ArtPride New Jersey creates petition to protest NY Times cuts of NJ arts coverage

by JAY LUSTIG

artprideArtPride New Jersey, an organization devoted to advancing, promoting and advocating for the arts in New Jersey, is leading a petition drive protesting the New York Times’ recent decision to reduce its New Jersey arts coverage.

In a recent memo, Times metro editor Wendell Jamieson told “reviewers and writers of Metropolitan’s regional pages” that the reviews and features they have been writing will no longer be needed, and that “(Times executive editor) Dean Baquet and I have decided that the resources and energy currently devoted to these local pages could be better directed elsewhere.”

The Metropolitan section will still be published, but as of Aug. 29, it will no longer contain articles zoned specifically for New Jersey (or Westchester, Long Island or Connecticut). Other Times writers may occasionally cover Jersey-related stories, of course, but that steady stream of Jersey content will no longer exist.

To sign the petition, visit artpridenj.com. Here is the text:

I am deeply concerned to learn that the Metropolitan Section of the (New York) Times will end its coverage of New Jersey arts organizations’ events. Effective August 29th, the Times will no longer provide previews, reviews, or listings of any New Jersey arts activities in this section.

I urge you to reconsider this drastic decision and continue the New Jersey regional edition that features arts events throughout the state.

This short-sighted move will negatively impact readership of the New York Times and the arts groups and restaurants that have benefited from feature articles, listings, and critical reviews. This decision also neglects the growing audience in the tri-state region for diverse entertainment, fine art and dining options in New Jersey — the audience that has come to rely on the Metro Section for quality news coverage and timely listings.

I urge you to reconsider this abrupt cessation of coverage and continue to provide the fine content of arts and dining in New Jersey that readers identify with The New York Times.

A personal note:

I have signed this petition, and encourage anyone reading this to do so, as well. However, I believe it’s a long shot that the Times will change its policy. This is a move forced by economic necessity, and the way the newspaper industry is going, things will only get worse in the future.

I think it’s more important that people who want to support Jersey arts support media outlets that are still focused on Jersey arts. Like, for instance, NJArts.net.

We fund this project primarily through advertising, and gratefully accept donations (though we are not a nonprofit organization). At the very least, please “like” us on Facebook and/or follow us on Twitter, and sign up for our free email newsletter (the sign-up box is on this page, near the top of the right sidebar).

5 comments

Scott August 5, 2016 - 8:29 am

Jay, thank God you are still informing us about NJ arts (rather than Facebook or Twitter, I read the blog through Feedly); but, I’m not 100% with you on this one.

First, I do think that a petition (or even better, calls and letters) will make a difference at the NYT. Historically, news and entertainment companies are keenly aware of and responsive to audience feedback. After all, the gist is that readers value the content and want to read it, which is the major goal of the paper.

Second, although print revenues are reduced everywhere, it is not correct to say that the NYT is suffering economically and that this is a budgetary axe. The Times has been consistently and increasingly profitable even in these digital days, and employs more than 2000 reporters and editors in the newsroom, and hundreds more to create digital products (disclaimer: my wife is a Creative Director in the digital area).

Reply
Dean Baquet August 7, 2016 - 5:10 pm

Actually this is quite wrong. The Times does not have 2000 journalists and hundreds more creating digital products. The Times has fewer than 1300 journalists and this is indeed a budget issue. We are now covering wars around the world, a close presidential election, and building new kinds of journalism for the digital age. These stories are part of our mission and if we do not cover them, no one else will. So we have to make choices and cutting back regional arts coverage is a painful one. But covering wars and a tense world are more important right now. And I believe most of our readers get that.
Best,
Dean Baquet
Executive Editor

Reply
Marcia Atcheson August 8, 2016 - 11:08 am

This is indeed a blow to arts groups outside the city proper. Wars and elections are of course prime concerns, but the arts are important to the lives of your readers. The Times is one publication that remains a major source of information about the arts for those of us living in the regions around the city. Does maintaining a calendar site require a journalist?

Reply
Marcia Atcheson August 8, 2016 - 11:11 am

This is indeed a blow to arts groups outside the city proper. Wars and elections are of course prime concerns, but the arts are important to the lives of your readers. The Times is one publication that remains a major source of information about the arts for those of us living in the regions around the city. Does maintaining a calendar site require a journalist?

Reply
njartsdaily@gmail.com August 28, 2016 - 3:20 pm

Well, you’ve got to pay someone to compile and edit the listings, so that’s an expense. And that’s what this is about: cutting expenses.

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