Which Examiner is which? Newspaper flack can't explain

A PR rep for the San Francisco Examiner's website pitched San Francisco Chronicle Web editor Eve Batey on a story — and then tried to deny that Examiner.com had any connection with the Examiner. If you don't read newspapers, here's some useful background:San Francisco used to be a two-newspaper town. Now we're a one-and-a-half newspaper town, if you're being generous. I'm just not sure if the "one-half" is the San Francisco Chronicle or the freely distributed San Francisco Examiner. The Examiner is the paper I see most people at the gym reading, if only because its tabloid format stays on a treadmill better. Anyway, the Examiner flack finally conceded to Batey that the website and newspaper were owned by the same company, telecom billionaire Philip Anschutz's Clarity Media Group . What she might have brought up: The newspaper has its own website, sfexaminer.com. (She mentioned it, in passing, but got the URL wrong.) No, that doesn't help any of this makes sense. The email exchange:

From: Margo Donohue
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 11:04 AM
To: Batey, Eve
Subject: Invitation for Discussion of 2008 Election

Hello Eve,

I was given your name through a mutual friend, Laura Compton. My name is Margo Donohue.

One of my pr clients is Examiner.com, a start-up localized website that is rolling into 60 local markets in the next 15 months. Examiner.com is an evolving online network that provides comprehensive localized content on a variety of subjects, both regionally and nationally. Local individuals ("Examiners") offer a wide range of utility information to their communities from an insider's perspective on subjects ranging from Arts & Entertainment to Travel to Politics to Sports to Food to Music — you name it, Examiner.com covers it.

The site is launching in 5 cities to start, and we are putting together a launch event in San Francisco on November 3. It will be held at an art gallery and will offer a panel discussion (featuring 3 top national political Examiners — left, right and center, moderated by local media talent) followed by a cocktail reception. The event will introduce Examiner.com/sanfrancisco to the community and it will also provide opportunity for those who want to become Examiners to meet the CEO, some current Examiners and find out more about the company.

I am including the link to the details for the party below. Feel free to pass this along to anyone you feel would like to come as well. This will be a large event and a major social and business networking opportunity.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

http://www.ttdusa.com/examinerdotcom/

Best,

Margo Donohue

From: Batey, Eve
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 2:18 PM
To: Margo Donohue
Subject: RE: Invitation for Discussion of 2008 Election

Hi, Margo-

How does this "start-up" relate to the San Francisco Examiner, the local newspaper?

Best,

—Eve

From: Margo Donohue
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 12:10 PM
To: Batey, Eve
Subject: RE: Invitation for Discussion of 2008 Election

Hello Eve,

We are two entirely separate entities.

Margo

From: Batey, Eve
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 3:54 PM
To: Margo Donohue
Subject: RE: Invitation for Discussion of 2008 Election

Thanks, Margo-

Just to clarify what you say when you say they they are "two entirely separate entities", Examiner.com has absolutely no relationship to, business or otherwise, with the San Francisco Examiner, is that correct?

As you can imagine, in this market there's a lot of potential for confusion (the SF Examiner is a very strong brand here), so any help you can provide me would be great.

Thanks for clarifying.

Best,

—Eve

From: Margo Donohue
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 1:20 PM
To: Batey, Eve
Subject: RE: Invitation for Discussion of 2008 Election

Hi Eve,

They are owned by the same parent company, but otherwise not affiliated. Examiner.com and Examiner.com/SF is an independent entity with completely original and independent content.

Let me know if I can send you any more information.

Cheers,

Margo

Contact information for this author is not available.

publish on Facebook

Upload an image | Add an image URL ×

Image URL: ×

Youtube URL: ×

Choose a file to upload:

×

Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×

Loading comments ...

Earlier discussions | Other discussions | Show all discussions | Show featured discussions only | Expand all threads Collapse all threads
Start a new discussion