Richmond Paper Makes Sniper News

By: Chris Nammour Updated at 1 p.m. EST, Oct. 22

The recent shootings in the D.C. area have pitted local papers against national media like The Washington Post, Associated Press, and huge network and cable news operations. In this struggle for news breaks, one local paper, the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia, scored high on Monday.

Several Times-Dispatch reports -- involving details about the latest note from the killer and tarot cards found at other shooting sites -- were quickly picked up by others on the news trail.

Editors at the Time-Dispatch declined to say much on how they got this information but strong ties in the community have given the paper an advantage over national players.

"This is our backyard," said Louise Seals, managing editor for the Time-Dispatch, referring to the latest shooting on Saturday in nearby Ashland. "We know the local police and they know us."

At a time when other news outlets were still uncertain whether the weekend message from the shooter had been left on an answering machine or in a one-line note, the Richmond paper reported that police had found the communique in the woods near the shooting site and that it was lengthy. The paper also revealed police speculation about the possible use of a bicycle by the shooter.

But how did they get the scoop? "We've been here a long time, we have a 150-year history," said Bill Millsaps, executive editor for the Times-Dispatch. "We have very, very good sources. Most of the people in this area, especially law enforcement, know we're responsible and they know they can trust our folks more than 'copshops' in other parts of the country."

Seals added, "We have veteran reporters who know how to cover a story." With a circulation of almost 200,000 and a reporting staff of about 90, Seals said that the Richmond Times-Dispatch has been covering the event closely since the first Virginia shooting occurred on Oct. 4 in Fredericksburg.

"We had been treating it as a wire story until then," Seals explained. "As soon as the guy moved into Virginia, we've been on it. We consider ourselves a state newspaper. In fact, we have three people in Rockville [Md.] right now."

Seals credits the paper's success in covering the story to its status as the pre-eminent local publication.

"They came to us. People just began calling," she said.

"Our people know the area, know how to get around, and know how to use local streets instead of major roadways." Seals also kept the circulation staff abreast of reports about police roadblocks and traffic congestion.

But Seals said she was not surprised the Richmond Times-Dispatch got the jump on its competition in covering the story.

"We better be outgunning these other publications with all the resources we have right here, when they're sending people from afar. If we're not, we better take a look at what we're doing."