• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • NEWS+OPINIONS
    • NEWS TO US
    • COLUMNS
      • APPARENT HORIZON
      • DEAR READER
      • Close
    • LONGFORM FEATURES
    • OPINIONS
    • EDITORIAL
    • Close
  • ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
    • FILM
    • MUSIC
    • COMEDY
    • PERFORMING ARTS
    • VISUAL ARTS
    • Close
  • DINING+DRINKING
    • EATS
    • SIPS
    • BOSTON BETTER BEER BUREAU
    • Close
  • LIFESTYLE
    • CANNABIS
      • TALKING JOINTS MEMO
      • Close
    • WELLNESS
    • GTFO
    • Close
  • STUFF TO DO
  • TICKETS
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT
    • MASTHEAD
    • ADVERTISE
    • Close

Dig Bos

The Dig - Greater Boston's Alternative News Source

Media Farm: MBTA Orange Line #Traindemic Shutdown Edition

Written by CHRIS FARAONE Posted August 17, 2022 Filed Under: Media Farm, News, News to Us, NEWS+OPINIONS, The T

Photo of Gov. Baker surveying progress on Orange Line repairs in 2019 via Joshua Qualls/Governor’s Press Office

TV reporters look for silver lining in Orange Line misadventure


As Dig readers know well, we’re not big fans of many other media makers around here. It’s the role we play, the less-than-friendly foil, and it means that we can say things others in the industry will only whisper. Like that there’s nothing sillier than local Emmy awards since those acting in the role of newscaster on television commit daily crimes against the communities that they purport to serve. Like with their coverage of the MBTA crisis and looming Orange Line shutdown, for example. 

It’s pretty clear that most of the hairdos on TV news don’t frequently ride trains and buses. They’re out here questioning the riders like they’re concertgoers facing an unfortunately long line at the merch table, as opposed to addressing the situation as what it truly is—a disaster that could have been avoided but that is instead now going to cost thousands of the region’s most vulnerable residents an incalculable amount of money as well as time that could have been spent with family and friends.

If I sound a tad too sentimental, then maybe you should try out for a gig reading insipid propaganda off a teleprompter.

Aside from tube hacks sticking microphones in the mugs of people whose opinions only make the five o’clock news cut if they can riff on the current public transit tragedy and deliver a denouement in seven or fewer seconds, the rest of the local press corps is performing pretty well considering industry-wide cutbacks and largely shit conditions. There’s still not nearly enough critical coverage for a mess of this magnitude, but the basics are being addressed.

From day-to-day updates via Universal Hub to T info dumps from the likes of Axios and Boston Magazine, those who can’t afford to get behind the Globe or Herald paywalls (a group that no doubt includes many post-pandemic commuters) have reasonable access to info that will help people navigate shuttles and detours from Aug. 19 to Sept. 19 (or whenever the shutdown actually ends).

There’s also solid reporting and commentary via Commonwealth and others on the politics surrounding the whole crisis; among other somewhat superficial but nevertheless worthwhile items, current attorney general and Democratic candidate for governor Maura Healey “released a transportation plan on Tuesday that would overhaul top management at the MBTA, set aggressive electrification goals, and establish low-income fares ‘with a pathway to fare free buses.” And it’s encouraging to see that political coverage extends beyond campaign chatter and the border of Boston; I especially recommend this GBH piece, “Local mayors and town managers still lack ‘clear answers’ from the MBTA ahead of Orange Line shutdown,” based on a Radio Boston interview with Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn.

But what’s most interesting, and what everybody should be watching for over the next month, is the story of the day. In the leadup to the shutdown, trends have been solution-driven, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In the past two days, there have been loads of pieces on the accessibility of bikes and other alternative modes of transportation.

Alternatively, there’s been a lot of doom reporting, especially as video emerged of the runaway Red Line train from last month. Road and highway traffic also seems to be of particular concern to the TV yakkers; as WCVB put it, “MBTA Orange Line shutdown to create widespread travel impacts.”

No doubt about it, but it’s funny how you don’t see anybody cherry-picking drivers for a quick bite that makes it sound like everything is gonna be okay like they do when the subjects are suffering straphangers.

P.S. We’re on the case too, not only with tangential reports, snarky takes, and historical MBTA throwback articles, but also with more investigative reporting including a follow-up to our recent feature on how the T was spending millions on marketing its stellar trains and buses right up through the fires and announcement of the coming closure.


 

CHRIS FARAONE
+ posts

A Queens, NY native who came to New England in 2004 to earn his MA in journalism at Boston University, Chris Faraone is the editor and co-publisher of DigBoston and a co-founder of the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism. He has published several books including 99 Nights with the 99 Percent, and has written liner notes for hip-hop gods including Cypress Hill, Pete Rock, Nas, and various members of the Wu-Tang Clan.

  • CHRIS FARAONE
    https://digboston.com/author/chris-faraone/
    Justice Department Completes Vetting Of Rachael Rollins
  • CHRIS FARAONE
    https://digboston.com/author/chris-faraone/
    AG Investigating BPD To Determine If “Gang Unit” Engages In “Unconstitutional Policing”
  • CHRIS FARAONE
    https://digboston.com/author/chris-faraone/
    Little, Yellow, Different, Delicious: Håvn Sativa Lemon Gummies
  • CHRIS FARAONE
    https://digboston.com/author/chris-faraone/
    Meet The Cartoonist Who Lampooned Mass Cannabis Regulators

Filed Under: Media Farm, News, News to Us, NEWS+OPINIONS, The T Tagged With: Baker, MBTA, Media Farm, news, news to us

WHAT’S NEW

Massachusetts Bill, Victim Advocates Call For Coordinated Date-Rape Drug Response

Massachusetts Bill, Victim Advocates Call For Coordinated Date-Rape Drug Response

Report: Fewer Youth Transition Out Of Massachusetts Foster Care System

Report: Fewer Youth Transition Out Of Massachusetts Foster Care System

State Wire: Activists Urge Congress To Raise Debt Ceiling, Resist Spending Cuts

State Wire: Activists Urge Congress To Raise Debt Ceiling, Resist Spending Cuts

Dancing On Banana Peels: Life On Lifetime Parole In Massachusetts

Dancing On Banana Peels: Life On Lifetime Parole In Massachusetts

Justice Department Completes Vetting Of Rachael Rollins

Justice Department Completes Vetting Of Rachael Rollins

AG Investigating BPD To Determine If “Gang Unit” Engages In “Unconstitutional Policing”

AG Investigating BPD To Determine If “Gang Unit” Engages In “Unconstitutional Policing”

Primary Sidebar

LOCAL EVENTS

AAN Wire


Most Popular

  • AG Investigating BPD To Determine If “Gang Unit” Engages In “Unconstitutional Policing”
  • Over Yondr: Are Cell Phone Pouches At Shows Liberating, Dangerous, Or Annoying?
  • Deep Cuts Brings Sandwiches, Craft Beer, And Live Music To Medford
  • Daring Greatly: TikTok Star Alden McWayne (aka Gucci Pineapple) On Scheming And Dreaming
  • Dead As Ever: Meet The Rising Dark Star Of Boston’s Jam Band Scene

Footer

Social Buttons

DigBoston facebook DigBoston Twitter DigBoston Instagram

Masthead

About

Advertise

Customer Service

About Us

DigBoston is a one-stop nexus for everything worth doing or knowing in the Boston area. It's an alt-weekly, it's a website, it's an email blast, it's a twitter account, it's that cool party that you were at last night ... hey, you're reading it, so it's gotta be good. For advertising inquiries: sales@digboston.com To reach editorial (and for inquiries about internship opportunities): editorial@digboston.com