MoCo360/formerly Bethesda Magazine and Em Espy

[Anonymous]

1) Caitlynn was truly an exceptional reporter and her move to a national publication reflects that. We were lucky as a community that she was so persistent.

2) It took her a while to get situated and understand how things work.

3) Em is smart and thoughtful. They are new to the area and MCPS is a behemoth so there is a learning curve. As they expand their connections and build strong relationships, their coverage will get stronger.

4) BB/360 lost a lot of folks at the same time -- Caitlynn, Dan Schere, and Steve Bohnel all left one after the other -- so their coverage has felt a bit light lately. I think the new folks just need a bit more time.

[Anonymous]

She definitely got a lot better during her time at BM. But for awhile she might as well been on the MCPS payroll. She would take a Jack Smith press release/memo and just hit copy/paste/submit. So much corruption and scandals that could have been dug into more during the Jack Smith era.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She definitely got a lot better during her time at BM. But for awhile she might as well been on the MCPS payroll. She would take a Jack Smith press release/memo and just hit copy/paste/submit. So much corruption and scandals that could have been dug into more during the Jack Smith era.

This is just nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The pay sucks for local journalism. they probably make a third of what staff reporters made just 10 years ago. There is a learning curve and I already see more depth in Espey’s reporting.

Having said that, it’s no longer sufficient to rely on media. You need to go read primary sources yourself.

What are the primary sources?

You can read through the BOE agendas and attached documents here:
http://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/Public

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The pay sucks for local journalism. they probably make a third of what staff reporters made just 10 years ago. There is a learning curve and I already see more depth in Espey’s reporting.

Having said that, it’s no longer sufficient to rely on media. You need to go read primary sources yourself.

What are the primary sources?

You can read through the BOE agendas and attached documents here:
http://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/Public

And? That's it? That's nothing. Not even close. You've already missed so much other crucial information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The pay sucks for local journalism. they probably make a third of what staff reporters made just 10 years ago. There is a learning curve and I already see more depth in Espey’s reporting.

Having said that, it’s no longer sufficient to rely on media. You need to go read primary sources yourself.

What are the primary sources?

You can read through the BOE agendas and attached documents here:
http://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/Public

And? That's it? That's nothing. Not even close. You've already missed so much other crucial information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The pay sucks for local journalism. they probably make a third of what staff reporters made just 10 years ago. There is a learning curve and I already see more depth in Espey’s reporting.

Having said that, it’s no longer sufficient to rely on media. You need to go read primary sources yourself.

What are the primary sources?

You can read through the BOE agendas and attached documents here:
http://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/Public

And? That's it? That's nothing. Not even close. You've already missed so much other crucial information.

Feel free to provide links to additional sources.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She definitely got a lot better during her time at BM. But for awhile she might as well been on the MCPS payroll. She would take a Jack Smith press release/memo and just hit copy/paste/submit. So much corruption and scandals that could have been dug into more during the Jack Smith era.

This is just nonsense.

Thanks MCPS. Good work keeping up the facade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She definitely got a lot better during her time at BM. But for awhile she might as well been on the MCPS payroll. She would take a Jack Smith press release/memo and just hit copy/paste/submit. So much corruption and scandals that could have been dug into more during the Jack Smith era.

This is just nonsense.

Thanks MCPS. Good work keeping up the facade.

[Anonymous]

Personally I wished there would be deeper reporting looking into crucial issues within MCPS. For example:

1) MCPS has had a huge spike in overdoses at schools. Does MCPS have a long term plan on how to keep drugs from being sold and used at MCPS schools?

2) In school staffing shortages including general ed teachers, special ed teachers, counselors, para educators, and school psychologists - how many vacancies were not filled this past school year, the impact on students, and does MCPS have a plan to become fully staff for next school year?

3) Special Education issues - how well have special needs students recovered from pandemic learning loss, how many students were offered and received compensatory services, status on central office search for core leadership?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally I wished there would be deeper reporting looking into crucial issues within MCPS. For example:

1) MCPS has had a huge spike in overdoses at schools. Does MCPS have a long term plan on how to keep drugs from being sold and used at MCPS schools?

2) In school staffing shortages including general ed teachers, special ed teachers, counselors, para educators, and school psychologists - how many vacancies were not filled this past school year, the impact on students, and does MCPS have a plan to become fully staff for next school year?

3) Special Education issues - how well have special needs students recovered from pandemic learning loss, how many students were offered and received compensatory services, status on central office search for core leadership?

You should contact Em or other reporters and ask them to look into these questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I wished there would be deeper reporting looking into crucial issues within MCPS. For example:

1) MCPS has had a huge spike in overdoses at schools. Does MCPS have a long term plan on how to keep drugs from being sold and used at MCPS schools?

2) In school staffing shortages including general ed teachers, special ed teachers, counselors, para educators, and school psychologists - how many vacancies were not filled this past school year, the impact on students, and does MCPS have a plan to become fully staff for next school year?

3) Special Education issues - how well have special needs students recovered from pandemic learning loss, how many students were offered and received compensatory services, status on central office search for core leadership?

You should contact Em or other reporters and ask them to look into these questions.

Some of us have about some of those items, and have heard crickets

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I wished there would be deeper reporting looking into crucial issues within MCPS. For example:

1) MCPS has had a huge spike in overdoses at schools. Does MCPS have a long term plan on how to keep drugs from being sold and used at MCPS schools?

2) In school staffing shortages including general ed teachers, special ed teachers, counselors, para educators, and school psychologists - how many vacancies were not filled this past school year, the impact on students, and does MCPS have a plan to become fully staff for next school year?

3) Special Education issues - how well have special needs students recovered from pandemic learning loss, how many students were offered and received compensatory services, status on central office search for core leadership?

You should contact Em or other reporters and ask them to look into these questions.

Some of us have about some of those items, and have heard crickets

+1 Yes. Crickets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The pay sucks for local journalism. they probably make a third of what staff reporters made just 10 years ago. There is a learning curve and I already see more depth in Espey’s reporting.

Having said that, it’s no longer sufficient to rely on media. You need to go read primary sources yourself.

What are the primary sources?

You can read through the BOE agendas and attached documents here:
http://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/Public

And? That's it? That's nothing. Not even close. You've already missed so much other crucial information.

Feel free to provide links to additional sources.

Including to Em Espey. Don't think they're reading enough primary sources? Suggest some to them. You can even contact them to pitch a story!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I wished there would be deeper reporting looking into crucial issues within MCPS. For example:

1) MCPS has had a huge spike in overdoses at schools. Does MCPS have a long term plan on how to keep drugs from being sold and used at MCPS schools?

2) In school staffing shortages including general ed teachers, special ed teachers, counselors, para educators, and school psychologists - how many vacancies were not filled this past school year, the impact on students, and does MCPS have a plan to become fully staff for next school year?

3) Special Education issues - how well have special needs students recovered from pandemic learning loss, how many students were offered and received compensatory services, status on central office search for core leadership?

You should contact Em or other reporters and ask them to look into these questions.

Some of us have about some of those items, and have heard crickets

Yes, that's how it works. You suggest stories, reporters and their editors decide whether/how to cover them.