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Update: District Weekly Will Publish Final Issue by Ryan ZumMallen | Archive | 03.19.10 |
+  Update 12:30pm Friday | A final issue will be published by The District Weekly, according to the defunct publication's Facebook and Twitter pages. It will be released next Wednesday, March 24th. Click here to read LBPOST.com columnist Keith Higginbotham as he remembers The District Weekly. * 3:00pm Wednesday | “It’s been the best job anyone could ever have, and the best team anyone could ever have,” she said. “I just know that I’m proud of it. Every single thing we did.” “Certainly, ad revenue wasn’t where it needed to be,” said Griley, in an attempt to explain the publication’s descent. “But there’s really no person to blame or one thing to blame. Because part of me thinks, in a way, the City wasn’t ready for a paper like this.” The District Weekly was known throughout Long Beach for its no-holds-barred investigative reports into politics and development, as well as a creative and witty style of writing that fit the traditional alt-weekly mold. Its reporters also had a firm grasp on the local entertainment and nightlife scene, also drawing praise for detailed profiles and fascinating features. My personal favorite? A detailed look into why sections of the city have physically sunk over the decades due to underground oil drilling. The publication’s final issue hit stands last week and will not publish a farewell issue. Griley joined the staff of the OC Weekly in 2003 and was part of the large group that left to start the District in 2007. She said that she actually planned on leaving the District at the end of March to pursue other career goals, and had finally become comfortable with the idea of handing it off to a successor. “I certainly always thought – even in the face of evidence that was completely to the contrary – I always thought that my last issue would be March 31 and then the following week I would walk out and see the District edited by someone else,” Griley said. “And I was really excited for that! And I was really excited to see what a new editor could do with it, but it’s just the right decision and it’s the right time to close. As sad as it is, it’s what needed to be done.” Griley said that the fate of publication’s popular website, TheDistrictWeekly.com, lies in the hands of Seven Days Publishing, LLC. The company was founded by former District publisher Will Swaim, and his wife Heather Swaim serves as president. She did not immediately return a phone message. The debut issue in April 2007 featured an almost sinister photo of strip club owner Jerry Westlund covered in tomatoes, while a smiling lawn-bowling senior draped in white graces the final issue. “I find it ultimately hilarious that our first issue was Jerry Westlund painted with tomatoes thrown at him,” said Griley, “And then our last issue is this beautiful, angelic old woman.” Over the phone, she erupts in laughter. The one thing you could always say about The District Weekly was that it had character.
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30 Comments so far.
LBMatt We'll miss you guys, District Weekly. A broken financial model does not reduce the value of every member of your staff. LBPost, thanks for the coverage. Sally Good job, LB Post. The District will rise again. Pprmint You were the best thing to happen to this City. You had class and you weren't afraid to tell it like it is. I will really miss you guys--particularly Dave & Theo. You are both diggers in face of a City that just wants to look at the smooth surface...and tells us it's nice. I guess Editor's privilege gives papers the value they deserve. You are a lost value to many of us--may you always walk in truth. Brown Bag Party Passionis Thank you District for making the few years of good reading quite enjoyable. Nothing will EVER top "Vector Control." *Tips hat* Que Lastima! That was such a great magazine, hip, witty, funny, and free. They also had good journalistic standards, even if they did occassionally cuss. I've interviewed with Theo Douglas and Ellen Griley. They research before publishing and seek comments from other parties involved in a story. It's sad to see them go. Free press and free markets need to find a way to pay journalists, because I'm not subscribing unless it's really good and really cheap. Supply, meet Demand It's a shame because this mag really is a niche in the journalistic ld be community. Gazette is also a nice, "safer" (less opionated) paper and it would be sad to see them go soon, but I'm sure advertising dollars aren't rolling in their accounts either. As for the P-T? I read it, but I don't like it, and I don't think anyone else does. There's a demand for independent, intelligent, journalism. Thanks LBPost for all of your hard work, now with the DW gone, pressure's on. NoFreeLunch As a resident of Long Beach I hold myself and others like me responsible for the closure of this great weekly paper. I did not regularly use the businesses that paid for the advertisements listed in this paper and advise them that I saw their ad in the paper. It was the businesses that paid for this paper . If the businesses didnt know that their ads were working they would stop advertising. Less advertisers means less revenue and now we are where we are. As consumers we have to financially support the kinds of businesses we want or they to will have to go away. lbcitizen That's too bad! Where are all of the medpot clinics supposed to advertise now? We Love Long Beach Thank you Ellen and The District Weekly for allowing We Love Long Beach to have a voice every week. Thank you also for the stories and presence that you brought to Long Beach. deryke this was BOUND to happen. LONG BEACH is the MOST ingrate-full city when it comes this sort of thing. Look at the outcome of DDR projects and every other deserving rag that has been published within city limits. In my 36 years I've seen a lot of great stuff stifled by the very same people they were too proud to serve. Another proud moment in L.B.'s transformation from a proud port city to NORTH ORANGE COUNTY. Weak sauce L.B., weak sauce! Paul This paper gave honest opinions and some class to a city that kicks sand in the face of class, and in the long term, money and quality of life. Let's worry about providing for pot heads and criminals, but nothing about expanding quality neighborhoods? The Federal Government is working to keep us as a Federal housing project, to the glee of our elected and public officials. Yet who keeps voting for these people that kill any thought of making real social change for the