NBC Nightly News asks: Press Herald's 'final edition?'
In a case of struggling media reporting on struggling media, Brian Williams closed last night's NBC Nightly News broadcast with a report from Portland, Maine, with people talking about the troubles the Portland Press Herald has been having.
The graphic for the segment was the Press Herald's logo over the words "FINAL EDITION?"
It streams here.
I know they did at least one interview that never aired as part of the segment. Portland state Rep. Herb Adams spoke with the reporter, and even offered them the opportunity to film his own personal copy of the issue the Portland Phoenix put out two years ago this week. The cover story then? This one.
Sadly, NBC didn't use that clip.
When I talked to the reporter last week, I sent her links to some of my stories about the PPH, and she asked if I was willing to appear on camera. Despite my willingness, I never heard from her again - and still haven't.
And NBC didn't mention the Phoenix or any other media in town at all in their piece, leaving the impression that if the Press Herald closed, the whole city would be without any news at all.