Whence the Vindicator
When I was in college back in the day (defined as 1968-1972), the Youngstown Vindicator was probably the best newspaper in the state…better than the Plain Dealer, better than the Dispatch. It was so good that when I transferred from YSU to Ohio State in 1970, I had the Vindicator mailed to me on a daily basis. It was a paper of record, fair and balanced, with an impeccable reputation. Unfortunately, the Vindicator has suffered the effects of social media, satellite television and an infinite variety of talk news shows in a 24/7 news cycle the same as other newspapers nationwide. Long gone are the days of “Breaking News” and “Extra Editions”. Its single edition is delivered to my house every morning by contracted delivery people rather than paperboys. The news is primarily local. Obits are the center of the universe. Clubs and organizations are front and center. The paper first reduced the number of columns then the size of the pa...