Okay, people, we've gotten some very interesting comments, emails and phone calls regarding Wednesday's post about the contract buyouts taken by most of the arts and culture staff at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and we thank you heartily for all your input and reasoned criticism. Democracy lives on The Mighty Internets™!
As has been pointed out, I did fail to note in my post that theater critic Damien Jaques and books editor Geeta Sharma-Jensen will still have a voice at MJS as freelancers and music/dance writer Tom Strini will continue on with his work, though where has not yet been determined, and for these omissions of fact I humbly apologize. It does happen on rare occasion that--surprise!--mistakes are made and I am more than willing to live up to them when they do. If you'd like to confirm the accuracy of what I've just stated, check out MJS art and architecture writer Mary Louise Schumacher's post and this Milwaukee Business Journal item.
On the other hand, the notion that freelancers are able or willing to take on the same amount of work at a single publisher as they would as full-time employees is simply not realistic, so my call for The Shepherd Express to expand its print coverage of arts and culture stands unchanged.
To the issue that The Shepherd is not exactly beloved by many artsy types in the community, I wholeheartedly agree, but it is still another print outlet that could take up some of the slack.
Also, while I have my own opinions regarding the quality of work produced by the writers/critics who took the buyout, that was not the main thrust of the post, so there was no reason to include it. If you're dying to know what I think of the skills displayed by these writers/critics, well, let's just say I don't.
Ben Turk mentioned in the comments that The Onion's Decider Milwaukee has been covering more arts and culture in its printed format, and to that I say, "Wow, why the hell didn't I think of mentioning them?" So thanks, Ben!
In the interest of broadening the discussion, I had a chat with a friend today who suggested the brilliant idea that MJS put out its feelers and contact other arts/culture writers to increase its pool of freelancers and open up its print and online publications to more voices, particularly for reviews. Mary Louise Schumacher has already wisely done this by inviting guest bloggers onto Art City, so why not for theatre, dance, music, TV, radio, and books? Seems like a no-brainer to me.
That's what I've got on this subject for now. What else you kids got?
Related:
The Fading Ink of Miltown's Arts and Culture Coverage
An urgent call came over the Cricky phone earlier today--one that I was happy to take since the caller is a buddy of ours--and the gist of it was this: With the exception of art and architecture critic Mary Louise Schumacher, nearly the entire Milwaukee Journal Sentinel staff responsible for covering arts and culture have decided to take the contract buyouts offered to them by the newspaper's parent company Journal Communications Inc, including music and dance writer Tom Strini, theater critic Damien Jaques, books editor Geeta Sharma-Jensen, broadcast media columnist Tim Cuprisin, and pop music writer Dave Tianen.
Wha?! But who'll write reviews on music and dance performances for the edification of those who still read ink on paper? Who'll pen critiques of local theatre and get Insurgent's Ben Turk all riled up? Who'll tell literary lovers which books are pedantic and forced and which ones deliver real emotional narrative? Who'll offer both a stirring analysis of Fox's So You Think You Can Dance and a doling out of kudos to WTMJ 620 AM's often loony morning radio host Charlie Sykes in one column? Who'll give the parents and grandparents of tweens and teens a reason to click their tongues and shake their heads at the most recent lunatic romps of Britney Spears? Who?
As much as I loves me some good-natured pokin' of the printing press world--and, really, who doesn't?--this is a serious situation for our ol' Miltown. While we can go on and on about print media writhing painfully in its death throes, the reality is that there are still plenty of people within the general populace who don't have computer access or don't know how to use one. A large percentage of these folks are low income residents and the elderly to whom the newspaper is an invaluable source of information.
The fact that the arts and culture department is being gutted is particularly distressing as the distribution of MJS as a print newspaper is one of the major means of getting art events and issues out to the public, and the public is exactly who we artsy types need to connect with if we want them to care more about what we create and have to offer the community at large.
