12:08 p.m. | Updated |
With the posting Friday evening of ?A Blog?s Adieu,? The New York Times shut down the Green blog, which, through 5,364 posts, had been an excellent aggregator of environmental news and analysis that didn?t fit in the flow of conventional articles.
In a short addendum, the editors directed readers to other Times blogs that will pick up some of the slack:
Please watch for environmental policy news on the?Caucus?blog and energy technology news on the?Bits?blog.
They also provided a list of Twitter accounts of staff reporters who were regular contributors. [It's not a substitute for the blog, but I've created a "Green Blog Voices" Twitter list with relevant news staff but also the blog's many fine freelance contributors.]
From a logistical standpoint, the shutdown of Green was probably inevitable once the environment desk was closed in January. The two editors have new duties, and a blog (as I know too well) is a lot of work. [Read "The Changing Newsroom Environment" for more.]
But inevitability doesn?t take away the sting.
Curtis Brainard, who writes about science journalism for the Columbia Journalism Review, harshly criticized Times management for the move and posted an apologetic e-mail message sent by Nancy Kenney, the former deputy environment editor, to the blog?s contributors.
The news side of The Times has nine sports blogs; nine spanning fashion, lifestyles, health, dining and the like; four business blogs; four technology blogs (five if you include automobiles as a technology); and a potpourri of other great efforts, with four of my favorites being the Learning Network?blog, Scientist at Work, the?IHT Rendezvous blog?on global news and Lens, run by the paper?s photo staff. You can tour the paper?s blogosphere here.
I would like to have thought there was space for the environment in that mix, even though these issues are still often seen by journalists weaned on politics as a sidenote (remember Candy Crowley?s post-debate comment about ?all you climate change people??).
One suggestion. Before you write in to complain, also make sure your subscription to the paper is up to date.
Stewart Brand famously wrote that ?information wants to be free.?
But the time and effort required to gather, sift, analyze and convey information with authority, particularly on globe-spanning or contentious issues, is expensive.
Source: http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/02/a-farewell-to-green/?partner=rss&emc=rss
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