Lazy Journalism, Government salaries

What's the deal with the competing paper in town? Have they gone all soft? Can't they sniff out a story anymore? Seems like some of the reporters are too glued to their electronic screens to bother actually doing some investigation. Take today's reader quiz - asking folks to guess how many public servants made more than 100 grand last year - as if that number is any secret - and then teasing with tomorrow's supposed big story about who's making the big bucks in state government.

Hello! There's a data base for that, courtesy of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and it's aptly named information service, PennWATCH. A reporter doesn't even have to leave his or her desk to find out what so-and-so's supposed mistress over at the Office of General Counsel makes. Oh, wait. A real reporter has to actually find out who that mistress is - the old fashioned way - before typing her name in the database. Maybe hang out down at Shady's and talk to a few folks at the bar for that kind of info. Just sayin....