The New Orleans Times-Picayune May Reduce Frequency of Publication -- NY Times

So, a couple of thoughts:

- The chef was worried about "coverage" of the industry, not the state of the newspaper or the fate of the critic. He's comes off like a swim parent.

- Newspapers "should" cover all kinds of issues and industries. But, they can't make money doing it. The Times-Picayune, as we know it, is dead. It's done. None of the decisions they are going to make are going to be good, easy, or well received.

- That said, I'm sure they will still review restaurants, and cover the industry. They will probably do it in a much cheaper way -- freelancers, "citizen journalists", etc.

- You can cover the restaurant and tourism industry without reviewing restaurants. You can cover the business of sports without writing gamers. A New York newspaper could cover the financial industry without recommending stocks. An LA Newspaper could cover the film industry without reviewing films.

- Restaurant reviews are traditional. They're not "news".

- I don't "worship of the almighty dollar" and my views only "align with the thinking of the newspaper executives" in as much as they are grounded in reality. Businesses are loyal to the bottom line -- and only the bottom line. You might think it's a bad thing, but it's just reality. It's what they do. Do think otherwise is to set yourself up for disappointment.

- They're not making these changes because they "want" to. It probably won't work. The T-P -- or what's left of it -- will likely suck. But, it's what they think they have to do to survive. Can you really blame them? What's the alternative? In some businesses, you have to "spend money to make money". In this case, spending more money will only lead to higher losses.

- I get the concern for colleagues and the state of the industry. I've been there. I was a commodities floor trader for Christ's sake. I even get that folks think poor business decisions have helped to create the current business climate (including heavy debt loads from buying properties in headier times). But, I think the outrage, and sense of betrayal, directed at the executives making these decisions is misplaced. Unless someone has a better idea, that will improve coverage, and generate revenue, this is what's going to continue to happen.

- I do think the "spin" these papers are putting on the situation is bullshit. I fucking hate when they try to portray bed bad news as good news. It's insulting, and it hurts their overall credibility.

 

Hey, you gave a "this" to my now controversial post.

 

Re: The New Orleans Times-Picayune May Reduce Frequency of Publication -- NY Tim

YF, I would think "bed" news could be good news. ;D

 

You are correct, sir. That particular point, I agreed with wholeheartedly.

And when a donkey flies, I really shouldn't complain when he doesn't stay up in the air for long.

 

YF, a lot of people have been hurt financially in the past 24 hours. Some of them are on these threads, others with close friends and family involved. I know you like to troll and do your thing but please, give it a break right now. It would really be welcomed.

 

New Orleans is particularly know for is cuisine and its restaurants. Many papers have restaurant/food critics or writers.

These are among the most well-known and popular writers at many papers.

Often, restaurants and grocery stores buy ads to run with food coverage.

Ergo, good business sense would seem to indicate that The Times-Picayune should continue to employ a good restaurant critic.

 

“Brett is not just anybody, he’s a serious food writer with a nationwide reputation in a town whose whole economy is built around the hospitality industry,” said Anthony Bourdain, the chef, author and TV personality, who has traveled frequently to New Orleans for two years as a writer for the HBO series “Treme.”

dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/brett-anderson-new-orleans-food-writer-is-laid-off/

 

What the hell does he know? By an ad.

 

Here's something that came out early this morning giving more details on the fateful day, including the names of some who got the ax and some who survived (and the jobs they were offered) ...

http://www.bestofneworleans.com/blogofneworleans/archives/2012/06/13/after-the-cuts-at-the-times-picayune

 

Fucking cowards.

Good on you, Chicago Tribune.

 

I loved the part about the video announcing the changes not being formatted for iPhones.