Is The Times really dying?

P.S. In a million years, you wouldn't find the NYT hosting a discussion of whether it's a dying paper, etc.

Martin K @ 9:50 AM PDT, Jul 14, 2008

As an East Coaster who reads only the LAT's opinion page regularly, I can tell you that it beats the hell of out of the NYT's -- it's far more lively and thought-provoking. I'd say it compares favorably with the Washington Post's too.

Martin K @ 9:49 AM PDT, Jul 14, 2008

Six comments. Two from Elizabeth, and two from PCD. Elizabeth writes: Funny enough, I WANT to read articles which are symptathetic to (aka treat as human beings) immigrants, gay people, and people who (gasp!) have abortions. So, objective reporting is dead for this reader, who only wants her own views parroted back to her. It's dead.

Rachel @ 9:30 PM PDT, Jul 12, 2008

Most newspapers that are dying have a distinct leftist tilt; the LAT, the NYT, the Atlanta Journal/Constitution et al. All we ever wanted from our news sources was information; instead, we get condescension, incomplete coverage, cut backs in coverage (especially local coverage), pomposity and outright bias. Just the facts, ma'am, and you'll reclaim some of that lost luster. But you'll have to do it on-line.

Davey @ 7:28 PM PDT, Jul 12, 2008

I just wrote a summation of my problems with the L. A. Times. Whoops only 650 charactors allowed. I'll be succinct. Your on line paper and your blogs stink! The tiny print is awful. The limits on blogs will doom you.

Frank Caramelli @ 6:26 PM PDT, Jul 12, 2008

Marc's words incise. He is right, even if he's mean-toned. LA Times is like an Escalade, politically comfy but intenable junk hurtling towards its own demise. It needs to commit to something greater, like its readership, truth-seeking, and the belated birth of a new America whose gummy eyes are slowly opening to global, environmental and political realities. It has to to stop servicing power and start informing, questioning and educating. As for visionaries, few CEO's in America merit that title. And those who do, are using their mojo on other projects. Maybe a call to Warren Buffet is in order?

fluxy @ 4:40 PM PDT, Jul 12, 2008

The LAT is dying for sure. From Tim Rutten's gross false statements, to the front page dredging up from 30 years ago of McCain's divorce (using the material from his own book) in a blatant attempt to help Obama, to articles denigrating McCain's war wounds, while saying his disability pension is not deserved and he is unfit to serve because of his shoulder injuries as a POW, to publishing articles by Hamas murderers, the bias is sickening. I await their going back 30 years for a front page story on Obama's drug use.

ted kensington @ 12:50 PM PDT, Jul 12, 2008

Guess what? Those 13 yr-olds the Times was pandering to don't read newspapers!

John @ 12:16 PM PDT, Jul 12, 2008

thanks, Marc--you got it right. after 15 years of subscribing to The Times, i dropped my subscription when the paper was 'dumbed down'. local arts and classical music coverage sacrificed to a new 'fashion' section. yeck! i prefer the feel of a newspaper in my hands, but get much better coverage on the web; and its free and doesn't consume trees. LAT management had no respect for the loyalty or intelligence of its readers and is paying the price. perhaps forever--and that's very sad.

Jane @ 12:11 PM PDT, Jul 12, 2008

The left-leaning nature of paper's like The Times is more than evident. Reports of the paper's demise are celebrated around the web on right-leaning sites. Instead of angering Times staffers, this should serve as a wake-up call. The Dinosaur Media Death Watch builds steam, and there's been plenty of fuel on the fire lately.

CMartel2 @ 11:42 AM PDT, Jul 12, 2008

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