Root, Root, Root....

Published May 03 2006, 07:24 PM by webteam

Dan Kennedy got there first on his blog, so let me second and third his motion. Today's big, splashy, photo-laden page 1 Globe story hyping (there's no other way to describe it) the Red Sox VIP travel packages is a poster child for the evils of corporate synergy. And the story's disclosure of the New York Times Company's 17 percent interest in the ballclub in the 15th paragraph on the jump page doesn't cut the mustard as a get-out-of-jail-free card.

This is a cheery sales pitch for the Globe corporate sibling's revenue scheme masquerading as a news story -- complete with handy schedules, the phone number included in a graphic, and such come-hither phrasing as "the biggest selling point is perhaps the Sox access to players" and "other VIP touches include a concierge service that helps vacationers find restaurants in the city they're visiting."

There isn't a discouraging word heard throughout the entire piece, not even a mention of the economic/class issue involved in selling packages that can top $1000 -- and that doesn't include air fare! In the immortal words of Phil Rizzuto, Holy Cow! How does this pass muster in the Globe newsroom?

You don't have to be a conspiracy buff to be alarmed about this story and its placement.