Sunday, July 11, 2010

OC Register Kills Arts Blog

From the south comes the shocking news that the OC Register has "decided that this blog has lived its span."

That's the extent of the explanation posted on the Arts Blog yesterday by Register music critic Tim Mangan, a shining light of the Arts Blog. In the comments, he says that it was not his decision.

What a mistake this is! It's 2010, and new and social media are where it's at, ways to reach audiences within and outside the regular sphere of a newspaper's influence. The Arts Blog has a loyal readership, including yours truly.

If you read the Arts Blog and you have thoughts about this, send them to Rebecca Allen, rallen@ocregister.com.

11 comments:

Paul Muller said...

That's just.... puzzling.

Chris Foley said...

Is the OC Register nuts? That was one of the most highly regarded culture blogs in the US.

Lisa Hirsch said...

It is extremely strange.

Henry Holland said...

He's not being kicked out, he's just getting moved to a more generic page within the OCR website.

http://www.ocregister.com/sections/entertainment/arts/

Frankly, I wish Tim would start his own blog and run it along the model that Matthew Guerrieri does at Soho The Dog: links to his criticism at the OCR but the stand-alone blog gives him the chance to write about stuff that wouldn't really fit on the OCR page.

Lisa Hirsch said...

That page is just a listing of reviews and other articles, very generic indeed and quite different from a blog.

Tim said...

Thanks to Chris Foley. And to all of you for your interest and support. I do plan to start my own blog in the near future and I'll let you all know when I do.

CK Dexter Haven said...

Tim, that's great news. Ms. Allen's latest post regarding all three blog writers says, "Anything they have written in the blog, they can write on their arts page."

If this is true, then molto benne. I'm looking forward to everything from Erlkonig video series to Most Interesting Man in the World on ocregister/arts.

And whether its true or not, I am VERY happy knowing that you'll have your own blog up soon.

Lisa Hirsch said...

Yay, Tim!

I'll take a look at the blog posting; thanks for mentioning it, CK.

MM said...

As of today, Tim has new life at

ClassicalLife.net

I think this will be better for him in that he won't have the Corporate Suits dictating what he can and can't post there. (Though it's still a shame that the arts aren't more supported by the newspapers.)

Lisa Hirsch said...

Yep. See the most recent posting here. ;-)

dining tables said...

I agree to MM.. Corporate suits in not a good idea. It is better if he will not do that. I am happy for you, for having you own blog too.