Department of Journalistically Redundant News Department

I'm usually thankful we have two daily newspapers here in Seattle, but every so often I wonder why we do. Such was the case when I checked the two home pages last night, Feb. 20, after the lunar eclipse – finding the accompanying nearly-identical photographs. Maybe it really is time to junk the Newspaper Preservation Act of 1970.
Crosscut archive image.

Nearly identical eclipse photos in <i>The Seattle Times</i> (top) and the <i>Seattle Post-Intelligencer</i>.

I'm usually thankful we have two daily newspapers here in Seattle, but every so often I wonder why we do. Such was the case when I checked the two home pages last night, Feb. 20, after the lunar eclipse – finding the accompanying nearly-identical photographs. Maybe it really is time to junk the Newspaper Preservation Act of 1970.

I'm usually thankful we have two daily newspapers here in Seattle, but every so often I wonder why we do. Such was the case when I checked the two home pages last night, Feb. 20, after the lunar eclipse – finding the accompanying nearly-identical photographs. Maybe it really is time to junk the Newspaper Preservation Act of 1970. The odd thing about it is that someone on the photo desk at The Seattle Times or the Seattle Post-Intelligencer said to himself or herself, "Hey, I know, let's run the exact same shot the other paper just posted. We'll crop it differently and adjust/not adjust the color." Hey, gang, I know, next time there's an atmospheric event, just flip a coin and send one photographer. Update (2008/02/21 at 08:23): The Times picture is no longer featured on the Web site's home page, nor can I find it on any section pages this morning. You can still see it here. IMHO, the P-I version was nicer anyhow.

  

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