better in all parts of town? We can only blame ourselves. Capster My hat is, and shall remain, off to you all - nicely done! Be well... John M. Fentis It is indeed sad to lose a publication that is refreshing when one compares what is left in its aftermath. I'm sure that the good reporters of the District Weekly will find a suitable place to land in an effort to keep up the level of quality journalism in this part of Los Angeles County. As for the publication itself, my heartfelt thanks to the quality and level of journalism that was provided. I hope that you will resurface in some other form so that your commitment to the totality of a story will continue. Best wishes to all of you. LB Surfer My favorite: "LB Breakwater Breakdown" (Jen Stockdale!) Thanks for siding with the underdog! (which is most of us). CHARLIE to RYAN Ryan - Your missing a lot of comments from your first article this morning... Gazetter The District catered to a generation that doesn't pick up a piece of paper with words on it. That's just the way it is everyone, better get used to it. Adreana Langston The illegal development of wetlands story and the coverage of the Haidl assault trial (along with all the hokum going on at th OC sheriff's department) were the absolute BEST. I'm glad to hear the website has a chance to stick around. TO Gazetter The problem obviously isn't with circulation; they were a widely read paper both online and in print. The problem is the print model doesn't work anymore, from a financial/advertising perspective....so you might want to lay off the smug. TO: To Gazetter Gazetter is right. The problem IS with circulation. How do you know they were widely read? Sure, you see The District all over the place, but it's a free publication. Those copies were dumped there by a driver every wednesday morning. And, even if it was widely read, the problem is still circulation, being that it wasn't circulated to the people that would frequent their advertisers to: TO Gazetter also, To Gazetter, you may think the print model doesn't work, but what really doesn't work is the online-advertiser model. At least it doesn't work to sustain a news operation. Online ads are too cheap and there is too much competition for the space. Most moderately successful web sites can only sustain a few people. For example, look at this site. They have advertising and only a couple (maybe 4) staffers. Everybody else works for free (or very little, no benefits, etc.) And when you have people working for free you get people who just want to promote themselves or their causes. And who wants to read that? Glb NoFreeLunch speaks the rational truth.. if you want local papers, and local restaurants/shops etc.. then shop there. If not then go downtown to our wonderful architectural gem, the PIKE, and grab the Press-Telegram on your mile walk back to the parking lot; you can probably read it in 4 minutes... Thanks District Staff for a good run... Kate K Whaddya mean--the city wasn't ready for a paper like this? Long Beach was made for a paper like this! Some of the most clever, incisive writing I've ever read. I can't even list a favorite, although the cell-phone-enhanced Westboro Baptist "Church" adventure stands foremost in my mind. Now I'll have to watch films that are lacking without being forewarned. May good luck be with you, Ellen and staff. LM Every Wednesday, I grabbed The District Weekly to read about Long Beach - NOT Orange County or LA. Every Wednesday, I'd laugh aloud over something in Vector Control. I found lots of new restaurants. I'm definitely going to miss it... subkerrylime Without the District, who will do the investigative reporting. Will someone check out Basil Kimbrew and what campaign he is working on. Does lbpost have the guts. It is easy just google and you will know and he is working on a campaign right here in Long Beach, God Help Us! But, which one? CHARLIE What you needed,Ellen, was a good Ad Sales Manager, or, an ad sales agency, organization that would have accomplished all this for you, plus your NetWorking; I have seen too many fine organizations go belly up due to the lack of adequate sales promotion planning and the right staff to implament it. we_deserve_better You were THE BEST locally (thanks here to the LB Post, who is being very gallant to allow these obits.) I woulda subscribed, given the opportunity! My teenagers were devotees of DW, and we let them read away, figuring that the ads in the Free Press (obtained covertly in Santa Monica, back in the day) didn't kill us and the medpot ads wouldn't kill them, either! You took young people, and artists, and musicians seriously, which made you must-reading in some circles at Millikan High School. (The death of reading among the young is exaggerated, thank goodness.) I let businesses know I appreciated their support of the DW, but perhaps we just didn't patronize the right ones! I hope another outlet will pick up the reporting of local art and music ('cause the P-T ain't doin' it!) Happy trails to Dave and Theo and Ellen and all-- we expect great things out of you. Rhythm Lounge We are very saddened by the closure of The District Weekly. The District Weekly was a strong supporter of Rhythm Lounge, even through harsh times when Rhythm Lounge got an unfair bad press on media (Press Telegram). The District Weekly stepped up and gave the ACCURATE story. We will miss you guys! Kip The District was doomed from the start because it was a print publication that came into fruition about two years after print officially died, right around the same time that the economy completely hit the skids. Tough break, but it's all logic and common sense really. Hopefully, they will figure out a way to pay their staffers all the back money they're likely owed. LB Joe I will sorely miss my weekly fix of The District. Thanks to your hard work, I've found a cool barber, explored terrific new restaurants, had a "drink of the week" at hip bars, attended interesting art receptions, learned the no-holds bar truth of what is going on in our city, and had many laughs a long the way. Your writing staff is terrific and will surely be missed. I thank you for your dedication! I sincerely hope that The District will rise again, as Long Beach is definitely perfect fit for your type of magazine. M. S I think it just needed wider availability. I live in east Long Beach and wasn't aware of the magazine until a few months ago. A sad loss for all. When the time is right, try again. I bet it will work.
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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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