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Newspapers Cut Off Fingers andToes
By encinoman
Newspapers are now cutting off their proverbial noses to spite what remains of their face. Although every day brings more cuts, perhaps the most egregious in recent weeks was that of Village Voice dance critic Deborah Jowitt, who was fired but asked to continue to contribute as a freelancer&;after 41 years as the Voice dance critic.
A paper like the Voice was built on its criticism (and support for) the arts, like dance, film, music, and theatre (the Voice will host its 53rd annual Obie awards for the best of off-Broadway this May.) To cut back on arts coverage can only damage their reputation and hurt the arts community as well.
Certainly, in this bleak environment some cuts are necessary. But others are foolish. Last year, for example, the LA Times dropped its Sunday television section. While one can get listings for the next few hours on TV or on line, its much harder to plan one&;s viewing for the week, especially for those like my mother who don&;t go online at all.
I&;m feeling it personally as well. Right after I won an LA Press Club Award for this story, last June, the LA Times Magazine was cut back from a weekly to a monthly. It&;s rare now to see a freelancer&;s byline, as the Magazine has become a haven for LA Times staffers (also a fast-diminishing breed).
To add insult to injury, the Times magazine is now primarily about fashion and skin, two topics I know nothing about.
Tags: dance-criticism
This entry was posted on April 8, 2008 at 9:14 pm and is filed under death-of-magazines, death-of-newspapers, Journalism, Los-Angeles-Times.
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3 Responses to &;Newspapers Cut Off Fingers andToes&;
LA Times: The Ship Be Sinking « Monday Morning Media Quarterback Says:
July 2, 2008 at 10:42 pm |
[...] The paper will only get worse as it continues to cut off more fingers and toes. [...]
LA Times All-Access Next Step to Doom? « Monday Morning Media Quarterback Says:
April 22, 2009 at 8:49 pm |
[...] Whatever, but newspapers can&;t grow by cutting off fingers and toes. [...]
LA Times Kills Las Vegas Blog « Monday Morning Media Quarterback Says:
November 5, 2009 at 6:25 pm |
[...] expense item. Especially on the Internet, a newspaper won&;t grow by cutting off its fingers and toes. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)ProPublica: The Scandal Journalists Won’t [...]
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