Another book reviewer accepts the ax
Have you happened to notice that book sections in newspapers are getting smaller every week, or disappearing altogether?
It's a grim and stupid situation, driven largely by the fact that newspaper publishers these days don't understand their own readers.
Book sections, it's true, don't actively, directly make money for newspapers, because most of them don't attract much in the way of advertising. I think that is probably because book publishers -- who spend millions of dollars a year sending review copies to newspaper book reviewers -- feel that sending all those books is advertising expense enough.
And what budget book publishers might allot for buying newspaper advertising space is mostly hogged by the New York Times and Washington Post.
Seriously, people on the East Coast -- such as most major publishers of books -- think people West of, say, New Jersey, don't read.
I once lunched with historian William L. Shirer in Beverly Hills, to interview him for the Orange County Register. Wonderful, brilliant conversationalist, Mr. Shirer. At one point he leaned across the crisp linen of the fancy restaurant table and asked, "Do people in Orange County read books?"
Well, yes, they do. People who read books like to read newspapers, and they like to read about books in their newspapers.
I know this because I have written about books for many years, as newspaper budgets for such work have risen and fallen, and I get a lot of mail and email from readers. If I review something, they write to me. If my column disappears in a budget downfall, they write to me and ask where the hell my column went.
But ... modern newspaper publishers don't seem to care about older, literate readers. These days they are very worried about "at-risk" readers -- kids who would rather memorize obscene lyrics delivered aurally than read a book.
Ya know, the kind of people who get tired from moving their lips while they read.
Book sections, ironically enough, serve people who do read, and help them become more interested in reading.
Book sections are how newspaper publishers can help keep the readers they have, and attract and keep new readers.
Enough of my little rant. I didn't mean to do this. I just wanted to introduce a link to a fine item in the blog of the Book Critics Circle, regarding a book reviewer who recently took a buyout at the Dallas Morning News -- which has been making draconian staff cuts of late.
Please take a look at the farewell letter from Jerome Weeks, which the Morning News did not run, but the Book Critics Circle did.
Best wishes to you all.
John Orr
It's a grim and stupid situation, driven largely by the fact that newspaper publishers these days don't understand their own readers.
Book sections, it's true, don't actively, directly make money for newspapers, because most of them don't attract much in the way of advertising. I think that is probably because book publishers -- who spend millions of dollars a year sending review copies to newspaper book reviewers -- feel that sending all those books is advertising expense enough.
And what budget book publishers might allot for buying newspaper advertising space is mostly hogged by the New York Times and Washington Post.
Seriously, people on the East Coast -- such as most major publishers of books -- think people West of, say, New Jersey, don't read.
I once lunched with historian William L. Shirer in Beverly Hills, to interview him for the Orange County Register. Wonderful, brilliant conversationalist, Mr. Shirer. At one point he leaned across the crisp linen of the fancy restaurant table and asked, "Do people in Orange County read books?"
Well, yes, they do. People who read books like to read newspapers, and they like to read about books in their newspapers.
I know this because I have written about books for many years, as newspaper budgets for such work have risen and fallen, and I get a lot of mail and email from readers. If I review something, they write to me. If my column disappears in a budget downfall, they write to me and ask where the hell my column went.
But ... modern newspaper publishers don't seem to care about older, literate readers. These days they are very worried about "at-risk" readers -- kids who would rather memorize obscene lyrics delivered aurally than read a book.
Ya know, the kind of people who get tired from moving their lips while they read.
Book sections, ironically enough, serve people who do read, and help them become more interested in reading.
Book sections are how newspaper publishers can help keep the readers they have, and attract and keep new readers.
Enough of my little rant. I didn't mean to do this. I just wanted to introduce a link to a fine item in the blog of the Book Critics Circle, regarding a book reviewer who recently took a buyout at the Dallas Morning News -- which has been making draconian staff cuts of late.
Please take a look at the farewell letter from Jerome Weeks, which the Morning News did not run, but the Book Critics Circle did.
Best wishes to you all.
John Orr
posted by John Orr | 7:37 PM
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