Why was WaMu's failure not front-page news everywhere?
September 29, 2008
Hal Morris, writing on his Grumpy Editor blog, wonders why one of the largest bank failures in America’s history didn’t merit front-page coverage in papers across the state.
Morris writes, “Among key newspapers that didn’t see the demise of WaMu as front page news were the Boston Globe, Denver Post, Baltimore Sun,Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Miami Herald and Las Vegas Review-Journal.
“Among those with a one-line, front-page ‘refer’ to inside pages were Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Daily News, St. Louis Post Dispatch,Cleveland Plain Dealer and USA TODAY.
“Giving it heavy front-page play were Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Seattle Times, close to WaMu’s downtown Seattle headquarters, New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Philadelphia Inquirer.
“Lesser front page coverage came in the Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, San Diego Union-Tribune and Dallas Morning News.
“Also overlooked in most news coverage was that WaMu grew rapidly in recent years through acquisition of giant Los Angeles area S&Ls — American Savings, Great Western Financial and H. F. Ahmanson & Co., parent of Home Savings of America. Home Savings itself at one time was the nation’s largest S&L.”
OLD Media Moves
Why was WaMu's failure not front-page news everywhere?
September 29, 2008
Hal Morris, writing on his Grumpy Editor blog, wonders why one of the largest bank failures in America’s history didn’t merit front-page coverage in papers across the state.
Morris writes, “Among key newspapers that didn’t see the demise of WaMu as front page news were the Boston Globe, Denver Post, Baltimore Sun, Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Miami Herald and Las Vegas Review-Journal.
“Among those with a one-line, front-page ‘refer’ to inside pages were Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Daily News, St. Louis Post Dispatch, Cleveland Plain Dealer and USA TODAY.
“Giving it heavy front-page play were Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Seattle Times, close to WaMu’s downtown Seattle headquarters, New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Philadelphia Inquirer.
“Lesser front page coverage came in the Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, San Diego Union-Tribune and Dallas Morning News.
“Also overlooked in most news coverage was that WaMu grew rapidly in recent years through acquisition of giant Los Angeles area S&Ls — American Savings, Great Western Financial and H. F. Ahmanson & Co., parent of Home Savings of America. Home Savings itself at one time was the nation’s largest S&L.”
Read more here.
Media News
Read-a-thon recognizes one year in jail for WSJ’s Gershkovich
March 28, 2024
Media News
Rosen departs Business Insider for a new opportunity
March 28, 2024
Media News
Why Evan Gershkovich’s case is so important
March 28, 2024
Media News
Taylor joins Bloomberg’s municipal finance team
March 28, 2024
Full-Time
KFF Health News seeks a managing editor
March 28, 2024
Subscribe to TBN
Receive updates about new stories in the industry daily or weekly.