Comments on: Why second newspapers (used to) matter http://www.wordyard.com/2009/01/09/why-second-newspapers-used-to-matter/ Technology, politics, culture Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:30:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Notes from a Teacher - Saturday business squibs http://www.wordyard.com/2009/01/09/why-second-newspapers-used-to-matter/comment-page-1/#comment-9081 Notes from a Teacher - Saturday business squibs Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:21:24 +0000 http://www.wordyard.com/?p=1781#comment-9081 [...] shut down. More interesting commentary on Seattle, and the issue of JOAs, comes from Robert Picard, Scott Rosenberg and Alan Mutter, all of which are worth [...] [...] shut down. More interesting commentary on Seattle, and the issue of JOAs, comes from Robert Picard, Scott Rosenberg and Alan Mutter, all of which are worth [...]

]]> By: Blake http://www.wordyard.com/2009/01/09/why-second-newspapers-used-to-matter/comment-page-1/#comment-9056 Blake Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:53:30 +0000 http://www.wordyard.com/?p=1781#comment-9056 As someone who lives in the great PNW and was until very recently a Times subscriber, I have to wonder how the paper could possibly get any worse, monopoly or not. It's suitable for starting fires in my woodstove with when the power's out, and that's about it. We toyed with the idea of switching to the P-I, since it's the more "liberal" paper in town, but honestly who can find time to read an afternoon paper in this day and age? I gave up on the Times after about 5 years of putting up with their crap editorials and unbelievably, embarrassingly bad comics page :), because I just couldn't take the idea of funnelling any more money to the Blethen family. The owner of the paper has been on a personal mission for some time to write himself a $150 million dollar tax break by eliminating the estate tax, so we're treated to ridiculous editorials about it all the time, and donated half-page ads with quotes from obscure "experts" deriding the estate tax, funded by "the Blethen corporation, a family-owned business" rather than "the Seattle Times." Last month, they published an editorial deriding an artist for contributing an ornament for the White House that said "impeach Bush," because as everyone knows it's much more important to be polite than to object to war, torture, and violations of the Constitution. After that, I was done - cancel my subscription, f*** you very much, goodbye Seattle Times. Ironically, I read more news now than ever, both local and national/international. I just don't feel the need to read it on paper, and *definitely* not from the clowns that operate the Times. As someone who lives in the great PNW and was until very recently a Times subscriber, I have to wonder how the paper could possibly get any worse, monopoly or not. It’s suitable for starting fires in my woodstove with when the power’s out, and that’s about it. We toyed with the idea of switching to the P-I, since it’s the more “liberal” paper in town, but honestly who can find time to read an afternoon paper in this day and age? I gave up on the Times after about 5 years of putting up with their crap editorials and unbelievably, embarrassingly bad comics page :), because I just couldn’t take the idea of funnelling any more money to the Blethen family. The owner of the paper has been on a personal mission for some time to write himself a $150 million dollar tax break by eliminating the estate tax, so we’re treated to ridiculous editorials about it all the time, and donated half-page ads with quotes from obscure “experts” deriding the estate tax, funded by “the Blethen corporation, a family-owned business” rather than “the Seattle Times.” Last month, they published an editorial deriding an artist for contributing an ornament for the White House that said “impeach Bush,” because as everyone knows it’s much more important to be polite than to object to war, torture, and violations of the Constitution. After that, I was done – cancel my subscription, f*** you very much, goodbye Seattle Times.

Ironically, I read more news now than ever, both local and national/international. I just don’t feel the need to read it on paper, and *definitely* not from the clowns that operate the Times.

]]> By: Carlos http://www.wordyard.com/2009/01/09/why-second-newspapers-used-to-matter/comment-page-1/#comment-8962 Carlos Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:46:23 +0000 http://www.wordyard.com/?p=1781#comment-8962 As someone who grew up reading the P-I, I'm sad to hear that it will soon be gone. What I've always wondered is if there is the potential for converting a second paper into an online-only paper. I know the revenue streams are completely different and it may not work financially, but that's the only way that I can see to keep the kind of journalistic competition that you're talking about. As someone who grew up reading the P-I, I’m sad to hear that it will soon be gone. What I’ve always wondered is if there is the potential for converting a second paper into an online-only paper. I know the revenue streams are completely different and it may not work financially, but that’s the only way that I can see to keep the kind of journalistic competition that you’re talking about.

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