Slog - Comments on Mayor Nickels Gets His Mak On

Comment by Catalina Vel-DuRay

Catalina Vel-DuRay — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:26:11 -0800

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...

Comment by Non

Non — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:31:46 -0800

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.

Comment by Hernandez

Hernandez — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:34:27 -0800

Poor, poor Robert Mak.

Comment by NapoleonXIV

NapoleonXIV — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:35:55 -0800

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?

Comment by Lloyd Clydesdale

Lloyd Clydesdale — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:39:21 -0800

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

Comment by ouch

ouch — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:42:52 -0800

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

Comment by tabletop_joe

tabletop_joe — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:43:47 -0800

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

Comment by unwelcomed

unwelcomed — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:45:46 -0800

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

Comment by PRFlack

PRFlack — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:49:27 -0800

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

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:53:19 -0800

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

Comment by elswinger

elswinger — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:55:39 -0800

What's with all the Mak hating?

Comment by Mary

Mary — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:57:59 -0800

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

Comment by GetMeSome

GetMeSome — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:05:23 -0800

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

Because they remind you of talk radio?

Comment by GetMeSome

GetMeSome — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:07:54 -0800

...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)

Comment by I'm a Nuclear Bomb

I'm a Nuclear Bomb — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:08:01 -0800

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.

Comment by Catalina Vel-DuRay

Catalina Vel-DuRay — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:09:22 -0800

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.

Comment by LH

LH — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:22:30 -0800

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

Comment by Ben Schiendelman

Ben Schiendelman — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:22:58 -0800

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

Comment by Eric F

Eric F — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:01:27 -0800

Who's Robert Mak?

Comment by seriously?

seriously? — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:07:29 -0800

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.

Comment by Editor's Note

Editor's Note — Tue, 27 May 2008 19:30:43 -0800

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...

Comment by BB

BB — Tue, 27 May 2008 19:44:05 -0800

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.

Comment by TheCHZA

TheCHZA — Tue, 27 May 2008 19:49:32 -0800

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.

Comment by Trey

Trey — Tue, 27 May 2008 21:14:37 -0800

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.

Comment by tiptoe tommy

tiptoe tommy — Wed, 28 May 2008 00:23:31 -0800

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.

Comment by K X One

K X One — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:31:50 -0800

Mmmm Dana Parino....

Comment by Mr. Poe

Mr. Poe — Wed, 28 May 2008 08:16:42 -0800

Down syndrome.

Comment by Cato the Younger Younger

Cato the Younger Younger — Wed, 28 May 2008 08:30:55 -0800

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!!!!!

Comment by Robert_Mudede_Is_A_Latent_Racist

Robert_Mudede_Is_A_Latent_Racist — Wed, 28 May 2008 09:32:58 -0800

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.

Comment by Charles_Mudede_Is_A_Latent_Racist

Charles_Mudede_Is_A_Latent_Racist — Wed, 28 May 2008 09:38:06 -0800

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.

Comment by J.R.

J.R. — Wed, 28 May 2008 09:39:18 -0800

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

Comment by Mike of Renton

Mike of Renton — Wed, 28 May 2008 10:31:24 -0800

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