The Primary - and the ProJo's Coverage

Primary Day is here and it's as good a time as any to take a look at the ProJo's coverage of what many have called Rhode Island's best political year in a generation.

The paper has had a few good scoops - witness columnist Ed Fitzpatrick's recent piece on Democratic gubernatorial candidate Frank Caprio meeting with the Republican National Committee in February amid speculation that he might run as a Republican.

But sources inside the paper say there has been something of a catch-as-catch-can approach to the election season, with reporters dropped into a race to cover this or that announcement or to write a profile on a candidate. One campaign aide told N4N a few months back that he was not even sure who he would call at the paper to pitch a story.

The ProJo has still managed to produce some solid work. Reporters Kathy Gregg and Tom Mooney both wrote strong pieces about Congressional candidate David Segal, for instance. But a scattered approach can only put limits on the depth of coverage.