Hey Newhouses, as despised as your plans to minimize The Times-Picayune and to embarrass New Orleans have been, I have more bad news for you. We’re a different city now than we were a week ago. We’re tougher and more united and we have even less tolerance for distant owners and their hatchet men trying to tell us that less is more. We have suffered through a natural disaster. We all spent a night with our houses shaking and we have experienced several hot and humid days without electricity. When people live through something like that, they either leave town or feel more committed to their place. Smooth talk doesn’t go far with people who have experienced the rough side of life. New Orleans this Labor Day is bursting with news: The federal levees worked; some of of the parish levees did not. There is relief. There is tragedy. The Saints season opens next Sunday. The teams has taken hits during the off season but still remains a contender. Hurricane insurance? $10,000 deductibles? Fall elections? There’s plenty for a daily newspaper to write about, but on future Labor Days we will not be reading anything in The Times-Picayune for Monday is one of the days forbidden by the Newhouses. At least we will have the daily Advocate by then.
This week New Orleans begins its last month of having a locally published daily newspaper. What the Newhouses are doing to this city is a disgrace. We know there will be other other media alternatives to rally and fill the vacuum. Just like with those water stains on our ceilings, we will make improvements. Sir Newhouse, do you really think that your slash-and-burn and dazzle-with-digital plan will ever be fully embraced in New Orleans? If so, I have more news for you.
New Website Provides News and Numbers
Though the Newhouses see the web as the future, it is also a stronghold of opposition to their plans. The latest comes from Bill McHugh of Bush, Louisiana who provides links to related articles and some thoughtful number crunching. Check it out:
