Hey, Pitch readers.
We published a bunch of year-end reflections
this week, with Martin's column about the Year in Stupidity, my
take on the year in Funk and Gloria, Charles Ferruzza's recap of
a horrible year in the local restaurant industry. In print, look for Forester
Michael's cool photos of the year in music.
But that copy went to bed a couple weeks ago, and mostly
I've just been thinking about the year ahead. First, we had to get
through an agonizing last week of 08. Here at The Pitch, we'd avoided
much of the bloodletting like that at the Star. We've always been lean
-- we didn't have room to mess with stories about how to organize
closets, we
didn't have the luxury of wasting beats, and we could never afford
inflated sports writers dragging down our budgets. Also unlike the dailies, our papers have always been free. We know how to make money by giving away
free, high-quality information -- and that's serving us well in Web world.
That's not to
say we haven't suffered along with everyone else -- except for a
privileged few -- in the Bush economy. Honest, hard-working people bankroll The Pitch with their advertisements; in return, we
provide businesses with readers who become customers. But after eight
long years of whatever is the opposite of "compassionate conservatism,"
we're left with an economy in ruins. And we'll be honest: It's torn a
hole in part of The Pitch. Last week, we laid off two of our comrades
in the editorial department. We restructured several other jobs,
cutting hours and, in some cases, benefits. Our bosses announced they
wouldn't match our 401(k) plans until further notice. We won't get
raises for the foreseeable future. Top editors and publishers took pay
cuts. This is apparently what we have to do to survive until the economy improves.
It breaks our hearts to lose co-workers, but it hasn't
broken our spirit. Dozens of people still work at The Pitch as always, either full-time, part-time or freelance -- and we're pissed.
In the year ahead, we'll fight even harder against arrogance, stupidity,
incompetence, evil and corruption. We'll keep championing hometown heroes, people who make the city a better place and give us reason to hope.
And we'll drink at local bars. Eat at local restaurants. Watch local theater. Buy
local art. Pay cover charges to see local music. Because we're just
like everyone else in this town, and these are the things that keep us
strong. -- C.J. Janovy
Showing 1-12 of 12
The pitch used to let whores place ads but they went to Craigs list...thats the problem, dam it!
Wow...sounds like this room is full of hormonal men on some serious testosterone. Tone it down, dudes! This is exactly why your car insurance increases every year...need a tampon in the future?...I'll be happy to suppy all of you a nice pink box. How old are you dudes?...12, 13, 14?...sounds like you testosterone freaks need to find a new toy...but, as they say, "boys will be boys".
...carry on now--I'll drop the tampons by later
Thomas, I wouldn�t write these guys off just yet. Save for their political coverage being based on providing an echo chamber to their demograph rather than any substance, logic, or original thought; they actually do have a damn good staff of writers and provide the best investigative journalism in town, if not from the Mississippi to the Rockies. CJ�s commentary is nothing more than regurgitating the Lacey dictated corporate mantra.
Deep down, CJ might actually understand that it is more Al Gore�s fault than Bush�s fault, but Lacey and the demograph want nothing to do with such reality and hence we will never know her real thoughts on the matter.
If folks at the Pitch don't understand why they're facing the troubles they are, they don't have any hope of surviving.
Hint: the problem is the internet, not GW Bush.
Good thing dead wood and writing a lick are not metaphors, hunh, Nick? But, hang in there with your LMAO, WTFs, and calling people gay because you are the future you electronic stud, you! Well, at least as long as there is someone else out there that has your ideas for you and you can link to them!
Sportster, keep the faith, brother! Folks like guz are convinced that GW did all of this and the Democrats are completely blameless as their messiah walks in on greenbacks instead of palm leaves. But, at least guz develops his own thoughts (i.e. he hasn't become a linkbot yet), so he might be saved.
hey sportster, i had no idea someone could actually fart into a keyboard and have it stink across the internet but you pulled it off.
hows the bush economy helping you and your families? i love how the pitch blaming the dude who has been in charge for 8 years is somehow marxism. like its crazy for liberals to blame the president for things hes fucked up. but then you turn right around and blame obama who isnt even the president yet.
hey - that's cool!
I always wondered who the trevor was? Turns out to be a dead tree media person.
The give away?
* poor mixed metaphors (sinking ship, gaping holes, drowning masses...rather than drowning crew).
* blind watch dogs...yeah, uh, the thing is dogs don't actually see all that well. They rely on hearing and sense of smell.
* then there's this fascination with "glory holes", "gaping holes", "dry mounting Bush"; let's just say someone is in deep denial and move on, okay?
Then there's this non sequitur about not linking blogs AND going back to yadda yadda yadda. As though one could either link blogs or go back to yadda yadda yadda, not both.
All that adds up to dead tree manager or editor, someone who can't write a lick.
You would think folks at The Star would have better things to do...
I'm sorry your 401k match is over. Thats why your pay should be for a certain gross figure with you resposible, paying your own retirement and healthcare. Thanks for the explanation about how Pitch is affected. I support the local alternative! Keep up the good work.
Geezus - now I've seen everything.
George Bush hates The Pitch - and now we have proof.
Christ almighty, people, pull your head out of your Marxist asses will you!
First off - lets look at Pelosi and stop makin George your whippin boy cuz that's what all the other liberals are doing.
Secondarily, now that your "savior", the Lord Obama is taking office, you'll be happy to be writing for the state-owned alternative, soon to be named PravPitchda when this lib is done with things.
You thought Bush was bad?
Wait 6 months!!
Your an ALTERNATIVE weekly.
If you wanted to be TIME or NEWSWEEK, or even a shadow of the daily rag, maybe you should start acting like it.
Oh, wait a minute - you already do!
Sportster
...wake up
There you have it, ladies and gents, it isn�t the fault of CJ or Lacey�it is Bush�s fault. Take comfort that the bloodletting isn�t as bad as it is elsewhere, and closet organizing is retarded�unlike non-stop Kline bashing!
As the ship fucking sinks, gaping holes made by both Democrats and Republicans drowning the masses, it is good to know that the blind ass captain can ignore some of those holes. If only Barney Frank would have likewise ignored that Fannie Mae glory hole.
Blindness has historically been a poor trait for a watchdog, but somehow as long as that watchdog could point to the Republicans, there has been a new place for them. Well, at least until people got sick of watching that blind ass dog repeat the same trick as the store was being robbed.
If you want The Pitch to weather this storm, open your eyes, quit waiting in line to dry mount Bush, and get back to the shit that made you great. Get away from linking other people�s blogs and go after the robbers living large in your own backyard. Follow up on the gang organization that you started oh so long ago. Rather than make fun of the school buildings for sale, explain to the masses who the culprits are and how the schools can still lack accreditation. Ask a few questions about the raw sewage going into the river. And, for the love of God, keep the shit funny and witty.
Quit whining about going to Tosche Station and start being the only hope.
like
dislike
