SUN-TIMES Columnist Quits: Newspapers Are Dead...
source: http://cbs2chicago.com/sports/jay.mariotti.quits.2.803995.html
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CHICAGO (CBS) ― In a bombshell announcement in the world of sports journalism, star columnist Jay Mariotti has abruptly resigned from the Chicago Sun-Times.
Mariotti told CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker that he decided to quit after covering the Olympics in Beijing because newspapers are in serious trouble, and he did not want to go down with the ship.
"It's been a tremendous experience, but I'm going to be honest with you, the profession is dying,'' Mariotti said. "I don't think either paper [Sun-Times or Chicago Tribune] is going to survive.
"To showcase your work ... you need a stellar Web site and if a newspaper doesn't have that, you can't be stuck in the 20th century with your old newspaper.''
Mariotti blamed the scandal-plagued past at the paper for its downfall. Former top execs Conrad Black and David Radler looted the company for millions of dollars, and both were sentenced to jail. The paper's ad revenues have been plummeting and more layoffs are expected.
What do you think of Jay's resignation and his assertion that newspapers are dying? | Read what others have to say.
Mariotti's comments sparked a pointed response from his former employer.
Sun-Times Editor Michael Cooke said in an e-mail to CBS 2: "That's Jay's opinion. He has plenty of them. But the facts, of course, say something different. I'm going with the facts. Well, it's turning nasty ... and that's typical of Jay to throw a bomb on the way out of a place that cared for him, nurtured him, paid him well for 17 years.
Cooke said he learned of Mariotti's resignation in an e-mail, that said, simply: "I quit.'' Mariotti had recently signed a new contract with the paper.
"The reason Mariotti showed up the Sun-Times 17 years ago was because the paper had the best sports pages in town. That was true then, and it's true now,'' Cooke said.
"And as in all sports, when the star leaves, some other young star-to-be skates on to the ice. The Sun-Times has a deep bench of talent, and we'll be using that depth.
"I am not hearing from grief-stricken fans,'' Cooke said.
Cooke pointed to e-mails that he received from readers, including this one: "I wish to inform you that due to recent developments on the Jay Mariotti front, I will now read your newspaper. In fact, I picked one up on the way to work this morning. Not a half-bad rag, I must say. Bully on you."
Mariotti said he plans to pursue opportunities on the Web, and continue his regular appearances as a panelist on ESPN's "Around the Horn."
Mariotti joined the Sun-Times in 1991. He made headlines in 2006 when Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen went into a profanity-laced tirade against him before a game against St. Louis. Guillen later apologized.
Mariotti also got into a public spat this year with fellow Sun-Times staffers after writing a column that said he was Guillen's only critic in the Chicago media. Behind the scenes, Mariotti often clashed with colleagues and management, but was widely regarded as one of the most popular columnists among readers of the paper. He made a career of stirring the pot in a sports-crazed town.
Mariotti told CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker that he decided to quit after covering the Olympics in Beijing because newspapers are in serious trouble, and he did not want to go down with the ship.
"It's been a tremendous experience, but I'm going to be honest with you, the profession is dying,'' Mariotti said. "I don't think either paper [Sun-Times or Chicago Tribune] is going to survive.
"To showcase your work ... you need a stellar Web site and if a newspaper doesn't have that, you can't be stuck in the 20th century with your old newspaper.''
Mariotti blamed the scandal-plagued past at the paper for its downfall. Former top execs Conrad Black and David Radler looted the company for millions of dollars, and both were sentenced to jail. The paper's ad revenues have been plummeting and more layoffs are expected.
What do you think of Jay's resignation and his assertion that newspapers are dying? | Read what others have to say.
Mariotti's comments sparked a pointed response from his former employer.
Sun-Times Editor Michael Cooke said in an e-mail to CBS 2: "That's Jay's opinion. He has plenty of them. But the facts, of course, say something different. I'm going with the facts. Well, it's turning nasty ... and that's typical of Jay to throw a bomb on the way out of a place that cared for him, nurtured him, paid him well for 17 years.
Cooke said he learned of Mariotti's resignation in an e-mail, that said, simply: "I quit.'' Mariotti had recently signed a new contract with the paper.
"The reason Mariotti showed up the Sun-Times 17 years ago was because the paper had the best sports pages in town. That was true then, and it's true now,'' Cooke said.
"And as in all sports, when the star leaves, some other young star-to-be skates on to the ice. The Sun-Times has a deep bench of talent, and we'll be using that depth.
"I am not hearing from grief-stricken fans,'' Cooke said.
Cooke pointed to e-mails that he received from readers, including this one: "I wish to inform you that due to recent developments on the Jay Mariotti front, I will now read your newspaper. In fact, I picked one up on the way to work this morning. Not a half-bad rag, I must say. Bully on you."
Mariotti said he plans to pursue opportunities on the Web, and continue his regular appearances as a panelist on ESPN's "Around the Horn."
Mariotti joined the Sun-Times in 1991. He made headlines in 2006 when Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen went into a profanity-laced tirade against him before a game against St. Louis. Guillen later apologized.
Mariotti also got into a public spat this year with fellow Sun-Times staffers after writing a column that said he was Guillen's only critic in the Chicago media. Behind the scenes, Mariotti often clashed with colleagues and management, but was widely regarded as one of the most popular columnists among readers of the paper. He made a career of stirring the pot in a sports-crazed town.
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- Journalism, Chicago, Newspapers, columnist, 3 more
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MyStoryOurWorld
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Mariotti, as much as I hate to admit it, is right. Newspapers are a dying breed. There are few people in the digital age who are interested in getting their hands dirty (and read a hard newspaper copy.) Sad.
- 3 years ago
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MyStoryOurWorld
