reels on a movie film projector.

And as Yamba Cinema moves into the digital age that boy, who is now 81 years old, is sad to see his skills made redundant.

If you have watched a film in the Clarence Valley in the past five decades there is a good chance Merv Cousemacker was operating the projector.

Mr Cousemacker's uncle Jack Ellem operated a touring cinema show on the east coast during the 1930s and '40s.

One night Mr Ellem was sick with yellow jaundice and nine-year-old Merv, who had keenly watched his uncle since the age of five, stepped in to help.

There began a life-long love affair with film and projectors which resulted in Mr Cousemacker running a travelling cinema show throughout the '50s and early '60s, operate a cinema in Maclean and finally own his own in Yamba.

During the 1950s Mr Cousemacker and his wife, Elaine, travelled and put on weekly screenings, complete with newsreels in Copmanhurst, Tucabia, Glenreagh, Brushgrove, Lawrence, Ulmarra, Iluka and Red Rock.

"Until television did us out of business," Mr Cousemacker said.

During the 1970s and '80s they operated the Picture Palace in Maclean - the cinema's name is still ingrained in the pavement.

"One of my greatest memories was filling the theatre there, which seated 1200 people, twice screening Born Free," Mr Cousemacker said. 

Read the complete piece here.

Cansdellgate continues

Northern NSW newspapers, including The Northern Star and The Daily Examiner, are carrying reports about the latest 'happening' associated with disgraced former Member for Clarence Steve Cansdell.

Smith won't pressure DPP to charge MP Steve Cansdell 

Attorney-General Greg Smith has told NSW Parliament he will not call on the Director of Public Prosecutions to pursue criminal charges against disgraced Clarence MP Steve Cansdell until "otherwise advised".

Despite lying about not being behind the wheel of his car when it was snapped by a speed camera in 2005, the former police secretary escaped criminal punishment when the staffer he claimed was driving refused to make a statement.

The Government's handling of the investigation has been subject to debate since retired QC Bruce James suggested in February that Mr Cansdell could still have been prosecuted for lying under oath.

He questioned whether the DPP had properly investigated the charges that could have been laid.

Earlier this month Mr Smith told parliament Mr James's concerns were a matter for the DPP.

But in a letter sent to shadow Attorney-General Paul Lynch last week, the DPP advised that Mr James's recommendations must be referred by Mr Smith's office.

Yesterday, Mr Lynch again asked Mr Smith if he would use his power to ask the DPP to consider the senior barrister's advice.

Mr Smith said while he had "great respect" for Mr James, he was willing to "stand by" other well-respected lawyers who did not agree with the advice until "otherwise advised".

Mr Lynch he would not give up, the questions raised must be pursued and instead of "sitting on his hands", Mr Smith needed to ensure the DPP "has another look".

Mr Cansdell quit shortly after the 2011 election following revelations he had told police his staffer Kath Palmer was driving at the time of the offence to avoid being stripped of his licence.

Source: The Northern Star and The Daily Examiner.

One young regional journalist is man enough to eat humble pie

Unlike many of his big city counterparts, The Daily Examiner  journalist Lachlan Thompson is prepared to admit that he misread the political runes when it came to concerns about coal seam:

It is time for me to eat some humble pie.

After attacking Member for Page Janelle Saffin for speaking out about CSG for the sole purpose of gaining votes, it appears the Federal Government is united on this issue.

It is now set to take action and I owe Ms Saffin an apology.

The company holding petroleum exploration licences in the Valley, Metgasco, has decided to suspend its activities on the North Coast.

Metgasco said it is because of changes in state, not federal regulations.

Frankly, when I saw the NSW Government's regulatory changes, I thought they had as much sturdiness as a soaked toilet roll.

The reason was they did not seem to prevent companies from putting CSG wells in rural residential areas like Glenugie.

The federal legislation, on the other hand, could mean no wells go ahead unless the science on this issue is completely clear. I hope the Gillard government can move this legislation through before the election.

Lachlan’s willingness to re-evaluate his previous opinions is refreshing and well done.