Is The Washington Times' Continued Operation In Jeopardy? (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Talking Points Memo ^ | November 11, 2009 | Ben Frumin

[Prov3456]

For many years, we subscribed to the paper edition of "The National Edition" of The Washington Times, and liked it very much.

We cancelled our subscription in 2008 when the new editor (John Solomon) took over. We didn't care for the subtle changes of choice-of-words in articles, photos, headlines, and tone of the paper: quietly and subtly leaning left while trying to report from the "right" side. We just didn't like it - and allowed our subscription to lapse.

[Arizona Carolyn]

This is sad, I like the WT.

[abb]

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/a-big-drop-in-ad-pages-for-conde-nast/
A Big Drop in Ad Pages for Condé Nast

[Cicero]

To tell you the truth, It’s been YEARS since I’ve read anything much about Rev. Sun Myung Moon or his Unification Church. But obviously as he gets older and eventually dies, it will be a question whether his church can make the transition or not and remain financially viable.

I consider his church to be a crazy sect; but for the most part they seem to have given the Washington Times freedom to report the news without interference.

In other words, I would see this as the Washington Times losing audience like other newspapers. Rather, it’s the Washington Times in danger of losing Unification Church support as Rev. Moon’s family fight (I gather) over the future direction and leadership of this church.

[abb]

Ink-on-paper just isn’t a technologically up to date information distribution system. I think that’s most of the problem.

[Flash Bazbeaux]

I had always assumed that the Washington Times — which I used to read regularly when I lived near a place that sold it — was a money loser from the get-go — something that Rev. Moon was willing to bankroll for political reasons.

One of Mrs. Flash’s cousins is a committed HSAUWC member (Mooney). The guy the Rev. picked out for her to marry was a complete stiff. She divorced him a few years later, no kids thank G_d. She got us tickets to see the Rev. a few years ago. He was uninspiring.

[GeronL]

The Washington Times has always been a low-circulation paper in a very liberal market. If it had merged with the IBD a decade ago, or something, to form “The National Times” it might have created a really cool paper that could have sold quite a few newspapers.

[GeronL]

That would be good. The Examiner picking up the best of the Times. I always thought the IBD and WashTimes should merge, the IBD with a real front section would have been very good for sales.