Certainly the dye has been cast at MJS, but maybe there's another print outlet that could see a ripe opportunity in such dismal news--perhaps a paper of the weekly variety, hmm? Well, the only candidate fitting that description around here is The Shepherd Express, and maybe if we all send owner Louis Fortis emails and letters expressing our support and encouragement for his paper to expand its arts and culture coverage specifically in print, maybe it just might happen.
So we throw down the gauntlet to you, Mr. Fortis! Shall you take up the challenge and fill the gaping print void before us? Surly you can see that even with the city's many online art and cultural resources now active--like this here bloggity blog and ThirdCoast Digest, just to name two--the beat is big enough for all of us and the case to be made for increased print coverage is a sound one.
Listen, don't get me wrong, we wanna grow Cricky's readership as much as possible, but if we tried to cover everything that happens in this town/state/country/world with an artsy or cultural slant, we'd end up twitchin' on the ground out of sheer exhaustion, completely and utterly useless to anyone.
So what say ye, Mr. Fortis?
For all you peeps who'd like to encourage Shepherd Express' owner to expand arts and culture print coverage, please send an email to lfortis at shepex dot com or mail a letter to:
The Shepherd Express
Attn: Louis Fortis
207 E. Buffalo St.
Suite 410
Milwaukee, WI 53202
When you're done, go treat yourself to your favorite cocktail, 'kay?
(Thanks, D!)
UPDATE: The Fading Ink II: An Apology, A Clarification, An Opinion, An Addition & An Idea
Celebrated newsman Walter Cronkite passed away on Friday, July 17, 2009, at the admirable age of 92. Known as "the most trusted man in America" and the personification of calm and steady, Cronkite was on a par with the legendary Edward R. Murrow, maintaining a journalistic integrity seldom achieved or witnessed.
Cronkite cut his journalistic teeth as a newspaper reporter and subsequently moved to television in 1950. Covering the news of the world during some of the most turbulent and significant times of the 20th Century--the Cold War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr., President John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy, and the Apollo XI moon landing--Cronkite brought a sense of clarity and reason to a U.S. audience struggling to navigate its way through uncertainty, fear and massive social and political change.
Interestingly enough, one of the most profound and memorable moments of his long career occurred while he was anchor of the CBS Evening News as he broke the sacred rule of journalistic objectivity and called for an end to the Vietnam War in 1968--an action that prompted President Lyndon Johnson to reportedly say, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost America."
As a great lover of classical music, Cronkite served as host of the annual international telecast "From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration" from 1985-2008, which aired in the U.S. as a part of the PBS television series Great Performances.
Cronkite was preceded in death by his wife Betsy, but is survived by two daughters and a son, to whom we offer our deepest condolences and sympathies.
For the rest of us, the life and death of such an accomplished, intelligent, insightful, honorable, and humble human being should give us pause to reflect on his remarkable and enduring place in history... and thankfully we were there.
We are überpleased and proud to welcome Indie Talent Magazine as a brand new sponsor of our little blog that could, can and will, CricketToes. Whoozzah!
Featuring profiles of independent artists across the disciplinary spectrum, Indie Talent is a rising monthly e-zine star available only on the highly influential and indomitable Internets™. How do they do it? Through the power of pure, nontoxic Indie awesomeness, of course.
Their third issue just came out, so go ahead and flip those digital pages, peruse the wealth of talent and enjoy learnin' what makes other artsy types tick. Who knows, by the time you're done readin', ya may even wanna advertise with 'em or pitch an article to the fine editors there, but only if you think you're poser-free enough to handle it, and of that we have no doubt.
Go to MagazineHost and click on Indie Talent.
It was with great sadness that we learned of the tragic death of actor David Carradine on June 3, 2009, in Bangkok, Thailand. He was 72 years old.
Though he worked continually throughout his life, Carradine is best known and most admired for his portrayal of the character Kwai Chang Caine in the television series Kung Fu (1972–1975)--a show that held me and multitudes of others captivated with every episode that aired--and he possessed all the grace and prowess required for such a psychologically and physically demanding role.
