I got all in a tizz yesterday when I read this piece of tripe by Slate's Jack Shafer claiming that the renewed focus on local by newspapers who had New York Times delivery in their market caused those papers to be "dumbed-down." Driving home I mentally wrote a brilliant retort, but thought better of it, knowing that better minds with more time on their hands would do the dirty work for me.

Jeff Jarvis and John Robinson took care of it. Thank you, gents.

The only thing I'll add is that the "appeal to the widest market" local news, like truck chases and claiming that songs that aren't even played in a nightclub cause riots might mean a dumbing-down. But otherwise, Shafer (pictured below) needs to get his head out of his NY sewer.