[babalu1997]

I just saw the note about the la times dropping Frank Stewart.

They will likely replace it with advice by Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian.

The world is being dumbed down, but there is nothing i depose more than people who cite results of surveys to make decision, most often they just make up stuff to get their way.

Since I do not read them, now their readership is down by -2.

[Phil]

Yes theres a lot of talk at my club about this. Apparently the LA Times polling indicates only 3% read the bridge section.

I do not subscribe to the Times so I don't care one way or another.

[Fluffy]

It is probably because Han has announced he is an underbidder

[kenberg]

It seems not right for me to tell the LA Times what they should or should not run since I am on the East Coast and do not subscribe. But I hope that the bridge players who do read the LA Times will make their voices heard.

I would hope decisions are based not only on the number of subscribers who read the column but also on the importance that they attach to it. Back when I was thirteen or so the local paper (St. Paul Pioneer Press) decided to save some space by dropping a comic strip about some stupid 'possum and his friends living in the Okefenokee. There was an I Go Pogo rebellion. The strip came back. As one of the characters in the strip once said "If I could only write I would send a nasty letter to the mayor if he could only read". Go to it, don't take this lying down.

[mgoetze]

kenberg, on 2010-December-05, 11:08, said:

It seems not right for me to tell the LA Times what they should or should not run since I am on the East Coast and do not subscribe.

Indeed I was a bit annoyed when I clicked on "Bridge needs your help" on BBO only to discover that they expect me to write to the editor of a publication which I have never touched in my life, from a city 9177km away from me.

[Hanoi5]

I read it and sent an email. Even though I don'teven live in the US. In fact, it was probably the first time I heard about that paper. But I sent the mail anyway. It only took 5 minutes.

[barmar]

Even if you don't read that paper, you should be concerned. Bridge columns promote the game to the general public, and that helps all of us.

But maybe it's too late. If their survey is correct, it could be that most of the newspaper's readership sees this column as an annoying waste of space, just as we'll likely consider whatever replaces it. But if more people find the replacement to their liking, it could be the right decision by the paper.

[han]

Fluffy, on 2010-December-05, 10:32, said:

It is probably because Han has announced he is an underbidder

I hope not! I liked his writing in the ACBL bulletin very much, I think I also posted that.

[kenberg]

barmar, on 2010-December-05, 22:44, said:

Even if you don't read that paper, you should be concerned. Bridge columns promote the game to the general public, and that helps all of us.

But maybe it's too late. If their survey is correct, it could be that most of the newspaper's readership sees this column as an annoying waste of space, just as we'll likely consider whatever replaces it. But if more people find the replacement to their liking, it could be the right decision by the paper.

Concern is one thing, influence is another. I subscribe to the Washington Post and the local paper, the Carroll County Times. I read the Baltimore Sun fairly often. These editors are presumably interested (well, a little bit anyway) in what I think of their choices. I can't think of any reason that the editors at the LA Times should give a hoot what I think about what they choose to run.

People who live in the LA area, especially those who subscribe to the Times, can expect to be listened to. I don't think they have to be a majority or anything near a majority. Probably the Times has a garden column read by some but not most. A dining out column. Perhaps an opera column. These columns appeal to a niche, and if it is a passionate niche and they are vocal, I would expect them to get a hearing.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

Last year, a Dallas, TX newspaper decided to drop the daily Bridge Column.
I dropped my subscription and told the "mental midgets" in charge why I did so.
Apparently, other bridge enthusiasts voiced their concern also, and the column returned.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

Of course you don't need the daily newspaper to read your favorite bridge column.
I think all of the authors have a website where they may be found.
Frank Stewart's is:

http://webcache.goog...n&ct=clnk&gl=us

[whereagles]

barmar, on 2010-December-05, 22:44, said:

Even if you don't read that paper, you should be concerned. Bridge columns promote the game to the general public, and that helps all of us.

This is very right.

Corollary: if any of us is asked to do a newspaper column on the game, we should accept it.