Magnificently crafted perspective. Most prescient comment: Newspapers have innovated their way to extinction (my paraphrase). Never has a truer point been made. Sadly.
This was a long time coming, but no less sad for all that. I actually remember Red Smith from his Herald-Tribune days, but as you note it’s really the team coverage that’s taking a hit; there is still wonderful feature writing available, though not necessarily that much in print. And as for The Athletic’s own cutbacks, one of the casualties was their young White Sox beat reporter James Fegan, who in my book was one of the best around. To bring this full circle, I was delighted to see his byline in the Sun-Times, which may be Chicago’s top newspaper now that the Tribune (“the world’s greatest newspaper”, or so they used to claim) has been stripped to the bone by venture capitalists. The Sun-Times has merged with Chicago’s public radio station and is now a not-for-profit (legally, and not just as a matter of sad reality), which may be the way of the future for real journalism.
Well said. The LA Times shift is pretty incomprehensible on so many levels and just devalued the print subscription even more (which might be the goal!).
I got on PTS alert when reading this morning. Brought me back to June 12, 2012 when The Times-Picayune knifed 256 employees in the back by firing them. And just like that most of the newspaper's institutional knowledge walked out the door, their heads swimming while wondering what's next. I can't help but wonder about the readers of the Times (and now, according to your piece The Los Angeles Times will do some sweeping in sports as well) will walk away to their sports news elsewhere. You put it perfectly when you wrote: the Times times two "have innovated their way into obsolescence and irrelevance.'' I still read the New Orleans daily but it's infuriating to thumb through a once fine newspaper that has become a shadow of itself.
Best yet! Your respect for, and love of the art of sports journalism shines through. These are strange times, and your perspective always helps. Thank you!
Magnificently crafted perspective. Most prescient comment: Newspapers have innovated their way to extinction (my paraphrase). Never has a truer point been made. Sadly.
This was a long time coming, but no less sad for all that. I actually remember Red Smith from his Herald-Tribune days, but as you note it’s really the team coverage that’s taking a hit; there is still wonderful feature writing available, though not necessarily that much in print. And as for The Athletic’s own cutbacks, one of the casualties was their young White Sox beat reporter James Fegan, who in my book was one of the best around. To bring this full circle, I was delighted to see his byline in the Sun-Times, which may be Chicago’s top newspaper now that the Tribune (“the world’s greatest newspaper”, or so they used to claim) has been stripped to the bone by venture capitalists. The Sun-Times has merged with Chicago’s public radio station and is now a not-for-profit (legally, and not just as a matter of sad reality), which may be the way of the future for real journalism.
Well said. The LA Times shift is pretty incomprehensible on so many levels and just devalued the print subscription even more (which might be the goal!).
What he said. Really eloquently.
Mark,
I got on PTS alert when reading this morning. Brought me back to June 12, 2012 when The Times-Picayune knifed 256 employees in the back by firing them. And just like that most of the newspaper's institutional knowledge walked out the door, their heads swimming while wondering what's next. I can't help but wonder about the readers of the Times (and now, according to your piece The Los Angeles Times will do some sweeping in sports as well) will walk away to their sports news elsewhere. You put it perfectly when you wrote: the Times times two "have innovated their way into obsolescence and irrelevance.'' I still read the New Orleans daily but it's infuriating to thumb through a once fine newspaper that has become a shadow of itself.
Best yet! Your respect for, and love of the art of sports journalism shines through. These are strange times, and your perspective always helps. Thank you!
Great stuff as always Mark...we are all fortunate to have had your perspective for all these years and the respect you’ve always shown to the industry
Great writing as always.