Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Fear and Loafing



Somebody wake up Ben Bagdikian. Comes now word that Creative Loafing Inc., owner of eponymous alt-weeklies in Atlanta, Tampa, Sarasota and Charlotte, has added Washington City Paper and the Chicago Reader to its quiver. We confess to only a passing acquaintance with the Creative Loafing papers, though we've always regarded them as a sort of backwoods cousin to New Times Village Voice Media, Randy Quaid to VVM's Chevy Chase. Now they appear to be traveling upmarket. We'll spare you the standard handwringing and garment-rending over media consolidation, but we would like to offer one plea to the Chicago Reader's new Loafer overlords: Don't fuck with the Straight Dope.

Also: Don't forget to add your Andy Van De Voorde description to the pile below!

15 comments:

M said...

I'm sure you've seen this: http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2007/07/24/reader-has-new-owners/

Anonymous said...

VVM has been losing its younger readers for the past year or two, shoving cocks and vaginas down peoples throats will guarantee the return of the 17-30 reader, right?

Anonymous said...

what sad little men you are. poking at a guy's looks? what, you think yer some kinda looker, nate? craggs, you fat ass, only a mum could love that mug. methinks you gents will enter adulthood one day. just not today.

Anonymous said...

come on we want more blogging, blogger. i luv this blog

Anonymous said...

Yes, please make with the blogging.

Anonymous said...

He's pussying out again...

Anonymous said...

Hello? Anyone there?

Anonymous said...

I have to admit, for a group draping itself in righteousness, making fun of a guy's looks is pretty playground. I'd post my name, but lord knows I'm not the greatest pleasure to behold...

Anonymous said...

I disagree with the negatories on commenting on journalists' sartorial choices and looks in general. Any journo who doesn't realize it's critical is fraudulently stupid. Also the VVM overlords make enough money to get plastic, lipo, gym memberships, clothes at H&M. I mean, c'mon.

Anonymous said...

Also for what it's worth Ben Eason (CL) is in constant contact with Michael Cohen (VVM group publisher). They're buds. They once had a little plan to take over and share the spoils of the back pages classifieds.

Anonymous said...

OH HAI U READ MAH BLOG U LIEK

http://loloafing.wordpress.com/

Anonymous said...

Meanwhile, Village Voice itself is 5th highest in revenue in the New Times, or VVM organization. Miami & Kansas City are making more money. New York is the largest market in the U.S. and one of the largest markets on the earth. Let me say this again, 5th - behind Kansas City.

The reason is simple, Ruxton people stole all the national sales for itself from the paper, forcing the VV sales reps to work 10x as hard, for less money under the bald, talentless assfuck, Michael Cohen, desperately trying to appear releveant in a market full of businesses that don't advertise in weekly alt newspapers, because in New York there are things called options, unlike Phoenix.

Also, when New Times took over their website and fired all their writers, Internet traffic went down 50% in one month and has never recovered. They had to literally give money back to people advertising on their web site cause no-one was reading it.

How hard would it be for VVM to change their name back to New Times, when they sell the Village Voice to Creative Loafing?

Anonymous said...

Please sir can we have some more? Don't stop posting again...

Anonymous said...

You are missed.

Anonymous said...

Andy Van De Voorde fucks goats