And Now the Bad News

Posted by evan on May 19th, 2006

Local papers get a little less local.
by Evan George

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That institutions specializing in the printed word are struggling is by no means “news.” Daily papers, weeklies, even monthly magazines have felt a readership squeeze in the last few years that has often meant a shedding of staff, even as the ratio of ads to words—in most publications—increases exponentially. These days, most newsrooms are feeling a little more spacious than they used to.

But the book of “Cost-efficient Publishing for Dummies” got a bonus chapter a few weeks ago with Pasadena Weekly’s cover story, “And Now the News.”

To be fair, the piece was interesting—it examined the explosion of foreign language newspapers at a time when mainstream dailies and weeklies are downsizing. But I say was because I read it in March when it was the cover of L.A. City Beat.

That’s right: this new chapter might be entitled, “Cutting Corners: Running the Same Story Twice.”

If you didn’t already know, both the Pasadena Weekly and City Beat are owned by Southland Publishing (along with the VC Reporter and San Diego City Beat). Kevin Uhrich, who wrote the story, is editor-and-chief at Pasadena Weekly. So, while the re-printing of his story in both L.A. area publications reeks of poor editorial judgment, there’s nothing unethical about it, per se. Nor is this the first time
(see their Beastie Boys duplicate covers).

What it does—and quite effectively—underscore is a flagrant, developing trend of sharing content between “sister” papers that presumably cater to different readerships in different geographical locations. The most promising business model among U.S. newspapers is also the least promising in terms of content. Call it the Knight-Ridder model. (Earlier this year the sale of four Knight Ridder papers for $1 billion showed publishers what sells.) Stock your pages full of AP stories and newswire content, shrink your staff and offer almost nothing personalized for readers of a certain geographic location. It’s a particular way of doing things that may, unfortunately, be the way of the future.

Do Pasadena readers deserve content tailored to their local interests? Do L.A. readers? Not necessarily. If a paper is interested in bringing the same stories to the Greater L.A. area, why not just expand one paper? Simple: less advertising.

Running the story a month apart in both City Beat and Pasadena Weekly with nary a mention of the overlap is tacky editorial judgment, but unfortunately, it might be an even shrewder business decision. Why not use the same staff to write content for two, three, even four “sister” papers? It seems obvious that residents of Pasadena who feel compelled to pick up their “local” paper would prefer to not read the same thing as their counterparts in Ventura County. But maybe not. If it’s a judgment based on dollars then the answer seems clear. Get ready for State Beat.

Slanted for the Disenchanted 5 Comments

kevin said,

May 19, 2006 @ 2:55 pm

Just happy to see you’re still reading us. Must say, you guys are looking pretty good these days. Keep up the good work. BTW, you missed Steve Appleford’s outstanding story and photos on Jerry Brown. You also missed Steve’s story and photos on System of a Down, which featured a nationally known band with members who live in Glendale — our coverage area, not CityBeat’s. In fact, you missed quite a few other stories that we picked up from Ventura and San Diego over the past year. You also did not mention the times that we all shared the same cover story on the same week.
Southland papers publish some outstanding stories in the course of a year. It would be a shame to let them just go by without giving them the maximum exposure possible. As for the money, all of the stories in question were written by editors or staffers who are salaried. Freelance writers receive half of what they made when the story first appeared, which once was a big sticking point for writers at another local “chain” paper who weren’t getting paid for reprints. So saving money is not really a factor here, contrary to what you suggest. Neither have we watered down local coverage. In fact, that’s only gotten stronger, with PW, a weekly paper, still breaking major local stories.
I think you hit the nail on the head with your observation of the various papers covering different geographic territories, which, in the case of the PW and CB, intersect slightly only in border areas like southern Glendale and downtown LA.
Sure, I suppose we could do better. We all could. But it’s really kind of a new thing for us, and it’s exciting. You see, we view this as a good thing, not a bad thing, for local readers, writers and artists. From that perspective, why shouldn’t we use this opportunity to its fullest and showcase our writers and artists to the biggest possible audience?
Of course, your criticisms are insightful and well taken. I’m happy to know you don’t think I’ve done anything unethical. I’m also heartened to know you found the ethnic media story interesting, which is really the important thing.
But Evan, could you have at least called me before writing this so I might have defended myself and the paper? Wouldn’t you want to know what the thinking was behind this before opening fire? Is it ethical to publish something about someone who only learns of it by reading it online Friday afternoon?
If there is a next time, or if you have a good story to pitch, do us both a favor and call information in the 818 area code. I’ve been in the book for many years. My extension here at work is 115. I’m a pretty easy-going guy. Feel free to call anytime, or just drop in, as many folks do.
Cheers.
Kevin Uhrich

