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Bostonist understands that actual, real-life news outlets like newspapers necessarily move more slowly than lithe, web-based outfits like our own, especially since we're so light on reporting and heavy on snark analysis. But could whoever is in charge of the Herald's website make even a little bit of an effort to pull the outdated Entwistle stories as more facts become available?
Of the 22 news pieces in the Local/Regional section of the Herald's site, 16 are devoted to some aspect of the case. Fine - it's a big story. But the articles leave a little confusion: "Police: Bad sex life behind murders." Or, maybe not: "Cash woes seen as sparking slayings" (and if you don't know what they mean by "cash woes," maybe this will help: "Family was swimming in debt"). And how soon will Entwistle return to Middlesex County to face charges? "Extradition process could take years" . . . unless, of course, "Enwistle consents to return to U.S.," a development that would make local "Prosecutors await Entwistle's arrival."
And in case that's not enough, the Herald has numerous other stories, including a handy reminder that we don't have the death penalty here in Massachusetts, so, you know, Entwistle won't face the death penalty. Also, if you plan to see Woody Allen's newest movie, Match Point, the Herald will be happy to ruin the ending for you.
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The reason the Herald is all over it is because it sprang from a town they cover so much more than the Globe does. What choice do they have, really? The Globe's got the resources, the "superior writers" (my bias is showing), and the international exposure. What does the Herald have for this one? Proximity. The MetroWest Daily News is less than 20 minutes away from the murder site. They can send people there left and right and get them back to cover other beats. And many of the bylines in the Herald's coverage have been stories written by Daily News authors that have been co-opted by the Herald. Case in point, check out how many Norman Miller has written. I worked at the Daily News a couple years back - Norm's based in Framingham. Joe Dwinell was based there too, when I was there (although his blog now indicates he's moved on to bigger and better tabloid-style papers).
The Globe has a Framingham office as well, it's where Globe West stories originate, but it's a fraction the size of the local staff the Herald has in the Daily News.
Hey, don't get me wrong, I'm all for more coverage, and the Herald frequently outdoes the Globe in local reporting - in quantity if not literary quality. But it can't be that hard to pull outdated stories as newer ones go up on the site, can it?
I think CNN beat the Herald to the punch when it comes to movie spoilers -- they ruined the ending to Match Point two nights ago on Anderson Cooper 360.