Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Washington Post Stand-Alone Home Section - RIP?


Every Thursday Washingtonians and bloggers around the country look forward to the Home section in The Washington Post. In particular, we've come to greatly appreciate Terri Sapienza's coverage of the design blog scene. As far as I know she was a pioneer with her acknowledgment of bloggers through Blog Watch - Picks to Click this Week.
However, this afternoon The Washington Business Journal reported "The Washington Post is bolstering and renaming its Thursday extra section, which will cause the Home section of the paper to disappear." The article by Tierney Plumb goes on to say, "The Home section will be included in the new product and tailored to each county, according to a Washington Post spokeswoman, as opposed to the section’s current function of covering a variety of areas for the entire D.C. area."
Exactly what this new coverage will be is yet to be seen. I have no idea if there is any impact on the Home section writers who have provided coverage to the D.C. design scene for so long and so well. I would encourage bloggers and readers to write to The Washington Post to express your opinions and share your hopes for The Post's future home & garden coverage.

15 comments:

Jeannine | The Small and Chic Home said...

So will we miss certain features because of where we live? The Boston Globe did this when I lived in Beantown and it was so frustrating...I lived on the border of the "districts" so if I bought the paper from one of the guys on the street, I'd get the city edition, but if I bought the paper at a store, I'd get the suburban edition. It was a little frustrating.

Let's hope everything is available online!

pve design said...

What? What is this world coming to.
pve

Kellogg Collection said...

Just got the word. Not good news. And I never made Blog Watch *#"""!!!..Cheer's Homer

Things That Inspire said...

Noooooooooo!!!! I am keeping my fingers crossed that it is not the end of the blog watch. I have sent emails to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, pointing out the popularity of the blog watch, and the fact that so many design loving readers flock to the online version of the WP every week to see what kind of articles are written, not to mention the blog watch.

Case in point: the article last week on the Tone on Tone owner's new home was as well written, if not better written, than most articles in national newspapers.

Velvet and Linen said...

This is really upsetting.
I love Terri's features as well as her blog watch!
I agree with pve: what is the world coming to?
Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

brooke

Pigtown*Design said...

That will suck! I love their home section. Even when I lived abroad, I'd log on to see what they were showcasing. And I'd log into the chats when it was Annie and Jura.

I was one of the very first blogs that they featured in June of 2007. It was just weeks after my father died and was a tremendous boost to my spirits.

LindsB said...

What is this awful news Washington Post? Dont get rid of the best section in the paper please!!!

The Blushing Hostess said...

yes, I will. totally unacceptable.

Annie Pazoo said...

AAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhrg. What is the world are the WP editors thinking? I'm a 7-day-a-week subscriber and think this is the biggest mistake. Time to start a blog and letter campaign to let them know how badly they've judged their readership....

Beth Connolly said...

This is a strange use of the word "bolster," isn't it? My husband is aghast over what they did to the book section and the business section. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy of self-destruction. Get rid of sections to boost your bottom line, but lose subscribers along the way.

Linda said...

Soon there will be no reason to subscribe to the Post.

Sally Steponkus said...

This is the worst news the DC Design community has seen in a long time. What a shame if the Post editors and powers that be cut out the fantastic writing of Terri Sapienza... she is the best - one of the only staff writers who is on top of the latest design trends, news and info. RIP, Home Section. I loved ye.

Windlost said...

Oh dear, I wonder what will become of Terri S. and the wonderful Blog Watch. i just made it on the list! I hope the reincarnation is well-conceived and that we are not all cut adrift.

designerfab said...

It will be a sad Thursday when you cannot read the Home section! I have followed Jura and Annie's articles for years and now Terri's too. I hope they are kept on staff so that our design community has an outlet here in this market.
Save the HOME SECTION! Save the valuable writers too.

Alicia said...

Me not happy!!!!!! Why in a bad economy must bad decorating & style be whats left???

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