Morning Call Biggest Biz in the NIZ

Back in June, I suggested that The Morning Call's location in the middle of NIZland might have some impact on its coverage, especially since I had just heard that developer J.B. Reilly was talking to the newspaper about leasing some of its vacant office space. I'm still waiting to hear from the newspaper's public relations guru on that one. A paper that is supposedly all about transparency in government is strangely reticent to answer questions about its own operations.

Now that the Preliminary Offering Statement for the NIZ bonds has finally been released, there have been two Morning Call articles about it. One points to a real lousy bond rating for the project. The other reports predictions that it will create 7,500 jobs, almost overnight.

Neither article bothers to inform you, however, that the Preliminary Offering Statement lists The Morning Call as the biggest business inside the NIZ, with 207,615 sq. ft. of rentable space. It is also the third highest taxpayer.

More office space than anyone else inside the NIZ, as well as a good tax base. It's pretty clear to me that the paper is considering its options. After all, it's in business to make money.

There's some question whether it's still in business to report news. Its Sunday paper has been coming out on Saturday as a "Sunday Early Edition" over the past three weeks. Blogger Michael Molovinsky has likened its content-free Monday paper to a "grade school Weekly reader."