I can relate, especially to your career arc—but as a reader. Lived in Chicago most of my life; I remember seeing your name in both papers. My breaking point was one week into Murdoch’s ownership; there was some sensationalist story on page 3. As soon as Murdoch sold, I was back. Royko had crossed the street, but it was still a great paper with terrific columnists and sports section. Today it’s a shell of what it was, but I still subscribe, even though I live in NYC.
Like you, NYTimes headlines make me crazy, but still a subscriber. You’re right, it’s a balancing act. The consolation is there’s solid media criticism like yours. That’s a relatively recent development.
It's not always easy to find an environment where everyone has intelligence and integrity. I once worked as a competent reporter for a normal local paper with a solid staff but we were better known for our managing editor, who turned into a raging Fox News head after 9/11. He'd spend an entire day every week on his ridiculously long Republican-boosting Sunday column. He was a hero to the local GOP, not exactly how journalism is supposed to work.
It always made me uncomfortable and I almost quit once. This editor was going to write a story for the front page of our paper claiming that Obama's revealed birth certificate was fake. Why? Because the head of composing at our paper (also a right-wing nut job) saw something in the AP photo of the birth certificate he thought was dodgy. Our reasonable assistant managing editor talked him down and spared him making us all look like complete fools and I didn't have to quit in protest.
Longtime NYT subscriber here. She ain't what she used to be, that's for sure. But I place a lot of value on supporting a strong fourth estate, and the Times is really the last of the giants, IMO. I view their articles as a reasonably reliable report on the business establishment view of the world, and accept that for what it is. I find a lot of the nuance I'm looking for in Substack newsletters these days, like this one, which I enjoy. Although it is a little wearying wading through them all! I also subscribe to my local newspaper too, hardcopy delivery (weekly) for them and the Times. I try not to think about what I'm spending on subscriptions!
I can relate, especially to your career arc—but as a reader. Lived in Chicago most of my life; I remember seeing your name in both papers. My breaking point was one week into Murdoch’s ownership; there was some sensationalist story on page 3. As soon as Murdoch sold, I was back. Royko had crossed the street, but it was still a great paper with terrific columnists and sports section. Today it’s a shell of what it was, but I still subscribe, even though I live in NYC.
Like you, NYTimes headlines make me crazy, but still a subscriber. You’re right, it’s a balancing act. The consolation is there’s solid media criticism like yours. That’s a relatively recent development.
Thanks, Joe.
It's not always easy to find an environment where everyone has intelligence and integrity. I once worked as a competent reporter for a normal local paper with a solid staff but we were better known for our managing editor, who turned into a raging Fox News head after 9/11. He'd spend an entire day every week on his ridiculously long Republican-boosting Sunday column. He was a hero to the local GOP, not exactly how journalism is supposed to work.
It always made me uncomfortable and I almost quit once. This editor was going to write a story for the front page of our paper claiming that Obama's revealed birth certificate was fake. Why? Because the head of composing at our paper (also a right-wing nut job) saw something in the AP photo of the birth certificate he thought was dodgy. Our reasonable assistant managing editor talked him down and spared him making us all look like complete fools and I didn't have to quit in protest.
Longtime NYT subscriber here. She ain't what she used to be, that's for sure. But I place a lot of value on supporting a strong fourth estate, and the Times is really the last of the giants, IMO. I view their articles as a reasonably reliable report on the business establishment view of the world, and accept that for what it is. I find a lot of the nuance I'm looking for in Substack newsletters these days, like this one, which I enjoy. Although it is a little wearying wading through them all! I also subscribe to my local newspaper too, hardcopy delivery (weekly) for them and the Times. I try not to think about what I'm spending on subscriptions!
I admire a lot about NYT, but the political coverage is flawed.
No argument here!