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Update: District Weekly Will Fold by Ryan ZumMallen | Archive | 03.17.10 |
+ * 10:30am | The District Weekly editor-in-chief Ellen Griley has confirmed the news through an e-mail. Sad day. * 10:00am | The local journalism news website LAObserved.com reports today that Long Beach's alternative magazine The District Weekly will fold. Details are scarce at the moment but we'll have more information shortly. The District launched almost exactly three years ago and was an instant hit with investigative reporting and clever writing, as well as a near-monopoly on the local restaurant scene. Most of its staff left the OC Weekly to start The District because, as legend goes, they lived in Long Beach and thought it deserved its own alt-weekly (which is absolutely true). The stranglehold of the economy has not been kind and The District made no bones about the measures it was taking to cut back, moving from glossy to newsprint almost a year ago, among other tactics. Again, we're waiting for more information, but it looks as though this could be a very sad day.
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54 Comments so far.
Dave in Alamitos Beach Wow, this is really tragic news. I think The District Weekly is the best thing to happen to Long Beach in years. Can they at least go digital instead of newsprint? Whither Theo Douglas, Dave Wielenga, et al? LBCityGirl So very sad.... William Thompson Indeed very sad news. Having moved out of state recently, the District and LB Post are my sole sources for LB news. If true, Theo, Dave and staff will be sorely missed. They have been a beacon of light for the arts community. Lily B. Cipher So now the only funky, edgy, alternative, artsy, watchdog, neurotic, silly, sarcastic publication will fold and city hall gets last laugh. Well, free enterprise I suppose but who will carry the torch and dig beneath the surface of things? Really sad day. iamgoldberg Well that leaves more room for the POST to swoop in and become the TRUE Long Beach media outlet! NA Really sad. Dave should make a good choice and pair up with the LBPOST Michael Gordon Major bummer! Besides LB Post, what will we now do for REAL local news and investigative journalism? Babs Thanks to all from the District Weekly who have brought us good and courageously reported news about LB and surrounding vicinity for 3 years. We will miss you all but never forget you! Best of luck - good journalism never dies.. Rachel Nooooo! Oh, I am so sad! What a loss for the Long Beach Community. Now where am I going to find out about the best shows, happy hours and other greats in LB!? Misfit The OC Weekly survived and seems to have thrived after this crew left. Will Swaim then moved on again, so one would wonder if these folks were believing their own press. superstar Sad! Awesome rag! Maybe more promo would have been good? I am not sure it was in the general public's view enough.It is easy to Monday morning quarterback. Keep trying District! Maybe online only? You guys are the best. William Thompson I can only guess that the reason for the District's demise is a fall in ad revenue. It will be interesting to see an outpouring of support for the District. But one wonders, wouldn't it have been better for all those saddened by this loss, to have maybe supported the District by buying ad space? Jeremy Colonna Whoa, you mean to tell me that a print media outlet is folding in 2010? What does this mean for the coal burning power plant, typewriter factory and phrenology practice that I was planning on opening?! Sally That is sad news indeed. I enjoy my weekly District fix and will sorely miss it. It is SO Long Beach! Lily's description nailed it. Laurie So sorry to hear this. Really like the DW, but I do confess to being an online reader only. Sander My heartfelt thanks are extended to past and present District staff who, with few resources, produced some truly amazing work. Samuel Lippke If they switched to a monthly mag, advertisers might bite and send the magazine into the plus zone. Either that or make it all online to eliminate print costs all together... I'd hate to see The District fail. Devil's Advocate Is it really that big of a loss? The writing of Douglas and Wielenga (as well as the District cover art) was often distorted and biased all the while operating under the guise of "investigative journalism." I am all for independent news sources and did appreciate the District's updates on Long Beach culture, but let's not confuse the two. MuffinLB The District, along with [a local news outlet], are the only two outlets left in town doing any watchdog reporting. The Press Telegram brown noses city hall, LA Times isn't much better, and the Gazette is mostly fluff. The District holds people like Gary DeLong accountable. Anyway it can be saved??? Brian This is because of termites like the LB Post who who aggregate news on a website and then sell ads...ads that people get very little response from. SalsaQ Too bad.....It was a great pub that truly served the community well. And it was available everywhere, in abundance! So much wealth in the community, perhaps someone will step forward and help out? Re-districting Let us praise the talent as a concept that worked most of the time. Let us move forward on line and support this new effort by buying ad space. Print my say it, but money talks. PoliticalCircusBlog "All the news that's fit to lose advertisers" great business plan! Frank This is too bad why not get rid of the Press Telegram as that is no longer a newspaper. John Greet TDW has been a definite asset to our community in many ways. Dave W. and Theo are a couple of the best locl investigative reporters around. I hope they and the remainder of the TDW staff are able to continue to ply their trade locally, or otherwise, through another periodical or online news service. either way they will by very much missed. oh geez So the Gazettes is back to being our only alt. weekly now? That is so sad. L. Montoya I am so saddened by the District's demise. There must be a way to keep it alive. How about piggybacking on the Post's readership? MARK COCHRANE VERY SORRY TO HEAR THE NEWS! Bill Orton That's too bad. It is true what appears on a bumper sticker handed out by the Communication Workers, that "Democracy Depends Upon Journalism." Now, for the first time in centuries, the very business model upon which journalism has been based is now eroding such that in less than a generation we've seen the demise of publications large and small, with only a dire future predicted. Sad for the staff and editors of The District. Sad for Long Beach. Sad for journalism. Matt I read the District every now and then..... I read lbpost.com daily though:) This is the natural