Why is Creative Loafing using Craigslist to recruit low-paid bloggers from the community?

It's an odd stance for an alternative newspaper to take.

Using Craigslist -- the free online classified service which has decimated newspapers by helping to destroy their classified advertising revenue -- the Tampa-based alt-newspaper Creative Loafing solicited a group of folks from the community who might be interested in blogging or podcasting for them.

Longtime blog reader Robin "Roblimo" Miller posted a nice video of the Wednesday meetup at Loafing's West Tampa office, where aspiring bloggers were told in no uncertain terms they won't be making much money doing this work. This, at a time when the chain has laid off a significant number of full-time staffers, including most all of its professional arts critics.

I remember the days when the alt-weeklies held up the excesses of the big newspapers in town, pushing for journalism excellence and ethical use of their resources. Now, as the chain prepares to hear on Monday whether the terms of its coming auction will allow the current publisher to bid for continuing ownership, the outlet is supplementing  its ranks with folks blogging for low dough seeking the edgiest topics to build pageviews.

Is that the face of alt-media in the future? A localized version of Gawker or Defamer?

Check out Robin's video; NOTE - you may have to turn off HD to make the video play:

  

Tampa's Creative Loafing Recruits More Bloggers from roblimo on Vimeo.

Comments

[Will]

Wow, all the diva's sure have gotten their panties in a knot about this. Sign of the times (no pun intended) folks. Just what the world needs, more writers aka bloggers.

[wayneShelor]

Bob stated: "You accuse the Times of not being well-respected ... " No sir, I never have, hopefully never will. I’m a fan – a BIG fan (I was a subscriber, non-stop, from 1970 through 2007). I called the venerable institution "once one of the nation's most respected newspapers." Although it's not one-a the nation's Top 10 any longer - and despite its growing penchant to cater to the lowest common denominator - it's still a widely respected and closely watched organ among dailies. Bob continued: “... didn't they recently win two Pulitzers?" It did. I'd never question or try to qualify, as did others, the Times' recognition by its media peers. And I'd be at the front of the line of those who believe the newspaper should-a earned many more of such awards in the past. Bob then boasted: "The paper routinely wins other awards for design, photography, etc." Perhaps, Bob, but certainly - and its editors would agree - the once-annual design awards have not been as "routine" as were they in the past. Continuing his thought/question: "And both the Times' journalism and ownership structure are often lauded as models of excellence that other papers should emulate." Not so much any longer, Bob: the Times just sold Congressional Quarterly - and is shopping its other paper products - so it can address its debt service, including a $30 million-plus loan on its headquarters. And there are few – very few - in the financial/investment community who would hold out the Times' financial structure (one with no diversity whatsoever, and paper organs, my friend, are in their death throes) as the way to operate a profitable daily any longer. The Poynter Institute has had to readdress how it pays its bills, and even the newspaper's long-time annual profit-sharing payments to its employees has ... wilted. Bob, as columnists are fond-a saying (so many adopt each others words), the paradigm has changed. But my argument has nothing to do with money, marketing, opinions or even “page hits” - my concerns about My Paper center around long-held journalism concepts, canons and practices. They are fading - fast - at the St. Petersburg Times. Finally, Bob wondered if there might be something sinister, or maybe a hidden agenda, in my words of challenge to Eric: "What's at the root of your criticism? Don't like the so-called liberal slant or you a disgruntled former employee?" Neither, Bob. I was a newspaperman at two other dailies some two decades ago, and I've never had a blood test to determine if I'm liberal or conservative (and FWIW - I'm not one who sees the world as black-or-white, left-or-right, right-or-wrong, liberal-or-conservative. The world in which I live is full of hues, colors, shades and mixes, from light airy patinas to dark turbulent indigos. And that brings us to a conclusion of what’s probably at the root of my genuine concern: turbulent indigo. I see the lowering of journalistic standards (a Times’ columnist writing – I assume with the knowledge and acceptance of higher-ups - with all the verve and accomplishment of a high schooler?), the adoption of street-corner patter, fractured diction, imprecise headlines, no adherence to style (local, AP or even the Times’ own manual) and the wide-spread nod – the embracement, even - to cultural fascinations in place of news, as one of the reasons core readers such as I will soon have no reason to subscribe or read the St. Petersburg Times. Circulation drops, advertisers flee, editorial staff is let go (the best/best-paid first), and a corporate an acceptance of once sub-standard standards all leads to the eventual failure of the newspaper as we know it. The newspaper – for reasons real and valid – is hemorrhaging red ink. And instead of retrenching and replating in an attempt to hold onto its core readers, My Newspaper tries to be everything to everyone. And that dog don’t hunt. Bob, my concerns are all about turbulent indigo, nothing more, nothing less. Wayne S. (who feels like John Wayne in one-a the True Grit films: “I ain’t done this much ‘splainin’ in years …!) Keep the faith Bob ... and I'll stop trying to reach Eric & Co. ;-{) - 30 -

[Bob H]

To Wayne:

You accuse the Times of not being well-respected...correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they recently win two Pulitzers? The paper routinely wins other awards for design, photography, etc. And both the Times' journalism and ownership structure are often lauded as models of excellence that other papers should emulate.