While it is fair and right to find good humor in the now kitschy aspects of the series, the timeless lessons imparted of the inherent connection between mind and body, and the exploration of the complex ethical questions we must all face in life, made Kung Fu one of the most unique to appear on the small screen in the US.
No other American actor at that time could have come anywhere close to Carradine's controlled yet moving performance. Restraint is one of the most challenging of all thespian skills to master and he demonstrated it beautifully.
To wit:
We offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends during this extremely difficult time.
Rest in peace, Grasshopper. Masters Po and Kan await.
Oh. Good. God. A wondrous email landed in Cricky's box this afternoon announcing the launch of PBS' new beta video portal. Hurray and Yippee for all of us!
Through the magic of The Internets™ you can now watch full-length programs online whenever you want, including the most recent, most significant, most longtime-coming 5-part American Experience mini-series on Native American history "We Shall Remain."
I received this historic communiqué of newsy goodness 'cause I happen to be a participant in the PBS Viewer Advisory Group--the weird and wonderful thing is that they listen to you! If you'd like to join me so you can make stupendous things like this happen, go here. And don't forget to donate some cash to your local PBS station.
Oh all the things we shall learn and explore--things we may have missed because we were too busy either workin' or boozin', eh, people?
Now go and feel your brains expand!
The amazingly talented actress, Broadway star and all-around fantastic human being Bea Arthur passed away on Saturday April 25, 2009. She was 86 years old.
As the star of the 1970's groundbreaking television show Maude, Arthur brought life and an indomitable energy to a complicated, cuttingly witty, no-nonsense female character, the likes of which had not been seen before and are seldom presented on either the big or small screen today.
Relatively younger viewers will remember her as Dorothy Zbornak on The Golden Girls--a huge hit with gays everywhere!--that handled the lives and issues of older women with a deft and funny hand, proclaiming loudly and proudly, "Yes, there is sex after 50!"
We offer our sincere condolences to her family.
NPR's Fresh Air aired excerpts from a 2007 interview with Arthur today and you can listen to it here.
Truly, there are all of us who pass through this mortal coil and then there's Maude.
While channel surfing last night, Kev and I briefly caught a glimpse of TMJ4's News at 10. Before we could frantically yell, "Local news! Turn it! Turn it!" as is our custom, we were subjected to perpetually and painfully chipper anchor Mike Jacobs reporting that Milwaukee's longtime independent bookseller Harry W. Schwartz had announced that it is closing its multiple doors on March 31, 2009. Our initial reaction was of openmouthed shock, which was quickly followed by deep sorrow.
For 82 years, Schwartz has promoted and sold all forms of the written word, prospering through good times and persevering valiantly though bad times, even managing to survive The Great Depression, but this current crushing recession is simply more than it can withstand. With its unwavering dedication to authors and readers alike, the name of Harry W. Schwartz has become synonymous with independent bookselling in the Greater Milwaukee area and its absence will be profoundly missed but never, ever forgotten.
The good news, if one can truly use that phrase in a such grievous time, is that the managers of the Downer Avenue and Mequon locations are planning to buy those stores, keeping them open under different names. That means we still have a shot at redemption, kids, and we should all frequent these two book stores so they shall not suffer the same fate.
Read the farewell note, co-authored by owner/president Carol Grossmeyer and chairwoman Rebecca Schwartz, on the front page of the Schwartz website. Even the most cynical and jaded among us will find it difficult not to shed a tear or two.
Back in October I let you kids know that intrepid world trekker and travel show host Rick Steves had produced a new one-hour television special called Rick Steves' Iran, Yesterday and Today, to be aired sometime in January. Well that sometime is tonight.
Tune in to Milwaukee Public Television (MPTV) Channel 36 at 8PM to learn all about this culturally and historically rich country. It's a balmy and enviable 39º F in Tehran right now, so just knowing that should warm your toes a bit.
If ya don't live in the MPTV viewing area, go to PBS.org to find out when you can see this remarkable program.
Related:
Travel Iran the Rick Steves Way!
