Atlanta Journal Constitution Eliminates Book Editor
Last week the Atlanta Journal Consitutition did a staff reorganization, eliminating its book editor position, which is demoralizing beyond speech. The AJC's section was run by long-time NBCC member and former board member Teresa Weaver, who put together one of the best-edited literary pages in the country, giving Atlanta -- which was #15 on the list of most literate cities in the U.S. (far ahead of New York(#49) -- the cultural dialogue it deserved.
Those on the NBCC board know Teresa's commitment to literature, especially novels and narrative nonfiction which meditated on America's complicated and shameful racial legacy. She was an early champion of writers like Edward P. Jones, William T. Vollmann, and Colm Toibin, not to mention Paul Hendrickson. I had the pleasure of writing for her, and I found Teresa's edits and reviewing assignments an education in and of themselves. I will miss working with her dearly.
Teresa has the opportunity to apply for a job within the company, but it's not clear what the fate of the book page will be -- whether it'll be reassigned to an existing editor, whether it will go entirely to wire copy, or whether it will be removed altogether. If you care about books, or literary events in Atlanta, or cultural discussion, this is of vital importance, especially since the paper reaches over 2.3 million readers in Atlanta per week, with over 3 million additional page views online.
If you're reading, you *can* do something, which is write to the AJC's editor Julia Wallace (jwallace@ajc.com) and the publisher, John Mellott (jmellott@ajc.com), and advocate for the continuance of a book page in Atlanta with a diversity of voices, not simply fed by wire copy from the AP or New York Times. There are some things, I believe, that the 'all-knowing' capital markets may not place a value on, but readers do -- so it's important that they hear from you, loudly.
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Labels: Book Reviewing, Industry News, NBCC Campaign to Save Book Reviews
posted by John Freeman 7:26:00 AM
16 Comments:
Thank you very much for alerting me to this. As an Atlanta resident, it troubles me, but I'm particularly disturbed that this appears to be part of a nationwide trend. I sent a letter to both addresses listed, but I must add that I think you forgot a second 't' in Mr. Mellott's address. jmellott@ajc.com worked, whereas jmellot@ajc.com bounced my email.
Thank you again.
Thanks for pointing out that typo in the email address -- I've changed it in the post.
I write not just as a reviewer but as a consumer of intellectual nourishment which is offered in the form of books pages in daily publications. This is shocking news, totally unexpected and, may I add, unwarranted. The books page is the heart of any newspaper's cultural coverage, and AJC's scrapping of the post of book editor betrays a lack of the appreciation of a newspaper's true role in society.
Are we going to dumb down for fear of falling readership and allow space to silly movies and art events which defy the very definition of art? Ms. Weaver's books coverage made AJC one of America's few papers to proudly boast a healthy literary section. It has now been trampled upon by the rigours of commercialism. I doubt this would help bottomlines much, but it is going to cost the paper tremendous goodwill. Countless people who keenly follow books pages will be heartbroken.
What is the press's objective, if not to initiate thinking via forums such as books pages? I understand that newspapers are slugging it out to maintain relevance, but that still does not justify the scrapping of the books page. This is akin to deleting the Edit/Op-ed pages.
I strongly protest this (wanton?) act of change and beseech the management to reconsider.
Vikram -- well said. I hope you sent that exact note to the AJC editors whose addresses are in the post. Thanks for that!
I agree completely, Vikram. As Rebecca said, please send that note to the AJC's editors. We need more voices to speak up
-- The anonymous guy from the first post
I've just sent my own emails to the AJC. Do newspapers actually think they can increase sales by eliminating book coverage? We can get the news from television and radio; what newspapers need to give us is thoughtful consideration of ideas and life and a fuller sense of the world. Both of those things include book coverage.
Kelly Cherry
It is an odd thing the AJC does at a time when Atlanta is beginning a surge in literacy awareness and prominance. Publishers are closely watching Atlanta and are looking for every avenue possible to make it a "must stop" on all author tours, joining NYC, Chicago and LA on the list of major venues. I believe that their insistence on moving reviews and editorials to their online site is a gross misjudgment of their reader's desires.
Teresa Weaver is a vital cog to this community and it's time that the AJC come to understand it.
REVOLUTION!
I have sent this note to the editor and the publisher, but as such things go, I have a feeling the decision is irreversible.
I've sent out the word on the Southern Scribe List, which should have regional readers, authors and booksellers writing AJC soon. Thank you for alerting us.
Actually, Atlanta is the THIRD (tied) most literate study in the US according to the most recent study:
http://www.ccsu.edu/AMLC06/
In an attempt to put Atlanta on the map as the literary center that it is, it's nigh impossible with our (Pulitzer winning) local paper's support. This is disheartening, but it's obvious there's a loud voice speaking out.
Very dispiriting. Fine paper, fine editor. This does seem to be a trend. There aren't many book sections left.
...and just when think the dire world of book sections couldn't get any worse. This is one of the most chilling pieces of news I read so far this week (and it's been a chilling week, no doubt). My letter of anger and admonishment will be sent in an email as soon as I get over my disgust.
The St. Petersburg Times once had a glorious book section that was rich in its coverage of many genres: there was a reviewer who covered children's literature; one who reviewed first-time authors; one reviewed biography and memoir; one reviewed books about Florida and its history, etc. There were interviews with authors and excerpts. It was a beautiful thing.
The section was slashed and burned a few years back and is now relegated to a page or two in the back of a splashy new trendy section called "Lattitudes" which is light on substance and heavy on wire copy, fluff and not much else. Sundays have lost their lustre and I have started subscribing to the NYTs.
As a freelance critic for the AJC I was doubly affected by this announcement. Eliminating the book editor position, and perhaps the review altogether seems to me a cruel irony:
A newspaper worried about losing readership eliminates the one section that appeals to those who actually read for pleasure, and are likely to continue to buy the paper.
- Christine Thomas
Don't hold your breath waiting for the AJC to rehire Ms. Weaver or to maintain its current book coverage. The paper, to my mind has never been very good; and lately, it has slashed costs and staff. All of it's sections are changing to pander to the lowest common denominator where its management thinks it will find revenue.
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