course of the economy... the better media source is still here. Bianca & Peter You know, you could ALWAYS count on Dave and Theo being where the news was - big or small. I'm so sad. They must go online only. LBPOST is rockin'. csulb student please continue DW online Neena If the news is true... How very tragic to see the demise of yet another independent voice. Some may rejoice at the news - we at the Signal Tribune will not. The District will be missed Mat Kaplan Sad, indeed. I hope the LBPost will pick up more of the slack, and maybe some of the fine writers like Wielenga who made The DW sassy and smart. WolveinSocal The good always die young. Now as for the P-T, there is a publication that has long ceased to have any meaning or relevance to the community, except for the bigoted old geezers who rant about everything in the Letters to the Editor. thee dope show ill be honest... i really dont care... i would post events for them and got no response... so yeah... im happy to hear the news... join 562citylife.com Gazetter What's with all the bad sentemint towards the Grunion Gazette? They're writing is top notch! Sure it's not blatantly bias like the District, but they believe in real journalism, you know like checking facts, sources little stuff like that. I know the staff personally, they're all dedicated and very hard working. They may not all be liberal hipsters but at least they bring you the news sans slant. The Grunion has the best restaurant and store coupons in all of the LBC, ones that actually save you money. And don't get me started on their classified section, everyone in Long Beach knows when you need to find a place to live, you look in the Grunion. So please don't hate the player...hate the game! ElJefe It is said that women become more and more attracted to the man they fall in love with, while men fall more and more in love with the women they are attracted to. There is no question that The District Weekly made me fall more and more in love with Lady Long Beach. Thanks to all of the visionaries, writers and staff who provided a romantic interlude every Wednesday for the past 3 years. mzm very dissapointing newz.....wish it wasn't soooo....i love the alternative news they provide as well as the real objectivity and insight on key issues not typically covered by other news sources.....hope their is something which can be done...maybe people are willing to pay for it instead???? Kate K Drat. Tom Marchese This is a sad day for free and fair debate in this town and many people that I know considered this paper an important resource. This town has always needed authors with the courage to ask the hard questions, investigate situations that do not pass the smell test and then do some in depth investigative journalism. This is why our town has been so well served by The [a local news outlet] for so many years. They try to add balance and perspective to the debate over many important issues. It seems as though the DW, and the [a local news outlet] have often qued a story up so that the Press Telegram gets involved. This serves democracy, this helps residents gain knowledge, which is power. We wish the Swaim's, Cool Dave Wielenga, and Theo the Great nothing but the best. I sincerely hope that they will resurface somewhere, soon. Long Beach is better for their efforts, and their effort will be missed. In a way, democracy dies whenever the voice of any person,class of persons or minority is silenced. An outlet for many confidential sources, leads and tips is also now mute. Too bad. I feel the rights of many individuals shrnking today, and that pains me. The Commish Sad, sad news. Dave & Theo: need any references? Mike Albert The District Weekly will be missed by Long Beach's birdcages and kittie carriers. You called it a "sad day" twice?! Grab a Guinness and grow a set, Zummy! Ellen @Gazetter: I know TDW's staff personallyâ€'and evidently you'd be surprised at how un-hip we are. Liberal? Well, you've at least got me on the mark, but I don't see how that played into any of our coverage. Frank in Carmel-by-the-Se Very sad news. My info on whats up in LB has been the LBPost, District Weekly, [a local news outlet], LB Business Journal, the Grunion Gazette, 562 CityLife, and a quick scan of the PT. The PT's pretty glum, unless you're into heinous crime and gangs. The Districts writing is great. These papers and internet media keep me up-to-date on whats happening in the city I know like the back of my hand. Like I say and heard others say: Long Beach has its own vibe; its own feel. You have L.A. to the north, O.C. to the south, but Long Beach - Long Beach is its own community, nothing like L.A. or O.C. You have North Town (Jordan, class of 78)Bixby Knolls, The Shore, the Gay Ghetto area west of Bixby Park (Well, thats what we called it.)If I didn't live here with the best rent deal and rent situation in town, I'd be living down there again. Thank you District writers, for keeping us informed. I LOVE LONG BEACH! RCCJohn Besides the "Dance of the Lemons" article, what other hard-hitting, credible reporting happened in the District Weekly? It was a paper for the "entitled" and "happily unemployed". I agree with the comment below that a paper has to be worthy of buying ad space in, and neither of the two groups I mentioned ever BUY ANYTHING! Liberalism and Socialism create bad business; even in the capitalistic ventures that they attempt. OhBetty What a bummer........ very sad news! CHARLIE I'm confident Ryan of LBPOST will pick up the ball and keep us well informed of the important things in Long Beach - Have no fear, Ryan is here! Stef Pick up a copy of LIVE LB magazine... support your local Long Beach businesses that advertise there. Sober A knockoff of the OC Weekly that devotes half of it's pages to advertising marijuana? Good riddance... Really? To Neena from the Signal Tribune: Are you sad about the demise of the DW because you guys won't have anyone to build your ads for you? Oh wait, you still have the Gazette. Denise in Belmont Hights This is very sad news. How bout changing to "The District Monthly"? Gazetter We do what for the Signal Tribune! Jeannie How can we get old articles from past issues? I so remember the cover with the tatoo artist and it has made me want to get one ever since... I am wanting the mag now b/c i know it would have tatoo ads right there for me! Ahh you will be missed.
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Ryan ZumMallen has served as the managing editor of the LBPOST.com since 2007. He graduated from CSULB with a degree in Print Journalism in 2008 and is a member of the 2009 class of Leadership Long Beach. You can find him on various basketball courts around the city.
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