The NY Press: dogshit on the sidewalk

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

Although it would be difficult to prove, I have a strong feeling that the
ability of rightwing millionaires to gain control over the media in New
York City, a bastion of liberalism, has been a decisive factor in the
election of Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg. Not only have these
Republicans been elected as mayor, the Democrats have moved to the right as
well adopting "law and order" and fiscal austerity rhetoric.

The centerpiece in this media grab is the NY Post, which under former
publisher Dorothy Schiff, could be counted on for rock-ribbed New Deal
liberalism. When Rupert Murdoch purchased the paper in 1976, it was
transformed into a toxic dump of ultraright politics and tabloid
sensationalism ("Headless Body in Topless Bar" was an infamous headline.)

Murdoch also bought the liberal Village Voice and although he promised
never to interfere with its editorial direction, it began a marked decline
both in terms of writing quality and political depth. It is marked by
superficiality across the board. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not.

There was a brief respite from mediocrity when the Long Island based
Newsday (owned by the LA Times) began publishing a Manhattan edition. They
had very sharp reporters who were not afraid to go against the Reaganite
grain. A memorable article focused on the Nicaragua solidarity movement in
NYC. The LA Times eventually decided to stop publishing the Manhattan
edition using the excuse that it was not profitable enough. Rupert Murdoch
loses money with the NY Post, but gains political clout. So you can see
what we are up against.

In 1988, a rival to the Village Voice premiered. Unlike the Voice, the New
York Press was free and relied on advertising to stay in business, a
strategy that the Village Voice was forced to adopt and something that
probably has been a factor in its ongoing deterioration. A quick glance at
the NY Press might lead to the conclusion that you were dealing with an
"alternative" weekly with its edgy graphics, tabloid brashness and emphasis
on the punk music scene. In addition, the paper had the occasional leftist
writing for it, including Alexander Cockburn.

But editorially the paper was under the tight control of founder Russ Smith
who wrote an interminable weekly column aptly titled "Mugger". An April 23,
1996 NY Times article described the paper thusly:

"The paper's politics are not easily defined, either. But Mr. Smith
describes himself as an economic conservative. There is a libertarian
columnist and several writers were quite taken with the Republican
candidacy of Steve Forbes."

http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2006/07/08/the-new-york-press-dogshit-on-the-sidewalk/