The news about journalism continues to be bad
Plus, subpoenas and the Stew Leonard's mascots #92
This week started with the news that WCBS 880 would turn into a 24-7 sports channel, which meant the newscasters, writers, producers and everyone else there sharing the news would be out of a job. A bummer.
Then WNYC/Gothamist announced they planned to cut at least 8% of its workforce through buyouts and then, if that doesn’t save enough money, layoffs.
Oh, and the New York Times, which has one of the largest metro newsrooms in New York City, formally announced they would no longer endorse in local races. This deals with their opinion team, sure, but it could signal a further retreat from the city as it leans into “global” news. I don’t have much to say that hasn’t already been said (by Errol, by Harry) but it makes me sad to think of the most well-resourced newsroom in our city moving away from local coverage, instead of increasing it. A lot of us out here are struggling to survive. Imagine what we could do in New York City with even a littl bit of the NYT’s budget!
As a reporter you get used to this specific feeling. When you aren’t being bombarded by the bad news around the world – the wars, the genocides, the shootings, the natural disasters, the news you can’t turn off because it’s in the job description – you get steady alerts about layoffs, closures, stagnant wages, impossible options if you want to freelance, fewer and fewer resources. Just when you think it slows down, you get a week like this one.
Has this been too depressing on a Friday afternoon? Some friends have recently told me that I’m too good-natured to stay too down for long; if I were saying all this in person, I would have made a joke by now. So let’s focus now on some of the interesting stories from this week (I’ll warn you that some of them are also depressing.)
From THE CITY
Funding for English classes has shrunk, when people need it more
The council approved a major rezoning in the Bronx to build more housing
J’Ouvert is almost here. The costume designers have been working for weeks
There’s a new fire commissioner
Landlords register tens of thousands more rent-regulated apartments, under threat
⚖️SUBPOENAS⚖️
The New York Times broke the story that Mayor Eric Adams, his campaign, and City Hall received subpoenas in July as part of a federal investigation. Since last night he’s denied any wrongdoing, saying at an unrelated press conference this afternoon that he didn’t do anything wrong. Chief counsel Lisa Zornberg mostly addressed reporters today when asked limited questions about the probe and who’s been asked what by investigators.
Also:
The Stew Leonard’s mascots are going on tour
And:
The FAQ podcast, with my co-hosts Harry Siegel and Chrissy Greer, were mentioned in a New Yorker article this week.
🎧LISTEN🎧
Thanks for reading!