After an illustrious career that spanned over 50 years, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and weekly columnist Al Martinez has been let go by the Los Angeles Times. A mention here probably won't bring about a change. However, it's important to note the departure of one of the lions of journalism.Martinez, just the latest victim in a long line of newspaper reductions, will pen his final print column this week.
Though much is said about newspapers losing ground to the internet, not much is said about the successive extravagant buy outs that had to be paid to the Chandler family as well as the golden parachutes to the upper tier of the Tribune Corporation after Sam Zell purchased it. It's ironic that (in part) the LA Times was sucked dry by the very family who started the paper, and by those who clamored to get it.
Here's a note from Al:
"Just so you'll know, my column in the Times will end Jan. 19.
I'm not sure why: too old at 79? no space for me? I don't fit the hip,cool, Hollywood demographics? All of the above? Ask them. They did say they couldn't afford me, but since I was "downsized" the first time and hired back as a freelancer, my salary has been halved and I've had no medical coverage, no vacation time, no expense account and generally no staff perks. I haven't been THAT expensive. But I've never been a whiner, and I won't be now. This is just to show my readers the respect I've always felt toward you by giving you advance warning. It isn't likely to do much good this time, but by making your feelings known to the editor, publisher, readers rep or anyone else you can think of, it may guide their decisions in the future. Meanwhile, my blog goes on and I'll pop up now and then in non-column form in the Times and elsewhere."Here's my response:
Al,*Zell, a real estate magnate from Chicago, bought the Tribune Corporation last year.
I guess Sam Zell* needed the money he pays you to cover a small portion of the gardening costs at his $14 million estate designed by John Lautner in Malibu. My bets are that he's probablyalso making the gardener write for the paper because he figures it's "good enough." You MIGHT apply for a gardening position at Sam Zell's estate --I'm sure you might find a lot of former associates trimming hedges, blowing walkways, composting and pruning roses. The blogging thing still mystifies me. Do people make any money off these things? I dropped out of BlogHer network because .....it seemed pointless.
Perhaps I'll be applying as a gardener at Sam Zell's estate as well.
See you there!
-Kanani
Check out Al's Blog about Life, Love, Lust and Lunacies from the Bard of Topanga.
If you want to read more about the LA Times, check out my old hang out and the birthplace of this blog, The LA Times Pressmen.
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12 comments:
Just read a few of his post and really enjoyed them!
I am a twenty year plus subscriber to the L.A. times. Once again, I am surprised by the decision of the Time to eliminate Al Martinez's column. Didn't we go through this once already?
Mr. Martinez offers a unique perspective on life and living in Los Angeles, and no one can replace him. He embodies the bittersweet combinations of hope and despair, optimism and cynicism, that so many of us feel daily.
If it were my choice, I would see him restored to a minimum twice weekly column.
Being the cynic I am, I doubt this will have any effect on any decision by the Times management, but I do hope they reconsider. There must be SOME way to attract a new audience other than catering to the lowest common denominator.
I find that intelligent educated people DO still read newspapers. Perhaps the "old style" of journalism that included history as background in an important international story could be revived, leading to greater interest in reading. This, in turn, might lead to more educated decisions by the populace.
In fact, the Times might start an entirely new fad - a daily paper that informs, educates, and inspires readers the way President-Elect Obama has done.
A new wave of nationalism without isolationism might take hold and restore our country to our former position of respect in the world.
After all, the pendulum has to swing the right way half of the time, doesn't it?
I hope Al's column will be replaced by a long time but younger staffer who is also hanging onto his or her job. I have to hope that they'll be in the game as long as Al has been.
The industry is really undergoing a huge change. I'm not sure what the future holds for the papers, but I do know that a lot of blogging material can be attributed from field reporters who are supported by the newspapers. They're of vital importance to keep so the flow of information keeps coming in, not just from television, but from papers small and large.
I wonder about newspapers, with all the high speed instant what-ever, we are raising children who don't and can't stop long enough to read. They are being shuttled some where so they can learn/do stuff so they know how to do other stuff so they can get more stuff. Stuff is the answer.
When I see Kids in cars watching Videos I wonder why? all we do is fill up their time like empty calories.
Remember when the LA Sunday paper took you all days to read, and the Home Magazine was filled with interviews, recipes and illustrations. I can't remember the writers name right this second, but she wrote a column called "Things" loved her writing. She wrote one time about icebox cookies and why wait to cook them. I still remember that one after all these years.
What do people today remember,? how some wrote "u r gud" ? I saved boxes of articles to reread, not so much anymore.
Papers need to change but just dropping Writers seem like a band-aid quick fix and not well thought out.
People love to read columnists in newspapers. We get different perspectives on life and after a while, we come to feel that the columnist is a friend. If the L.A. Times lets Al Martinez go, many people will not only miss his fine writing, but they will feel as if an old and trusted friend has moved away.
How many subscribers turn first to Sandy Banks, Steve Lopez and Al Martinez's columns on the days they appear? Has the L.A. Times ever had a more successful ongoing feature than Jack Smith's long-running column? The newspaper industry is in a difficult time, but the L.A. Times should realize what they have to offer that other news sources don't. One of their biggest strengths is the sense of community and continuity that a newspaper can cultivate, and one of the ways newspapers do that is through columns.
I hope the Times will reconsider their decision to send Al Martinez packing. We Angelinos need our friends.
Great post, Kanani.
What a shame that a writer of Martinez' quality should be let go by the L.A. Times after such a long career.
Sam Zell has a $14 million estate? Gee, think of what his gardener must make; maybe he'd hire me too...
i believe all newspapers in hard copy are living through their last breath. i know i get mine online and have for quite a while.
smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxoox
and you'd all have the auto newsfeed download option in your i-mate ultimates switched on?
as media moguls lick festering wounds and exercise literary rationalism an underpaid blog moderator (paid by the comment under contract signed in blood) with absolutely NO effing idea, can attract 100 peeps a day.
bah and humbug dearies.
Perhaps Martinez has been fired so the Times' management can add another Section of fluff, i.e. Images II, Calendar III, The Envelope II , Arts/Culture II, The Guide II , or maybe add a few Westside 3*** restaurants to its Food Section, or why not some more $3Millions mansions for sale in its Home Section .
The paper is losing its relevancy. If Martinez is let go, can Steve Lopez, George Skelton, Sandy Banks, David Lazarus et al be far behind ?
virtualmuso,
you make your points in a way that's barely comprehensible.
but good luck. someday the words will match your emotions.
ok,ok already. cryptic imagery has never been your style K :) cheers glenn (aka virtualmuso)
Glenn,
Gotcha, sucker.
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