vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen

5.10.2007

The loss of Ross

It is with some sadness that I learned today that Ross Sneyd will be leaving the Associated Press, where he has been covering the Statehouse since Thomas Chittenden was governor and Ethan Allen was sergeant-at-arms. Which is odd, because we recently discovered that Ross and I are the same age.

Ross is going to work for Vermont Public Radio as a news producer. I asked him to put that in terms I understand, and he said it's a sort of news editor, or news coordinator.

Whatever it is, I suspect he will be good at it. Ross is a master of many subjects at the Statehouse, almost all of them complicated. His real mastery comes in his ability to synthesize them for public consumption within nanoseconds.

He's also a pretty good person to hang out with when you're trapped in long hearings or shooting the breeze between bits of action. If, by chance, I have a cynical thought, I can usually share it with Ross and get a laugh out of him.

Since I know he doesn't read the blog ("I should read that," he's probably said about 25 times), I'll just come out and freely say I'll miss him and I think readers will too.

- Terri Hallenbeck

posted by vt.Buzz | 2:44 PM |

Comments:

Man. Now half the seats at the table at Gov. Doesless's press conferences will be filled by VPR reporters. I guess it's further evidence of the decline of print media.

Ross will be missed. He was the one reporter who wasn't afraid to upset the apple cart and didn't sit there and toss softballs for an hour.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:09 PM, May 10, 2007

Ross is a great reporter.

Major score for VPR.

The tag team of Kinzel-Sneed will make for some great reporting.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:35 PM, May 10, 2007

Wow! Far left reporter goes to NPR.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:40 PM, May 10, 2007

This is a real loss for the AP and the print media more generally. With Chris Graff and Ross Sneyd gone, the AP bureau will be a shadow of what it used to be. Hopefully the AP bureau won't go the way of the late great UPI Montpelier bureau - Old-timers might remember when Bob Sherman and Jack Hoffman provided some of the best print coverage in the state out of the UPI's Baldwin Street bureau.

With Bob Kinzel, John Dillon, and Ross Sneyd providing political coverage, Steve Zind, Nina Keck, and Susan Keese as general reporters, Mitch Wertlieb doing morning interviews, and Fran Stoddard sharing "Switchboard" with Kinzel, VPR will have by far the largest radio news department in the state.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:48 PM, May 10, 2007

If VPR is so wonderful why do the poor taxpayers have to fund it? Sounds like more free slop for the elitists.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:44 AM, May 11, 2007

I challenge anyone to show any sort of bias in any of Ross Sneyd's reporting.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:54 AM, May 11, 2007

Only 10% of VPR's funding comes from the government. 85% of the station's funding comes from donations from individuals and businesses in Vermont and neighboring states.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:00 AM, May 11, 2007

Sweet a job opening. Maybe the Freeps can convince Hemingway to move on. Doubtful though, the AP has standards, obviously something Hemingway doesn't have.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:52 AM, May 11, 2007

Standards? I don't know what your beef is with Hemingway, but what about Freyne? The guy has no "standards" whatsoever. By comparison, Hemingway seesm to be a model of balance.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:02 AM, May 11, 2007

I think Bennington Banner reporter Neal Goswami should get the AP job. This kid is a good reporter.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:15 AM, May 11, 2007

"Whatever it is, I suspect he will be good at it. Ross is a master of many subjects at the Statehouse, almost all of them complicated. His real mastery comes in his ability to synthesize them for public consumption within nanoseconds." Terri Hallenbeck is right on target in summing up Ross Sneyd's journalistic talents. The AP's loss is VPR's gain. Good luck, Ross!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:45 PM, May 12, 2007

How did the AP let Ross Sneyd, a talented, experienced, and well-respected journalist, get away?
First, Chris Graff, another dedicated, respected journalist with the AP, is dismissed for bogus reasons, and now, Ross Sneyd leaves for a better opportunity. What is going on? This doesn't look good for the Associated Press. I wonder if the Bill O'Reilly focus has the AP running scared and losing its objectivity. Maybe, someone should do a story on this.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:02 PM, May 12, 2007

I suspect a few more journalists at the AP in Montpelier will leave their jobs over the next few months. Why? Well, how could anyone with any integrity not be upset when their boss/colleague is treated as unfairly as Chris Graff was treated? I can only imagine the low employee morale at the AP. I have lost a lot of respect for the AP over the past couple of years. Maybe, it is time for a change in top-level management.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:15 PM, May 12, 2007

You know, this love affair with Chris Graff is interesting. I tried reading his book, and I gotta tell ya, it wasn't the easiest read in the world. I also heard him speak as a commencement speaker, and it was awful. Am I missing something?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:41 AM, May 13, 2007

Remarks Journalized

On motion of Rep. McCullough of Williston, the following remarks by Rep. Adams of Hartland were ordered printed in the Journal:

“Madame Speaker:

When we return here in January, there will be one less State House reporter amongst us. In the seven years that I have been here, I have come to respect Ross Sneyd of the Associated Press for his fair and balanced reporting. I ask that everyone would join with me in wishing Ross good luck in his new endeavor. Ross will be missed in this building.”

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:48 PM, May 14, 2007