[contextly_auto_sidebar id=”nKnrC7PUeqDJC4RDR5siDCwLQPIJamEg”]
OVER the last few years, as the traditional print media has fallen into a tailspin, a number of observers — including very smart, canny ones — have predicted that blogs would replace print as well as the more established websites. Andrew Sullivan, whose site The Dish was updated often and drew an enormous readership, was often mentioned as the model. In January, the indefatigable Sullivan admitted that he was fatigued.
…I am saturated in digital life and I want to return to the actual world again. I’m a human being before I am a writer; and a writer before I am a blogger, and although it’s been a joy and a privilege to have helped pioneer a genuinely new form of writing, I yearn for other, older forms. I want to read again, slowly, carefully. I want to absorb a difficult book and walk around in my own thoughts with it for a while. I want to have an idea and let it slowly take shape, rather than be instantly blogged. I want to write long essays that can answer more deeply and subtly the many questions that the Dish years have presented to me.
While I’m glad to say that some of Sullivan’s other explanations for quitting blogging — he worked himself to the point, it sounds, of significant health problems — don’t resemble anything I’m dealing with, I certainly know what he means.
And it’s a good time for me, as well, to step down as a more-or-less daily blogger. Attentive readers have probably noticed my falling down on the job, and becoming less consistent, over the last month or two. CultureCrash will continue, but I will now post once, maybe twice, a week, and will track breaking news about the economics of culture and issues of creative destruction less attentively. CultureCrash has been up for 15 months, it’s drawn more than 100,000 hits (chicken feed by Sullivan’s standards), and the book it is named for and build around has been out for just over three months.
Sullivan’s Dish logo
The reasons are twofold. First, I don’t make a dime from this blog, and as a hard-working freelance writer, author, and father it’s been tough to keep this going as a pro bono experience. The blog, like the book, has been a blast, but neither has made my finances — still bruised by my layoff — any better. I just paid a month of bills, barely, and I simply can’t keep doing this.
(For all the faults of the print media, which has been roundly criticized by both left and right, it led to editors and scribes getting paid, which for those of us who need to make a living is pretty important. The blogosphere, and the web in general, mostly — so far — does not.)
Second, on Monday I begin a full-time writing/ranting job at Salon. I’ll be their staff culture writer, and will be writing about a wide range of things, with, probably far more attention to popular culture than the fine- or performing arts. I hope you’ll follow me over there. The first week or two will be extremely busy, and CultureCrash may go fallow for a while; I can’t tell.
So goodbye for now. This blog will continue in some form, and I hope it continues to speak to people and provoke discussion. It’s been fun, and thanks to everyone who’s been part of it.
Looking forward to your Salon offerings, Scott!
Thanks, man
Thanks for all the great and insightful posts, Scott. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your blog over the past several months.
Onward and upward, Scott! Best of luck in your new milieu—I look forward to following your work as it continues on a Salon…
I hope your new job works out. Salon too represents the problems faced by the media. It has been unprofitable through its entire history. By November 2002, the company had accumulated cash and non-cash losses of $80 million. Since 2007, the company has been dependent on cash from some of its board members. During the nine months ended December 31, 2012, these contributions amounted to $3.4 million, compared to revenue of $2.7 million – a loss of $700,000. I don’t know what the more recent figures are, but I hope things are going better. It’s a good site.
Scott, Congratulations on the Salon job, that is great news and I look forward to continuing reading your columns. I don’t always agree with you, but you stimulate me to think about things from a new angle. Wishing you all the best.
Right after reading your post I read this post by a food blogger, also giving up the game:
http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2015/03/whats-going-on-with-food-blogging.html
Mostly because advertisers wanted sponsored posts.
Good luck on your new endeavor. I don’t always agree with you, but you’ve pushed me to think.
I don’t make a dime off my personal blog, but I did get my current job, in part b/c of my writing there. In fact, I just started a new blog for work. NSF wants women and older people to .represent., but it is scary for women to open ourselves up for online harassment.
Thank you for your observations, your book, and the opportunity for me to comment. I hope it goes well for you in your new job.
One more reason to log onto Salon……….That’s the funny thing about advertising and subscriptions — writers get paid! Well done, sir!
Scott, I only just saw this – although I did notice your increased presence at Salon, which made me happy. Congratulations!
Did anyone notice the mannequin in Bad Blood, dressed as a U.S. soldier, that gets decapitated by a woman. In light of recent events surrounding violence against US military on domestic soil, it is apparent that this is completely irresponsible to depict in a video up for a video of the year nomination. From country bumpkin to…..gun toting Bad Ass…TS has a fan base of teenagers who are heavily influenced by her. When is it ever ok to promote a revenge video (she’s no feminist) and promote violence against US Soldiers, then pander it to swooning teenagers, for self promotion. She is no role model.