The State of the OC Media
Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at 8:36AM I have mixed feelings about journalism awards. When I win, I love them. When I lose, I think they are pretty worthless.
Still, this year's revived Orange County Press Club awards, handed out last week, are revealing.
The OC Weekly, with 15 awards, ran away with the competition. The former OC heavyweights -- the Orange County Register and Los Angeles Times -- won four and one awards respectively. Both these organizations have far bigger staffs than the OC Weekly, but only captured five awards between them. The Daily Pilot's former city editor, Paul Anderson, won two himself.
(P.S. I got beat by the OC Weekly's R. Scott Moxley as best columnist in Orange County -- he's not a bad journalist to lose to. But my second-place finish was ahead of mi amigo Gustavo Arelleno of the OC Weekly and Kedric Francis of Riviera, both of whom tied for third.)
One explanation for the big dailies poor showing could simply be a lack of entries. Morale in both newsrooms is at rock bottom, and entering journalism contests certainly isn't a top priority (especially when it costs money to enter).
But it's more than that. The Costa Mesa-based OC Weekly and, for that matter, Paul Anderson, practice a passionate kind of journalism that has been drained in recent years at The Times and Register by unending layoffs and budget cuts.
The paradox is in order to survive this rough transition from print to digital media, journalists need to be inspired and producing their best work. But because of market conditions and the human psyche, this isn't happening.
Daily Pilot, LA Times, OC Register, OC Weekly in Media
Reader Comments (1)
This is a sad, but very true, commentary on journalism here in the OC and elsewhere. Those wild and crazy guys at the OC Weekly have that burning passion for The Story, just as does our old pal, Paul. Being asked to do more with less must be draining for all those previously dedicated, hard-working journalists at The Times and Register. Let's hope you folks can retain your high level of enthusiasm as The Daily Voice evolves and matures.