I know this is old news, but I just had to write about some of my problems with the City Paper's Best of Baltimore issue.
- You like the Urbanite? Really? Or is it more like Obama in the debate saying he agrees with McCain just before delivering a zinger?
- And speaking of the Urbanite, a Baltimore magazine that means absolutely nothing to 90% of the population, the City Paper seems a bit detached at times. On the one hand, the writers make you think they know everything there is to know about the city, but on the other hand, most of the time it seems like the hipster writers and the subjects of their articles all meet in a coffee shop on 36th Street and the rest of the city be damned. I know it's not easy writing about stuff that goes on in rough neighborhoods, but you can't simply pretend they don't exist.
- You write about your problem with Baltimore being a pay-to-play city. Basically, you're saying that people get bribed to get a mention. On that same note, you may mention a business and even give them an award if they buy enough ads from you. Really, that's the only way I can understand why you give an award to Daedalus Books. You basically call the store a cultural mecca. I've seen more soul on a 7-11 news stand. But maybe I'll change my mind once they start putting ads here.
- I know you're a hip magazine for the post-college post-modern ironic crowd and that your writing has to express your ironic rage and all that, but I'm really more interested in what your readers voted for as the Best of Baltimore. People's opinions should get more space, is what I'm saying. But hey, it's your paper.
7 comments:
I'm glad I'm not the only one who's noticed the increasing phenomenon of ignoring cultural coverage that would appeal to people outside their friend group. It is their paper.. but it has a unique opportunity and distribution numbers to really serve the city better. I do disagree with you on one thing though, regarding nods to advertisers. One only need look as far as the sarcastic "best of" entries to see that they're all too willing to spit in the faces of their advertisers. (can't there be a happy medium.. like not saying anything at all? and can't 'best of' go back to being about 'best of'?)
I concur with you on the Urbanite and City Paper. Unfortunately, as I come to realize, with the decline of the Sun, they're the best we got.
Kara, I agree. "Best of" could be a great opportunity to learn about the city, but it won't happen as long as the writers concentrate their attention on their own writing. I think one way to make it better is to give more exposure to the readers' poll. They could do their little smart-assy cynical writing as commentary to the readers' votes, but at least it won't be all about them.
Wise, I know. I was thinking about it when I wrote it--there are not that many Baltimore magazines, are there? Still, every once in a while I try the Urbanite again. But I go through one page after another of real estate ads and usually I give up even before I reach the actual writing.
I just do not get Urbanite. But then, I live in Ellicott City, so maybe I'm not supposed to.
I don't know. I try every once in a while, but usually I can't get past the endless real estate ads.
I've been told that Urbanite is practically owned by the real estate developers who advertise in it and other adds are favors for other business friends. I also hear that the editor is the girlfriend of one of the big developer dudes. But you didn't hear that from me.
As far as the CP goes. I'm glad I've been in the city and found my way around enough to not need to rely on their sage advice as much as I used to. Does CP know that there is a west side of Baltimore? The stuff on the other side of the JFX?
That's interesting about the Urbanite. In the alternative universe Baltimore they present in the Urbanite, it's no wonder all the real-estate agents in the ads are smiling.
And I'm also with you on City Paper. You see the Best Of issue and you think Baltimore is just another Manhattan West Village. For good and bad, it's just very different.
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