Matt said,

May 19, 2006 @ 3:36 pm

Yeah the above comment: I worked at PW and CB for many years. I started at PW right after they first got sold from the LA Times/Tribune Corp. to Southland Pub., and at the time PW was the company’s first acquisition, with their original paper beng the Ventura paper. So I was there when the company first acquired the remnants of LA NEw Times, and turned them into the LA CityBEAT. It was an exciting and promising time. However, since then, the company has continued to acquire other properties, including most recently “Senior Life” (I kid you not) and the upstart Arroyo Magazine, which is distributed to “households of distinction” in the San Gabriel Valley. Kevin Uhrich is an amazing, hard-core old-school reporter who seems to have written for just about every freakin’ publication in greater LA during his 20+ year career. He’s the kind of old-school newshound that will literally– LITERALLY– put his life on the line for a story. Which is why it constantly amazes me how he has hung in there at PW for all these years, despite the current “management”. Let me state this very clearly so that there’s no mistake: Kevin and his writers are the ONLY thing that makes PW worthwhile. Kevin sticks to his guns, IN SPITE of the morons who run the company he works for. So for that he deserves some props and respect. Thanks for fighting the good fight, Kev. Wish you could do it for a better company, but it is what it is…

evan said,

May 19, 2006 @ 4:06 pm

Kevin,

Thanks for writing. There’s nothing but respect for you here in the LAA office, just so you know.

There are of course good intentions, and perfectly reasonable judgements, behind running the same covers. Your point about giving writers and editors the most exposure for deserving stories makes sense. As for the budget, I can’t pretend to know Southland Publishing’s purse. What I can (pretend? hopefully not) to know is a real, recent trend that has developed among media companies – including the one you work for – and its potentially detrimental effect on local media.

Just as you have your explanations for certain editorial decisions, we at LA Alternative feel repsonsible for doing our part as the only independent, locally-owned, non-corporate weekly in Los Angeles. It’s disadvantagous in a lot of ways for sure, but one advantage is that we have a few very important niche roles. One is that we’re in the sole position to run a media column that commends and criticizes the bigger boys, the bigger companies, the coprorate media (that does an often excellent job of covering this city, but also makes gaffes and is constantly endangered by factors L.A. Alternative simply isn’t plagued by). That’s our voice, and we think it ADDS to the community discussion, it doesn’t negate it. To be honest, this really wasn’t about you, or even your story; otherwise I certainly would have dropped you a line to be fair. In this case, asking your side would make about as much sense as Tim Rutten calling the Wall Street Journal and asking why they’re so conservative. This was about the distinct situation of one corporate structure being in charge of a number of nearly overlapping publications. Unfortunately, the advantages of being that company (Southland and others like it) come with having to deal with ankle-biting media critics who care deeply about what other writers and editors are putting out, out of comraderie as well as competition.

So we will continue to hold a match to the coverage in the L.A. Times, the LA Weekly, just as we will to the City Beat, Pasadena Weekly & co. group. But I’d like to think it’s opening a discussion, not opening fire.

All the best,
evan

kevin said,

May 20, 2006 @ 7:40 am

Evan and Matt,
Matt: You’re a rascal. I’m blushing. Just to clarify for other readers, things aren’t that bad at Southland. In fact, they’re pretty darn good, especially in editorial. But thanks for the props. They are deeply appreciated.
Evan: Fair enough. And thank you for the props. Here I thought skin gets thicker with age, not the other way around. Sorry for going off at the end of my little screed.
But, as I said, you made some very good points in your story that are definitely worth thinking about.
And, as I said, you guys are certainly doing to some very good things, in both content and looks. So keep it up, keep fighting the good fight, and keep holding our feet to the fire.
KU

timothy hughes said,

May 20, 2006 @ 3:20 pm

yo Kevin U. Keep up the fight. I miss you brother!!

Tim Hughes

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