Uncertain times at Seattle Weekly

[flamingyouth]

During the 30 years he has written for the Seattle Weekly, Roger Downey has seen a lot of people come and go at the free alternative newspaper.

Never as many, he says, as in the past six months.

A Phoenix-based chain known until recently as New Times Media assumed ownership of the Weekly in January. Since then the paper's publisher, advertising director, production director, design director, music editor and several longtime writers have left.

Three weeks ago Editor in Chief Knute "Skip" Berger, probably the Weekly's best-known personality, joined the exodus, announcing plans to depart next month.

"It's unprecedented," says Downey, who himself left a staff position last month to freelance regularly for the tabloid. "Every departure has been painful."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003145858_weekly23.html

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. I was wondering about that

Two weeks ago, the inside front page of the "Weekly" started carrying an advert for newspaper executives. I figured that the new owers was in the process of firing everyone.

[martymar64]

2. I always preferred The Stranger

Seattle Weekly always seemed a little too Bellevue for me.

[regnaD kciN]

3. More here...

The liberal paper's owner of eight months, Village Voice Media (formerly known as New Times), has begun to shape the publication in its image: hard-hitting, magazine-style journalism and humor with less political flavor and turn-of-the-screw coverage of issues.

Less squishy Seattle. More edgy East Coast.

Gone are editor Berger and managing editor Chuck Taylor, along with politics and city government writers George Howland Jr. and Geov Parrish, and seven other news staff members. An equal number of staff members left the advertising department since the takeover. Berger, Taylor and Howland said their goodbyes at a staff party Wednesday in the paper's Pioneer Square offices. Parrish, a longtime regular freelancer, notified the staff Tuesday via e-mail.

"The paper was going to de-emphasize political coverage," Parrish, 46, said in an interview, adding that he was worried the paper would care more about entertaining than informing. "I had a conversation with (new management) and it was fairly evident I wasn't in the company's long-term plans."

More at http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/281567_seaweekly17.html?source=mypi

So, The Weekly turns into a "hip" entertainment paper, and Knute Berger and Geov Parrish, two of the most prominent progressive voices in Seattle, lose their soapbox. Aren't conglomerates great? :grr:

[flamingyouth]

4. Yeah, that article is really depressing

What this town really needs is more hip, empty-headed dreck. :grr: