There’s all-too-familiar and sad news coming from Milwaukee: the Journal Sentinel will begin August minus several of its arts journalists. Dance critic Tom Strini, theater critic Damien Jaques and books editor Geeta Sharma Jensen have taken the most recent buyout offer — the fourth and most attractive one since fall, 2007 at the paper.
Mary Louise Schumacher, the art and architecture critic — who’s staying — says that the three had 84 years of experience, collectively, in her blog post today. She also writes about the JS’s past commitment to arts coverage, and says that many on the arts-entertainment staff remain. Still, I can’t help but notice that those she mentions write about food, film, tech and pop music…the more popular varieties of the arts.
Twenty-seven other journalists are also leaving the paper, so it’s not that the arts were targeted. Those leaving could still write, freelance, for the paper. Jim Higgins, the JS’s assistant entertainment and features editor, writes: “As a line editor in this area, I can say we will continue covering performing arts and books with a combination of staff and freelance contributions.”
But many people also expect additional layoffs. Who knows where they will fall? It’s hard to construe this any other way than another black day for the arts.