Magazines and newspapers are shrinking faster than anyone had anticipated.  Their survival is based upon advertising revenue.  That revenue is rapidly moving to the internet.  Thus Newsweek is now only on the internet.  U.S. News only publishes an occasional special edition.  Time Inc. with its multiple magazines has had two layoffs of 5% of its staff each time in the past two years.

My local paper, Los Angeles Daily News, is now in another of its never ending efforts to consolidate and reduce pages published in each edition.  Thus Al Martinez, an old guy who fought in the Korean War, has now been eliminated from that paper.  He worked for the Oakland Tribune of 16 years, the Los Angeles Times for 38 years, and the last three years for the Los Angeles Daily News where he has had a weekly column.

Mr. Martinez is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist.  He was named Bard of L.A. by the Huntington Museum.  So the Daily News had decided that his talent in no longer needed.  So as Newsweek gave notice to its best writers, reporters, and commentators, the Daily News has decided to follow in that magazine’s example.

Al Martinez has a WordPress blog.  I am proud to add a link.  Top right.

April 3, 2013

The subscription has been canceled.