Philadelphia Daily News sports columnist Bill Conlin is usually throwing his darts at sports figures. Earlier this week his attention was turned to the demise of the sportswriter.
As only Conlin could put it he wrote: There are still newspaper readers who venerate the well-turned phrase, the bold analogy, the absurd premise that becomes believable because it is so well put. They are being intellectually punished by men in newspaper board rooms, bottom-liners who lacked the guts required to sack a hedge fund, bankrupt an auto company or approve a $1 million mortgage to a couple with $100,000 in credit-card debt. They lead to one thing: The dumbing down of America.
The problem is, its not just sportswriters. Conlin makes some great points in his column, but you can add theatre critic, editorial cartoonist, photographer or graphic artist, and the talent they bring, being taken from newspapers on a daily basis. We all bring something to the table, but lately the readers are getting much smaller portions.
In Detroit readers may soon get no portion at all.
The Wall Street Journal and New York Times are reporting that the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News will only offer home delivery three days a week and offer pared-down versions of their product for single copy sales on non-delivery days. The official announcement of the change is expected on Tuesday.
I knew the cuts were getting deep.
I just didn’t think they’d get to the paperboy this quick.