Detroit papers provide extensive strike coverage

Joe Strupp of Editor & Publisher writes Tuesday about how the Detroit News and the Detroit Free-Press covered the UAW strike against General Motors.

Strupp wrote, “On the news-gathering front, the News has about eight reporters, including its six-person auto team, on the story, according to Deputy Business Editor Susan Carney. She said at least four photographers are on the job. At the Free Press, three columnists and six business reporters are working the story, says Automotive Editor Jamie Butters. He said several others from metro are pitching in.

“Each paper played the strike story big on Page One, with the Free Press devoting its entire front page to the story, using the headline: ‘STRIKE HOW LONG CAN IT LAST?’ The News quoted a union member for its headline, ‘Off a cliff’ and used nearly all of its front page for strike reporting, with the bottom spot for an update on the continued state budget impasse.

“Web site traffic has been boosted, with the News reporting 1.6 million page views on Monday, the first day of the strike, up from the usual 1.2 million for a Monday. The Free Press reported a smaller increase, from an average of 1.2 million to 1.3 million, according to Joe Grimm, recruiting and development editor.

“Each paper is also posting more video than usual, editors say, including some video interviews of their own staff. ‘This is the first auto strike of the Internet age,’ declares Butters. ‘The way to cover it is breaking it on the Web.'”

Read more here.