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Dig editorial staff shaken up

Lots of changes announced at the city's sole surviving alt weekly. Chris Faraone, late of the Phoenix and more recently the Jamaica Plain Gazette, becomes news and features editor.

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Does anyone else find the Dig to be incredibly cringe worthy? I like their coverage of local events and such, but their writers sounds like kids who just spent the night drunk on 4chan.

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Whoa, they get their stories like everybody else...Reddit.

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Always thought it was a total d*****rag.

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When it's forced, it's simply sophmoric. Pretty much like it's primary audience - 17-26 year olds who've just started to look outside their bubble of immediate family, friends and pre-packaged national corporate entertainments.

I've loved and hated the Dig. Over the years, it's been at its best when both obnoxious and intelligent. But that balance depends so much on the particular chemistry between members of a truly small staff. It's hard to predict which mix of characters is going to end up being a train wreck and which are going to shoot the moon - just think of the Red Sox during the 8 short years between 2004 and 2012.

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Seriously, Faraone? Another weekly to check off the list of credible sources.

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to quote one person on Reddit, he is a "hunter s thompson wannabe". the guy wrote this massive diatribe as to how the BRIC was had failed and was responsible for the marathon bombing, and that Ed Davis was adovating the use of drones..

he plays fast and loose with facts and in interpreting articles.

the rest of the Dig is enjoyable.

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As reported in those notoriously liberal rags, the Boston Herald and The Washington Post:

Davis said he would also consider deploying domestic reconnaissance drones to hover above next year’s Boston Marathon.

“Drones are a great idea. I don’t know that would be the first place I’d invest money, but certainly to cover an event like this, and have an eye in the sky that would be much cheaper to run than a helicopter is a really good idea,” he said.

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1. they asked him about drones, he did not throw it out himself.

2. this phrase "I don’t know that would be the first place I’d invest money.". unless you were bringing in some agency who is flying them for you, you would need to pay for: the drone, training a few operators, the equipment needed to relay/view the video, some maintenance package, the union would probably want a specialist rating for any officers who are drone operators.. read between the lines, unless the Feds are flying them for you or handing them to you they are not happening.

3. he is talking event specific, Faraone turned that into drones 24/7 until they are flying up your ass

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To paraphrase Jon Stewart: " Ever edited a newspaper.......on WEED?" Glad to see Faraone continuing his successful career at dying newspapers. What's next, will Faraone end up taking over The Daily Beast?

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I can see that you have issues with Faraone (and admittedly, 'gonzo' journalism can be crazy frustrating when not pulled off well). But as someone not fixated on him, it seems to me that many of the publications he's written for other than the Phoenix are still doing all right - eg the Source, Spin, the Boston Herald, Boston Magazine.

In fact, if the Dig's number are accurate, they're growing very quickly these days. I think they've arguably handled the transition to the 21st cen media environment more nimbly than any of the bigger papers around here. And lately they seem to be trying to re-inject more long-form political and culture reporting into the mix. I hope that trend continues.

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I have a lot of waiting time in my job where I'm sitting around doing nothing. I also like to kick back when I'm not working, smoke a bone and let off some snark. As with Doug Bennett, Faraone, IMO, is someone who deserves to be slapped around sometimes because he's basically an idiot who is nowhere as smart as he thinks he is and he's completely incapable of original thought.

I only read the Dig at the limo pool when I'm having a sit down, as I find that it is the only place that is conducive to really appreciating Faraone's work.

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Well put. If I want intelligent snark I'll read the Boston Bastard.

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Surprised he passed up a good Globe punchline :)

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According to founder and Publisher, Jeff Lawrence, this kind of wholesale turnover is great for the departing staff, as well as Dig Boston, adding, "This editorial team carried us through one of the most challenging times in our history and will undoubtedly be a huge asset wherever they end up because of it. It also gives us the chance for a new vision, and with that, huge editorial growth."

Translation: they did a great job growing the company, but now we don't want to pay them what they are worth, and I don't want to deal with them actually knowing stuff and questioning mah authoritay. Leaving to pursue other interests! Yeah ... that's it!

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do you have evidence that this is the case? Seems to me that if he was primarily interested in maximizing profit, he'd keep the staff that saw the recent big upswing in subscription/revenue. I'd be particularly interested in hearing what someone like Joe Keohane had to say.

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Remember kids, war is peace, freedom is slavery, and unemployment is the new professional growth opportunity!

Quite the word salad in the linked article, yes? Doesn't seem like it would be a sensible move for a successful paper unless certain staff who were responsible for that growth were demanding some payback for their efforts?

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Just FYI, digboston has the same readership now as it did last year, or 5 years ago for that matter. As a free publication, getting people to pick up copies Isn't that hard. It's having the appropriate business model, relationships with the community, and sales strategy that drives revenue. Without that, all the readership in the world is worthless (see: Boston Phoenix, RIP). Love, like, or hate the dig, it's obvious that they are reaching their target audience at the right cost, and have the trust of the local business community.

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Just FYI, digboston has the same readership now as it did last year, or 5 years ago for that matter. As a free publication, getting people to pick up copies Isn't that hard. It's having the appropriate business model, relationships with the community, and sales strategy that drives revenue. Without that, all the readership in the world is worthless (see: Boston Phoenix, RIP). Love, like, or hate the dig, it's obvious that they are reaching their target audience at the right cost, and have the trust of the local business community.

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