I have no beef with your story “Culture War.” Looks like you got to a lot of people and did your best to distill a he-said/she-said culture clash. The only thing I thought was off was the “victim” element. I’ve been with New Times for six years and I run these stories by the pound. I think the difference is, we don’t try to write essay No. 765,982 on why Bush sucks, or corporations are bad, or that kind of generic screaming into the wind that’s been done so many times before. It’s not a political decision. In a way, it’s just an aversion to writerly self-importance.
The cool thing about the New Times ethic, at least to me, is that it’s more respectful of the reader. The whole game is built to engage people — meaning you have to report, ammo up with a fresh story and a fresh take — because their time is precious and their allegiance doesn’t come easy. You gotta make yourself worthy. I think the old Village Voice method too often put politics above engagement.
The stories often seemed to assume that the reader naturally agreed with your viewpoint, and naturally agreed that this was an important subject, instead of working to convince them of both. It led to a lot of stuff that should have simply been headlined, “Holy Christ, Look at How Smart I Am.” Having sadly spent much of my early career practicing this kind of journalism, I found that it was great for getting backslaps from my buddies at the bar, but made virtually no impact on the larger audience. Obviously, there are a lot of personality collisions taking place here. But at the end of the day, it’s really just an argument over the best way to keep alt-weeklies thriving in the future.
Pete Kotz
Cleveland, Ohio
I would argue that writing critically and insightfully about the Bush administration hardly makes one “ideological.” If not the alternative press, who?
Jen Sorensen
Charlottesville, Virginia
Guilty pleasure
Regarding Karl Stevens’s “Whatever” comic, I’ve been meaning to write to let you know how much I enjoy your comic. It’s so cool. I look forward to reading it every week!
Julia Carlson
WHLReview Fiction Editor
Brookline
Yes to Wes
Thank you for pointing out the innovative and open mind of Wes Clark. He’s a refreshing change to “politics as usual.” I hope he enters the race and gives people in our country the kind of leadership we so desperately need. I have chosen to help him try to prevent a war in Iran. I hope many of your readers will choose to do the same. Thanks again.
Kathleen Geraghty
Tyngsboro
New England jolt
Regarding “Choosing our religion,” I’m not from New England, but I’ve lived here since 1985. Dunkin’ Donuts was one of the first things “New England” that I was introduced to as a student (that, and Steve’s Ice Cream). I've been drinking Dunks ever since. It really is mellow but rich coffee, and the buzz is warm, not harsh or jittery. The other appeal to me is apparent: New Englanders like to just “get on with their business.” They humbly (for the most part) push through their daily routines with a work ethic that probably rivals anyplace in the US, and the steaming-hot coffee, with the heaping “regular” spoonfuls of sugar to jolt them awake, is just the thing to keep them going. No time to sit on a stuffed leather chair, next to the cozy fireplace, listening to the Muzak of John Mayer or Dave Matthews, and reading Emily Brontë! No siree, we’ve got to keep moving, make our hard-earned dollah. Here’s to having more Dunks every three blocks!
