EYE ON THE MEDIA: Dollar Tree Daily
Astounding Essays, like you, is concerned with all of the depressing developments in the news media. Every day we open the newspaper to find that another one has folded. Through a grant from the Arthur K. Grimlore foundation we've been able to dispatch a series of news spies to newspapers all over the country, so we could get you the scoop on the scoopers who give you the scoop.
CONTINUED BUYOUTS FURTHER TARNISH THE DOLLAR TREE DAILY
The Dollar Tree Daily once one of the most formidable American newspapers found itself once again forced to push a series of buyouts, handing some of their most experienced (and expensive) journalists the pink slip.
Their parent company Dollar Tree was started in 1789 as a luxury shoppe full of some of the most exotic wares from the Orient. People would flock to their marquee store in New York City and ooh and ahh over their bags of fine spices and baggies full of silk. These foreign riches spelt out high profits for the fledgling company and the founder and CEO J. Prunswicke Tree made a proclaimation.
"As long as this company exists, everything will remain a dollar."
As time passed the economic winds weren't kind to the dollar, but the store held true to their roots. As the value of the dollar dropped further and further, so did the quality of the merchandise. Gone were the days of the marble floors, the location on Fifth Avenue, and the endorsements from foreign dignitaries.
There to chronicle the slide into bargain shop was the company run, but still independent, Dollar Tree Daily. Winning the Pulitzer in 1942, 1969, and 1985, the Daily was a newspaper which was no enemy of risks. In '42, they won due to their exceptional reportage from their European bureau, following our GIs as they went to Pound Tree, and even liberated Marks Tree. In '69, they flew out to Vietnam, showcasing the Dollar Trees that were opening up in South Vietnam as a sign of fine western democracy. In '84 they were one of the first newspapers to endorse Ronald Reagan's reelection, most likely ensuring his win.
With the threats from internet dollar stores and internet dollar store newspapers, the circulation of the Dollar Tree Daily newspaper has dropped dramatically, and in 2007 the company offered buyouts to a third of their journalists. We received word not too long ago that another third of their journalists have been shown the door.
You didn't have to hear that from us to deduce that though. As you can see from their most recent front page, their journalism has taken a very amateur turn. Note how as a consequence of their slash and burn policy towards their employees, they aren't even able to fill most of their front page. Instead, its a massive bold headline reporting something that we all already knew. Sure, you could say that of most newspapers these days, but it is so sad to see what was once a proud example of fine newspape-ry in this democratic republic have such a tragic fall.
Roger Tolkien of the Columbia school of Journalism reminded me of a quote from J. Prunswicke Tree, "I founded this store not to just make a profit. I opened its doors not to sell my wares. I fixed the price not to entice or draw anyone in or away. I made Dollar Tree to show the resiliency of the human spirit. There is no stronger force for good in the world, and so long as Dollar Tree Daily lights the way we shall always be protected by her bright truth." The truth has begun to wane.