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News & ArtsWednesday, July 27, 2011
Media / Books Freelance Book Reviewers Are Basically Screwed
Posted by Paul Constant on Wed, Jul 27, 2011 at 3:09 PM
Publisher's Weekly reports that another paying gig for book reviewers is gone:
In a move as significant for its breadth as its implications for the future of book coverage, the Los Angeles Times book review laid off all of its freelance book reviewers and columnists on July 21. [According to LA Times Book Review editor Jon Thurber,] all books-related stories will now be done in-house, and that the decision to cease eliminate non-staffers was based on his freelance budget being cut.
Paid book reviews are quickly becoming a quaint memory. I expect to see the LA Times cut more jobs in the next few years; the book review section is usually the canary in the coal mine. When you cut arts coverage to save money, you lose readers.
1
It's really valuable to consumers of media to have someone point them in the right direction. There are just too many books published every day to know what to read.
That said, I was jealous of book reviewers anyway. I guess there goes the dream of freelance book reviewing while concurrently holding down a job as a restaurant reviewer, wine taster, and travel expert.
That said, I was jealous of book reviewers anyway. I guess there goes the dream of freelance book reviewing while concurrently holding down a job as a restaurant reviewer, wine taster, and travel expert.
3
The company that owns the Times is up to its fucking eyeballs in debt. What would you cut, smartass? The news?
4
Considering that you have so many people willing to do it(and often do it better) for free on sites like Amazon why should they be paying people to do it? Between that and the various ways companies recommend things to you based on what you like and have purchased I never have trouble finding new and interesting things to read.
Plus most of the time they just reviewed big selling or newsworthy books anyways. I don't exactly need one more review of the latest Sedaris book.
Plus most of the time they just reviewed big selling or newsworthy books anyways. I don't exactly need one more review of the latest Sedaris book.
5
I agree this is indeed yet another example of our incessant race to the bottom in order to suck up to the capricious nature of the all mighty market.
That said the irony of this post is too much to pass up.
IE: Wasn't the Stranger just complaining a couple weeks ago about the price of professional theater tickets?
See. Nobody want's to pay what things actually cost to produce.
It's the WalMartification of America.
That said the irony of this post is too much to pass up.
IE: Wasn't the Stranger just complaining a couple weeks ago about the price of professional theater tickets?
See. Nobody want's to pay what things actually cost to produce.
It's the WalMartification of America.
6
@4 Is that like asking why we still have newspapers when there are so many bloggers and tweeters willing to write for free?
That said, I've also never had trouble finding good books to read, but have found some really great books through reviews in magazines and newspapers.
That said, I've also never had trouble finding good books to read, but have found some really great books through reviews in magazines and newspapers.
7
@6 Not at all. Its like asking why we still have syndicated columnists.
Newspapers not only serve as aggregaters of news, but also do things to get and create news that few people are willing to or able to do. Not a lot of blogger can fly to far off locales or interview world leaders. Reading a book is a pretty easy task.
Newspapers not only serve as aggregaters of news, but also do things to get and create news that few people are willing to or able to do. Not a lot of blogger can fly to far off locales or interview world leaders. Reading a book is a pretty easy task.
8
@3 - the already cut the news from the LA Times. For a while in the 90s they almost aspired to a NYTimes of the Pacific (West Coast USA, Latin America, Asia) but chickened out. Then their current owners got a hold and it really went to shit.
9
@Paul, you need a 'sic' for that quote:
"and that the decision to cease eliminate non-staffers was based on his freelance budget being cut."
Maybe Publisher's Weekly should follow suit and fire all their book reviewers, that money needs to be spent on editors.
"and that the decision to cease eliminate non-staffers was based on his freelance budget being cut."
Maybe Publisher's Weekly should follow suit and fire all their book reviewers, that money needs to be spent on editors.
11
I rely on book reviews to guide my selections for the library, so this is unwelcome news. The number of quality book reviews available continues to shrink, and customer reviews, while useful to a point, are really no substitute.
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