I saw this yesterday and have been watching it unfold but there has been little detail given. Window Media closed all of its publications yesterday. Most notably, the Washington Blade. I have been told that Washington Blade was the largest gay newspaper in the country and just recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. Here is a list of the four largest of the seven gay print outlets closed down:
- Washington Blade
- Southern Voice (Atlanta)
- South Florida Blade
- Houston Voice
Over the years I have interviewed with and read many articles by the Washington Blade and I think once or twice with South Florida Blade and Southern Voice. What I do remember is that while I disagreed with almost everything they ended up printing, they were always respectful interviewers. I also appreciated that they didn’t pull many (some maybe … but not many) punches when it came to holding the gay community and its leadership accountable for different issues.
Simply stated, while there was obvious bias, of all the gay media I have worked with, they were the most professional.
While I can’t say that I am sad to see these papers shut down, I can say that it never makes me happy to hear about people being thrown out of their offices and a job without any forewarning.
About Randy Thomas
Saw that yesterday, too. Interesting. The economy has hit publishing hard, but there may be other reasons, too.
The economy (as well as the rise of new media) is hitting all print media hard. The smaller and more specialized papers will go first, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lot larger periodicals start closing down in the years to come. Of course these publications are biased, but then again all publications of any type are. I hope everyone at these papers can find new jobs. As someone looking to get a graduate degree in professional writing, the future of writing for pay, in general, is looking a little bleak.
How did I miss that this is what you are going to school for? I pray blessings and success for you.
College Jay — on a practical point, it might be good for you to include a class or two on technical writing. There is some good money to be made writing manuals and technical documents. Not sure there’s much of a market for general writing. I say this as editor of a fairly large Christian webzine, Boundless.org
I should add that if you want to make it in general writing, you absolutely have to have a blog (I see that you do), and contribute to it regularly.
Blessings on your ventures, Jay!
I most certainly have a blog. I’ve had it around for four years. In fact, Randy was the one who really encouraged me to blog (considering our disagreements and little blog arguments over the years, I bet he regrets that sometimes. Haha. Just joking, Randy).
I actually will be graduating with an undergraduate degree in English Education, so I will be able to be a teacher no matter what (even though that job market is slimming as well!) Thank you for the tips, though. God bless!
“As someone looking to get a graduate degree in professional writing, the future of writing for pay, in general, is looking a little bleak.”
I truly I wish I had some encouragement for you there, Jay. Three out of four in my family, including me, make our living in media. I took a huge slice in income this past year when the main bread-and-butter mag I wrote for went on hiatus (or bit the dust — we’re not sure yet which). I seem to have an uncanny way of working/writing for dying publications. But then there is a glut of both magazines and books — and lots of bad ones at that — in the marketplace. We need some of them to die off.
Sorry to hear that Debbie. I pray blessings and success for you too!
Also, if you click reply at the bottom of the comment you are responding to, it will help with the comment flow
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There are plenty people a lot worse off than I am in the income department right now.
(We old-fogey, non-techies must drive smart guys like you nuts, Randy.)