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Why Newspapers Have Gone to Hell

No, the answer cannot be found in the reductionist explanation by experienced newsman James O'Shea.

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O'Shea, an experienced reporter and editor, misses the story and writes poorly. If only we could send his terrific assignment back to the rewrite desk for fixing.

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This review originally appeared in the June 26 Washington Postand is reprinted with permission. I wonder what sort of newsman Satan would make. Send your speculations to slate.pressbox@gmail. For a taste of heaven, visit my Twitter feed. (Email may be quoted by name in "The Fray," Slate's readers' forum; in a future article; or elsewhere unless the writer stipulates otherwise. Permanent disclosure: Slate is owned by the Washington Post Co.)

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Jack Shafer was Slate's editor at large. You can follow him on Twitter or email him at Shafer.Reuters@gmail.com.

Photograph of James O'Shea by James O'Shea/Chicago Tribune.