No Deal

It was the top headline on today's Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and New York Times. But no one said it better than the Detroit Free Press: "No Deal."

The U.S. Senate failed to reach a deal to bail out the Big Three automakers. "Without a Deal, Carmakers Face Bankruptcy Treat," The Washington Post said. A Free Press editorial called it a "Dreadful outcome for Detroit."

The Washington Post pictured players in the Senate, including two Republicans who played an active role in the revolt against the bailout plan approved by the U.S. House and supported by the Bush administration. In a front-page column, Daniel Howes of the Detroit Free Press wrote that the United Auto Workers have ignored Southern Republicans and "foreign-owned auto plants proliferating down South:" "Senators to UAW: It's payback time." The Los Angeles Times tallied up political donations by the Big Three and said, "Since 1990, the auto industry has cut $100 million in checks to the GOP, compared with $34 million to Democrats. But the Big Three is snubbed on bailout."

Bailout Proponents and Opponents

The U.S. House passed a $14 billion bailout for the Big 3 automakers, and today's front pages report conflicting points of view on the bailout.

From Detroit: The Free Press, which has strongly editorialized in favor of help to the automakers, printed "House OKs Aid" at the top of its page. It again used red ink to illustrate looming problems: "But why are these senators unhappy?" An answer, "GOP opponents want more UAW sacrifices."

From Alabama: Most representatives from the state voted against the bailout. The Montgomery Advertiser pictured U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby of Tuscaloosa, the leading critic of bailing out Ford, GM and Chrysler. The Press-Register of Mobile said, "Shelby waiting to block bailout" as it heads to the U.S. Senate. Huntsville is home to a Toyota assembly plant, and The Huntsville Times quoted a Detroit automotive expert as saying Shelby doesn't understand the consequences for Alabama if a bailout fails: "Bankruptcy would hit state suppliers hard."

Big 3 Drives Front-Page Coverage

The Big 3 automakers return to top headlines in Detroit as they head to Capitol Hill this week to plead for a $25-billion rescue.

"Bold pitch takes shape," said the Free Press banner headline. It used red ink to highlight words in subheads: "UAW to mull concessions/GM to cut executive pay/Ford to show future cars."

Yesterday, The News reported on automakers' strategy. Today, it leads with "UAW mulls reopening contracts to aid Big 3."

Both newspapers printed columns -- the Free Press' on the front page ("Only a vision of overhauling the industry will do" by Tom Walsh) and The News' Daniel Howes' "Shared denial takes Big 3 to the brink" inside.

The News also offers a map illustrating other countries that are considering bailouts for their automakers, and the Free Press' coverage include a sports perspective: "NASCAR's (team boss) Rick Hendrick: Don't punish Big 3, assist them."

Both newspapers also balanced this morning's front pages with news of the guilty plea to perjury by a former aide to the the ex-mayor.

Future for Front Page? It's All in a Little Magic

Circulation is declining, and free content on the Internet is booming. But yet, few things can be as personal as a newspaper front page.

Sometimes the front page is predictable. Often it’s overly gloomy. And in too many cases, it’s inconsistent.

But every day it has an opportunity to touch people by:

Sharing what people are talking about: “They never thought they’d see the day,” the Detroit Free Press said today about African-Americans’ feelings about Barack Obama’s run for the White House.

Seeing the big picture: With its state in an economic crisis and its governor in a scandal, the Las Vegas Sun examined the state of the state: “Nevada Turns 144, But What’s To Celebrate?” But not forgetting important details: The San Francisco Chronicle pursued police documents that showed “Missed opportunities hours before slaying” of the editor of the Oakland Post.

Looking beyond the headlines: In a different kind of election story, The Denver Post reported on “A risky conversation.” Said the Post: “Politics naturally divides people, but this election cycle has highlighted the divide. Now, simply talking about the presidential candidates seems like a wedge issue.”

Providing news that readers can’t get anywhere else: The News Journal of Wilmington, Del., noted that late Wednesday night its city matched the record for the number of homicides in a year. And owning what they know: “Shuttle set for Nov. 14 liftoff,” said Florida Today in Melbourne, which swamps the space beat.

Writing good headlines: “We Shopped Till We Dropped,” the Star Tribune of Minneapolis said in summarizing GDP data. “Plumb Job,” said the New York Post with a photo of Joe the Plumber on the campaign trail. And in writing a label headline that actually works, the Houston Chronicle described the path of a high school football team: “From Cream Puff to Cinderella.”

Presenting good stories and images: In an eye-catching “To Catch a Cyber-Thief” presentation, the Kitsap Sun in Bremerton, Wash., said: “A Bainbridge Island couple recovered a stolen $2,700 bicycle through sting tactics – online and with police.”

Taking a different look: Halloween stories are everywhere today, but The Post-Crescent of Appleton, Wis., breathed new life into a stale story with Rob Kaiser’s “Houdini works his magic” column about “Legendary artist offers lesson on escaping troubles.” Harry Houdini, who lived in Appleton, died on Halloween 1926.

What will the future hold for the front page? Will it escape its troubles? To editors, I’d say: Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow, but don’t stop thinking about print.

Make me laugh. Make me cry. Move me to share my opinion. Move me to take action. Make me want to pick up tomorrow’s front page.

When a Mayor Goes to Jail

The Detroit Free Press continued its excellent coverage of the city's former mayor today with news that Kwame Kilpatrick is off to jail after pleading guilty to two felonies. Earlier, the Free Press doggedly pursued access to Kilpatrick's text messages. Is a Pulitzer in the newspaper's future? How committed is your newspaper to public access?

Detroit's Mayoral Scandal

The mayoral scandal has been front-page news in Detroit. The Free Press and The News devoted special coverage today to two guilty pleas by the mayor.

Sports mania in Detroit

Detroit newspapers faced a double challenge when the Red Wings played Pittsburgh in the Stanley Cup finals and the Pistons met the Celtics in the eastern conference playoffs. Both teams lost, prompting both the Free Press and The News to use "The Pitts" in a main headline. About 2:30 a.m., the Free Press said on its Web site: "Still in control" after the Red Wings' loss in Game 3. There was no coverage of the Pistons. This morning's Freep used the entire front page in a Stanley Cup Finals Edition. It featured a column and the same sentiment as its Web site: "Wings aren't about to panic now." The Newseum's film "Press Box: History of Sports Reporting" reminds us that sports is news. And Detroit newspapers often prove it.