America On-line Has Beef:
Where's The News?

by Phil Fairbanks
Vice President

Is The Buffalo News behind the times?

At a time when many large, metropolitan papers are jumping into on-line publishing, The News is relying on a web site that contains no editorial copy.

The Guild, which raised the issue during negotiations last year, recently came across this very telling critique of the News' website. It comes courtesy of America On Line.

"The print version may indeed be called the "News," said AOL in its review of Buffalo websites, "but they ought to call the website the Buffalo Classifieds, Personals, Real Estate Listings and Review-Less Restaurant Roundup.

"Or maybe they can come up with something better. The point here is those looking for news had better look elsewhere."

In contrast, AOL points out that Business First, Artvoice, Buffalo Alternative Press and the Bee Newspapers all have websites that include editorial copy.

For the record, News management has made it clear it has no intention of operating a website with local news until The News can make money off the endeavor.