Gay Media's Southern Voice and Washington Blade Close Down. Good riddance to rubbish.
Done Being Politically Correct
Employees of the gay newspaper Southern Voice arrived at the publication's
office Monday to find the doors locked and a sign posted saying the
magazine was no longer in business.
A notice posted at the Southern Voice office in Atlanta stated: "It is
with great regret that we must inform you that effective immediately, the
operations of Window Media LLC and Unite Media LLC have closed down."
Window Media LLC, based in Washington, D.C., is the country's largest gay
and lesbian newspaper publisher. The company also owns the Washington
Blade, Genre Magazine, South Florida Blade and a handful of other gay
publications.
The Washington Blade, which has been printing for 40 years, has also
reportedly ceased operation, along with the Houston Voice and various
other Window Media properties.
The websites for some of the publications have been taken offline, while
others remain up, but with no fresh content posted.
Southern Voice Editor Laura Douglas-Brown told Creative Loafing that
employees knew the newspaper was in trouble, but were not notified of the
shut down in advance. "We had been told that essentially we'd be sold down
the road," Douglas-Brown said. "We had no inclination it'd be this
morning. Everyone's in shock right now."
The notice posted at the Southern Voice office asked employees to return
on Wednesday to retrieve personal belongings and receive information on
separation stipulations.
Window Media was put into federal receivership earlier this year under the
Small Business Administration due to serious financial issues with the
company. David Unger, CEO of Window Media and United Media, resigned in
July after reports he was forced out by the SBA, according to
ProjectQAtlanta.com.
Posting on the Southern Voice Facebook page Monday, editor
Douglas-Brown said: "While the 20 years of SoVo have come to an end, our
civil rights movement is only beginning. I am personally grateful to all
of the staff, and to all of you have had the courage to share your
stories. It has been the honor of my life to help you tell them."
Dänk 1010011010
<reclaim.amer...@2010.bootobama.org> wrote:
> http://www.shewired.com/Article.cfm?ID=23933
>
> Employees of the gay newspaper Southern Voice arrived at the publication's
> office Monday to find the doors locked and a sign posted saying the
> magazine was no longer in business.
>
> A notice posted at the Southern Voice office in Atlanta stated: "It is
> with great regret that we must inform you that effective immediately, the
> operations of Window Media LLC and Unite Media LLC have closed down."
>
> Window Media LLC, based in Washington, D.C., is the country's largest gay
> and lesbian newspaper publisher. The company also owns the Washington
> Blade, Genre Magazine, South Florida Blade and a handful of other gay
> publications.
As a gay man, I have no reason to read gay newspapers, since they are
devoid of any substance. I did pick one up in San Francisco earlier
this year, and it contained nothing but bleats of praise for Obama,
complaints about cuts in the AIDS budget, and lots of ads for gay
bars, clubs, bathhouses, and sex shops.
There simply aren't enough gays to support a daily newspaper, though
the market might support a regional monthly publication. A newspaper
isn't even needed, since the addresses of sex clubs can easily be
found on the Internet.