'Post' revels in 'prez slap,' sends its own message to Obama
Today's tabloids, Sept. 14, 2011
7:37 am Sep. 14, 20111
Each day, the New York tabloids vie to sell readers at the newsstands on outrageous headlines, dramatic photography, and, occasionally, great reporting. Who is today's winner?
The New York Post: The battle for Anthony Weiner's seat is over, but the battle over the meaning of Republican Bob Turner's upset victory over party-picked Democrat David Weprin is in full swing.
This morning, The New York Post gives 2012-minded Republicans reason to be pleased with their work. The face of a giant, grainy, grinning-till-his-eyes-close Bob Turner is silhouetted at the left side of the page over a black field with giant white letters that read "TAKE THAT!" The person who is supposed to take it? A red strip across the top of the field reads "NY voters' message to Bam." On the lower right is a small picture of the president. "GOPer wins Weiner seat in prez slap" reads a knockout-white dek next to a text-block:
In a stunning rebuke to President Obama, voters in Brooklyn and Queens last night elected Republican Bob Turner (left) to the congressional seat vacated by disgraced Anthony Weiner over Democrat David Weprin.
"GAL'S 9/11 LOVE 'BOMB' HITS AIRLINER" reads a strip across the bottom of the page. It's a story about a woman who called in bomb threats to an airport in Arizona in efforts to delay the flight of some family members whom she did not want flying on the eve of the Sept. 11 anniversary.
Daily News: As strangely compliant as the Post seems this morning with the winning campaign's talking points, I find it almost impossible to imagine that the News would post a headline about Turner's victory that is as bloodless as this. The story gets a corner of the page, with a pretty conventional picture of Turner flanked by the words, "TURNER TAKES WEINER SEAT."
The weight of the page goes to a crimes-of-the-weird story: A big black field with heavy, knockout-white type that reads "FIGHT CLUB" tells the story of the "L.I. mom" who "forced her girl to fight bully, beat third."
And the emotional weight of the page is with the big yellow text on a blue field that reads "600!" It's another baseball number-story, though admittedly this is an important one. Mariano Rivera's 600th save last night puts him in a new league and within reach of an all-time record for closers. Shall we have a countdown?
Observations: Maybe the Post overdoes the analysis on the front, but that was a given, after last night's result, which gave them both the sensational partisan upset and the "prez slap" they were looking for. At least they commit. This wan News front just doesn't register.
Winner: The New York Post.
I agree with johnnie's sentiment about NYDN cover ads, though I have to say, unless it's an emotional or momentous cover, I usually discount it as part of Paying The Bills.
I think the Post was right to go with a 'message' cover -- save the puns for later, this story will keep going. But "overdoes" is an understandment, and my feeling is that while readers might enjoy the political drama, they don't want to be suffocated by it either.
The NYDN did a little jujitsu by mixing it up, going against the assumption that NY09 was the be-all story. I kind of like it. I'd give the day to them.