Why no review of world-class choir in paper?
Question: How is it possible that a world-class, world-renowned institution such as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir rates not one word of review in your publication after a stunning performance here in our “refined” city?
How can Spokane hope to be taken seriously as a city of arts and refinement and hold a position anywhere near equal in stature with its regional competitors of Seattle, Portland, and Boise? etc., when such an omission here mentioned occurs?
After enjoying an evening of dining at our renowned Davenport and an enlivening treat of incomparable music from the choir in our outstanding facilities of the Spokane Arena, I eagerly searched for a review in our “local” news publication this morning of how the “experts” regarded the performance.
By its absence I was reminded again why I no longer subscribe.
Oh! Yes! I forgot, room must be reserved for the sleaze. – David Weathers, Spokane Valley
Answer: Our staff time for doing arts reviews is limited, so we tend to spend it on things like local theater productions where there are multiple performances.
That is of practical use to readers who want to know how to spend their entertainment dollar and it’s of use to local performers who may actually see the review and may benefit from the comments in it.
On occasion, we get to the big touring shows, but not regularly. One-night stands also present deadline problems.
It’s frequently impossible to get a review into the next day’s paper, so the actual review will run two or even three days after the performance.
That isn’t news and is, in my view, not the best way to use our resources.
On the plus side, we did give the choir appearance a major advance story in last Thursday’s IN Life section, taking up much of the cover page. – Steve Smith, editor
Where’s Leonard Pitts Jr.?
Question: I had been so impressed and delighted that The Spokesman-Review was carrying Leonard Pitts Jr. as a regular columnist. I’ve missed his column for some time now.
Am I missing it, or have you stopped printing his column? The last one I saw was about Jim West.
Pitts is insightful, truthful and more than 99 percent right on the money. His column is one of the features I look forward to each week.
I would hate to have to starting reading him online – that might make me reconsider my subscription. Not a threat, just a consideration I would have to pay attention to. – Jacqueline M. Cook, Grand Coulee
Answer: No change in Leonard Pitts Jr. In fact, a column by him appeared on Wednesday (June 22). Pitts is one of the columnists we run regularly – ordinarily once a week, sometimes twice.
On occasions, such as last week, he’ll get squeezed out because we believe his offering that particular week isn’t as compelling as some others. But fear not, you’ll continue to see Pitts on a steady basis. – Doug Floyd, editorial page editor
How to remove West from office?
Question: I just opened AOL to find West’s picture on the cover page. I moved to Spokane in January and am seriously questioning the move. What can I do as an average, taxpaying resident of Spokane do to get him out of office? – Jean Chandler
Answer: It’s possible Shannon Sullivan will prevail in her quest to bring a recall to the ballot. But that could be months.
In the meantime, the best thing citizens can do, regardless of where they stand on the issue, is to make their feelings known. – Steve Smith, editor