What's at the root of your criticism? Don't like the so-called liberal slant or you a disgruntled former employee?

[wayneshelor]

As Eric noted, the comments questioning his professionalism and the wisdom (??) of a haphazard writer questioning the professionalism of writers and columnists is NOT Wayne G. of CL - it's Wayne Shelor: I'm not only even-handed in dealing with such matters, I'm restrained, decorous and - most importantly - posting as myself, not anonymously. Eric feels that thrashing out endless reams of copy and posting it - flush with misspellings, non sequiturs and typographical errors - under the auspices of the St. Petersburg Times is not only OK, it’s the way it’s done. I, personally, believe Eric should hold himself to a higher standard. He may be “blogging,” but he’s a member of what was once one of the nation’s most respected newspapers, and as such, should strive to emulate those who established that once-deserved reputation. But Eric – whose skin is as thin as that of a TV talent, and who never lets another’s opinion on his comments area go unchallenged – thinks otherwise. -- Wayne (Shelor, not Garcia)

[Saint Petersblog]

Thanks for clarifying E. I asked, but I couldnt believe that was the PoHo.

[Eric Deggans]

Just a note to clarify: the user named Wayne with whom I am having a spririted dialogue is NOT Creative loafing writer Wayne Garcia -- who has always been the greatest guy to deal with.

Wayne Garcia would find more evenhanded ways of expressing himself on the matter, if he chose, I'm sure.

[bulletinizer]

...you can't beat'm join'm.

[wayne]

Eric,

Journalists write for something other than "pageviews" and "clicks" – pride, nobility and “because it’s a calling” come quickly to mind. Perhaps one day you'll learn the art of the craft and grow into your job. But you calling out others for their lack of journalistic professionalism is the absolute epitome of “pot - kettle - black.” Were it not so sad, it would be laughable. And finally, Eric, try not to flatter yourself: there are those who read your column (and others) to judge just what the St. Petersburg Times has become. These are hardly the glory days, lad …

[dreaming]

first, eric, we all love yer blog. it's the only forum for critiquing what's left of the local media.

as for cl's use of low paid bloggers, well, i remember when alt weeklies didn't pay much of anyone to write for them, including a teenaged me, much less employ a staff of 'professional critics.'
so, maybe it's back to the future for alt weeklies.

it appears that cl is laying the groundwork for going strictly website anyway, so the freebie bloggers may multiply ad infinitum in the not too distant future...

[Eric Deggans]

Oh, Wayne...

If my blog is so lacking in insight and filled with so many errors, why do you spend so much time commenting to me, both here and in private emails?

I think you find this blog and my prose a lot more compelling than you're willing to admit.

But that's okay. I'll take the pageviews any way they come.

[saintpetersblog]

I saw this the other night and wondered the same thing...

http://saintpetersblog1.blogspot.com/2009/07/creative-loafing-hangs-out-shingle-on.html

Earlier this week, I offered this criticism of Creative Loafing...

http://saintpetersblog1.blogspot.com/2009/07/creative-loafings-slurping-of-scott.html

I think CL has problems with its coverage that go beyond my issues with CL of bias.

The local blogosphere that CL hoped to preside over is increasingly disappointed with Creative Loafing. On the blog Pushing Rope, there is a post that begins, "I am searching for the words to perfectly describe just how bad is the Creative Loaf blog Daily Loaf." Former CL writer Alex Pickett recently offered a highly critical post about Creative Loafing's current efforts: "How anyone left can be “optimistic about the future of this company is beyond me."

[Alex Corazon]

This is an unfortunate, though creative way to counteract the effects of craigslist and other classifieds sites like backpage.com and gumtree.com. I'm in the newspaper business and revenue is obviously at an all-time low, due to the bad economy and due to free classifieds sites. We might try something like this...

[wayne]

Why is The St. Petersburg Times using second-tier writers for blogs and columns?

It's a curious stance for a once-nationally respected daily newspaper to take (sic).

Using post-layoffs writers and editors - the sort of employees who were hired more and more often in the '90s to populate the paper's training bureaus - the St. Petersburg-based, once-venerable central Florida Newspaper of Record has employed any number of inexperienced and not yet-accomplished people to work for them (sic).

Longtime blogger Eric Deegans posted another grammatically corrupt, typographically error-filled column about ... unprofessional writing! This, at a time when the newspaper should be struggling to rise above the commonality of sub-par writing of so many bloggers, including at least one of its ostensibly professional critics.

I remember the days when the St. Petersburg Times was a nationally recognized example of the best of newspapering, known for excellence, talent, creative design and superb editing. Now, as the newspaper prepares to pay off its ever-deepening debt in an attempt to avoid more layoffs and the sale of additional properties, the organization is supplementing its ranks with folks who are not worthy of the long-envied - and once well-deserved - title of "St. Petersburg Times writer."

Is that (sic) the face of west central Florida's daily newspaper in the future? A localized version of The National Enquirer and TMZ?

How familiar are words when read back ...