Wait a minute. Did someone just hit me with an ironing board? I thought you said Robert Mack was a good journalist. Isn't that crazy? Gotta lay off the absinthe...

No source, no info, no press release, no links, no facts, nothing.

In a way, it was the perfect post to sum up everything that journalism ISN'T while being about a stand-up man who embodies everything that journalism does represent.

Poor, poor Robert Mak.

So what's happened to Marty McComber, then?

And is it really possible to get one's soul back, once the Mayor's sucked it out of you?

I like Mak. I'd be curious to know what he hopes to get out of this weird new challenge.

Mak's a tool. How much do they pay at the city to lie for the fat one?

Robert Mak's segments always leave me a little angry. I'm not sure why.

@2

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004441600_webmak27m.html

Communications may be where good journalists go to die, but it is also where they go to get paid.

I hear they pay Dana Perino good money to lie for King George too.

What's with all the Mak hating?

When did the Stranger become an expert source on good journalism? Is it April Fools day?

"Robert Mak's segments always leave me a little angry. I'm not sure why. "

Because they remind you of talk radio?

...or because Mak pays attention to every crank out there (Nickels has a lot of whack-jobs and cranks stalking him...maybe Mak is the new lightening rod for the Mayor's office)

Jonah my friend, I don't think the Stranger should be judging what is and isn't good journalism considering all the no-talent hacks currently on its payroll.

Really, I've never understood Mak's appeal. He seems to be pretty much a standard issue "investigative/consumer affairs reporter" who doesn't really investigate anything, and who could care less about consumers - taking swipes at big fat scary swipable entities, but not really uncovering anything, and nothing coming of the "reporting" Pure fluff.

Mak got three national Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Broadcast TV Political Journalism. and ten regional Emmy awards for investigative reporting and news programs.

I don't think it's Jonah or the Stranger "judging what is and isn't good journalism." Yeesh haters everywhere hating. I, for one, will miss Mak's healthly skepticism of what comes out of city hall.

http://www.seattle.gov/news/detail.asp?ID=8488&dept=40

That's great. Now Mak will be in a position to bash mass transit for profit instead of just for fun.

Who's Robert Mak?

umm, what about all this hate for communication pros? where do you think the "good" journalists get their facts from? independent research? *snort giggle* yeah, right.

So what happened to Josh? He would have been the surprise choice for this job.

Still not explanation from the Stranger on why he left.

Tick, tick, tick...

Mak is the only TV reporter in Seattle who has a clue what’s going on.

This is the death of serious TV journalism in this town. I doubt it’s accidental.

I always liked to watch Robert Mak when I lived in Seattle. Sure, some pieces weren't great, but we have to remember he does work for a local news station. He doesn't call the shots on his own stories 100%. He's great for what he has to work with.

I'm sorry, but is anyone else a bit shocked to find that aides to the mayor can earn $160,000/year? Granted, I work in the software industry and earn a bit more than that in salary and bonus combined, but this just seems like an unseemly figure for a municipal public servant. Public service is supposed to be a bit of a sacrifice on that front.

Robert Mak has been one of the best TV journalists in town. Although I didn't always agree with his take on issues, he was far more incisive and open-minded than most of the Seattle media. I will miss him in that job.

Trey--are you really saying that society should value your work as a software worker more than a municipal public servant?

One of the truest aphorisms is "you get what you pay for" In the real world people who serve as municipal "servants" have rent payments and mortgages, families and children, medical costs, food, gas...you get the picture. If you want your municipal employees to sacrifice you will attract a bunch of 22 year olds to run your city.

The mayor was smart to hire Mak. He is a trusted voice to many people. I think a good communications person can improve the flow of communications both ways. Hopefully the mayor will develop more of an open way of governing as a result. I hope he does well.

Mmmm Dana Parino....

Down syndrome.

I am surprised that along with Robert Mack to kiss the mayor's ass that they do not get CR Douglas to kiss the ass of the mayor...Wait CR already does that on the Seattle channel with his "interviewing" of the mayor on tough issues.

I am still waiting for the magical master bike plan to be fully up and operational so we can safely commute to work on our bikes each and every day.... HA HA HA HA!!!!!

Crazy person, huh? Everyone at the stranger loves war and the government snooping in on them. Everyone loves the fact that our own infrastructure is collapsing. Everyone loves paying too much tax, the drug war, and no transparency in government. The Paul haters still make me ill. At least he has ideas. You may make fun of them, but at least they are ideas that are based in reality. Speaking of slandering candidates, Obama is a muslim and Hillary is a lesbian.

Oops, that's what it should be.

ps, you "liberals" should be thankful that Paul is still in the race to make McCain look bad at the convention. He is only helping Obama win.

@24: The software industry contributes nothing to our society. Now television, on the other hand...

I wonder if Josh has applied to replace Mak at King 5 yet.