Was talking to some alt-weekly industry bigwigs yesterday, and they kind of saw this coming. (No doubt because of stories like this, which you’ll want to read for background.) Long story short: Village Voice Media, which owns the Dallas Observer and the SF Weekly in San Francisco, was sued by its competitor, the Bay Guardian, for predatory pricing. The Bay Guardian won. The case is on appeal, but in the meantime, because VVM couldn’t pay a $25 million note (spare me the legal details, I know I’m skimming), the judge has ordered that the BG can start taking half of SF Weekly’s advertising revenue. Meanwhile, back in Montreal, the bank that in effect owns VVM says, “WAIHT! ZEES MONEY EEZ OURS!” and has … well, just read the stories. It’s incredibly juicy media catfight kinda stuff.
Two footnotes: One, you’ll want to read VVM’s official take here, which explains this was legally necessary but they’re in no danger of going under, and two, yes, I used to work at the Observer and even interviewed to be its editor a few years ago (and was told, um, that will never happen), but if those circumstances kept me from commenting on local media companies, I’d have to stop altogether.
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How long before the DMN explains with a straight face that Quick was the determining factor, eroding the Observer’s readership to such a point that the entire corporate structure collapsed? That would help Belo explain why only geniuses are in newspaper management.
Please pray for Big Bob! The Observer can go away, but Mr. Wilonsky, better than any other writer/blogger in local media, has his stethoscope placed squarely on the heartbeat of Big D.
..and he knows that our heart is strong.
It’s great reading the extensive coverage from Robert. He is someone who is objective but clearly loves our city.
I’m still mourning Lakewood Black White and Read and hoping http://eastdallastimes.com/ will bring Bruce Phelps back on to our screens.
A lot of people choose to live in our part of town because they hate change…