In a turn of events I could not have possibly predicted, every Sunday morning, I’m finding myself reading something on Buzzfeed. No, not the list of “21 Mouthwatering Ways To Up Your Chicken Tender And Fry Game” (WHICH IS ACTUALLY A THING ON THEIR SITE RIGHT NOW), but the content on the site’s Buzzreads page. Generally, there’s a story by someone at Buzzfeed and links to other longish stories worth reading on the web, and while I’m not sure I understand how a company can be simultaneous committed to hot listicle garbage and longform journalism, I’m going to just try to enjoy it while it lasts.
Anyhow, this week’s story was about Madewell, a defunct clothing brand that J. Crew resurrected, stealing the label’s backstory in the process. The narrative itself was interesting, but the heart of the story was a discussion of authenticity, and how the American consumer economy has moved beyond needs, pricing and convenience to a story-based decision-making process. Purchases now need to conform to the buyer’s own self-image, somehow. I am a person who cares about quality and legacy, thus the things I buy must also be connected to those values.
Not that we’re asking you to buy anything when you pick up the Weekly (although it would help us out if you support our advertisers), but authenticity is likely a part of how you decide whether to read us in print or click over to tucsonweekly.com. It comes up every week, that someone is questioning the choices we make editorially, an email complaining about how a story was written, a conversation about one of our opinion writers or a Facebook commenter irritated by a story about bringing a giant water slide to Tucson. And that’s fair. Although the Weekly in on its third owner and I’m the editor at the end of a long list of those who have watched over this paper, we don’t have anything if we’re not true to the values you have as our reader.
I was watching “Major League” the other day (mostly so I could imagine a world in which the Indians made the playoffs) and saw a Tucson Weekly sign on the outfield fence during one of the scenes at Hi Corbett (I posted a still of that scene as our Facebook cover photo, if you’re curious) which reads “The City’s News and Arts Journal.” While I think I might switch the word “Arts” for “Culture,” that’s still basically our aim 25 years after that billboard made it on the big screen. That’s the authenticity we’re hoping to provide and I welcome your comments on how we can do better.
This article appears in Oct 2-8, 2014.
Dan Gibson talking about authenticity. That’s rich.
MK: Do tell, what about me is so inauthentic?
Dan — maybe you can ask the folks at 10/13 why they think it is a great idea to have Mari Herreras, who if I’m not mistaken, just won awards for her news and investigating journalism, doing Nine Questions and City Week and what has been looking like less and less news. This isn’t what readers want. More news please.
You are the coach, let your best players play, put your gender bias aside let the interns handle the fluff
NJYD: Something about your email address seems so familiar. Weird.
There’s no gender bias at play, but thanks for that particular unmerited shot. We’re all working hard, and that involves chipping in a variety of ways, but Mari’s doing just as much news work as in the past. Mari’s great and I couldn’t more thankful to get to work with her each week, and while I’m not perfect, I certainly aim to let her do great work. After all, I was the editor when she won those recent awards, wasn’t I?
Fluffy interns? That sounds like an S-Type. And cute to boot.
You should remove the word ‘Arts’ from any descriptor of the Weakly. I saw no gallery or museum art listings (opening, current or closing shows) in the last issue, the same week of First Saturday, and there were numerous gallery openings. You have repeatedly apologized all year for ‘still trying to get the format right’ when there was nothing wrong with it to begin with. With all of the ads and other rubbish, the Weakly is looking more like the junk mail I receive each week. You’ve had plenty of time to get it together…………..
Eugenius: We had space constraints last week that led to the listings being bumped and they’re back this week. Not that anyone cares to hear me complain, but there are constraints and demands in all directions with what gets into the paper and for everyone who complains about the listings, someone else will complain if we bump something else. I do listen to people’s complaints and concerns and I would imagine the listings will stay in print for the foreseeable future.
As a point, the ads are generally a good thing, so the people who put together the paper which you claim to have enjoyed once can get paid. Maybe I don’t deserve a check, but the writers do for sure, so you might want to be slightly more appreciative of the fact that people want to have their ads in our paper.
However, that “Weakly” bit is hilarious. Never get enough of that lazy quip.
Please don’t attack me, just friendly advice, my mother (who is 75) and I have always went out of our way to pick up the Tucson Weekly, ( thanks circle K) for stopping your distribution, you suck. Anyways, we both have noticed a lack of the columnists, the only one left it seems is Tom D. I read him 1st every week, love him. I used to love Irene Molina and others who are not there anymore. My mom told me the Weekly has gotten so boring, I have to say I agree. We will continue being readers and are hoping you will bring back more good columnists.