tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post116464230848102976..comments2024-01-07T06:59:04.212-05:00Comments on The Playgoer: Print Criticism: End is Nigh?Playgoerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994724588504353485noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-1164859653866249292006-11-29T23:07:00.000-05:002006-11-29T23:07:00.000-05:00This is part of why newspapers need unions. The Ne...This is part of why newspapers need unions. The Newtimes weeklies have busted theirs. That's how it became easy for them to dump staff critics and rely on (lower-paid, no-benefits) freelancers. Not to say freelancers are scabbing, but they have no muscle -- and maybe not even inclination -- to try to speak out. It's all atomized in this "ownership society" and if you can't buck the tide, might as well get your clips.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-1164815894390503512006-11-29T10:58:00.000-05:002006-11-29T10:58:00.000-05:00Thanks for gathering this information. I'd say of...Thanks for gathering this information. I'd say of all the canaries in the critical coal mine, the film critic is the sturdiest and would be the last to die. In my neighborhood – Southern California – they seem to die in this order: art, dance, music, theater, books, pop music, television and film. This is based on the fact that advertising dollars increase in the same order. On the other hand, syndicated reviews are also more readily available the further you go up the ladder. Perhaps a ray of hope can be found in the idea that if, as Moore states, "a critic with a real job can flex some muscle and speak out," a critic without a job really has nothing to lose. The challenge there is to maintain a steady critical "strike zone" while working in obscurity. Those of us who take this watchdog pursuit seriously, probably need to support one another, and comment as often as possible to give a blog-pat on the back. Thanks again.Theatertimeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12377903065856283534noreply@blogger.com