For some reason, as the editor of the Weekly, I tend to hear questions and comments in thematic bursts. I won’t get a certain type of complaint or remark for awhile, but then three people will out of nowhere pop up to ask what happened to a comic that stopped running two years ago. Life can be strange.
This last week, the theme was “Who are you trying to reach with the Weekly?” I probably should have a stock answer for that question by now, but in all honesty, I’m probably still working on one. The simple answer is probably “anyone, although I’d prefer only adults if they’re going to read Savage Love,” but generally the person asking is looking for some sort of specific demographic answer. Honestly, however, I’m constantly surprised by the wide range of Tucsonans that seem to read us each week, whether in print or online. I spent a weekend in a tent at the Festival of Books earlier this year and spoke to a ton of people 50 and up who love the paper (especially News of the Weird, for some reason). A few of my best conversations about what’s in the paper have been with college kids. It’s all over the place.
So, I guess the answer I’m going to stick with is to say that I’m trying to reach people who care about Tucson. People who want to understand what’s happening in their community, people who want to know what there is to do, what to eat and drink, the music to listen to, etc. Or, in the case of our website, people who want to complain about what Tom Danehy said this week.
Sure, there are going to be people in town who are turned off by the political lean of our news, and, even more surprising to me, people who check out because we actually seem to believe Tucson is a place worth living, but there are still a lot of people who care about Southern Arizona left to reach. Hopefully, we found a few more this week.
Dan Gibson can be heard on Fook Music Mornings on 92.1 FM KFMA most Tuesdays around 8 a.m. and on the John C. Scott show Thursday afternoons on 1030 AM KVOI.
This article appears in Oct 17-23, 2013.
As a snowbird wannabe from Alaska, I read it not only for the individual articles, but also for the over all “feel” of what’s happening in Tucson. The tone of the paper seems to change as the mood changes in Tucson, so that gives me and idea of how things are going in general.
It is also the instrument I use to show people with wrinkled noses why I chose the Tucson area (I live in Arivaca). To wit, I rented an apartment up on 1st and River for a couple of months so I could *do* some of the stuff you write about without having to drive an hour home at night after a concert or dinner and drinks. It was a hoot and no DUI’s.
My favorite? Tough to say, but I’ve always loved those scathing movie reviews. Thanks TW.
This is the only source of genuine news about Tucson, unless you want to find what the Kardashian sisters did this week. Thanks. As for Danehy, I don’t always agree with him, but I do always learn something from him. But, then, his job is NOT to write something I agree with, but to make me think and learn.
The Weekly is a must read for anyone who loves Tucson but can’t always be there.
People north of the ‘River”,like me in Tempe have been reading your rag since last century(mid ’90’s) cause there is alot of info and opinions.
I wish the T.W. would cross the river”Gila” and buy up Phoenix New Times,cause that weekly has long gone to Hell with only one article/opinion each week.