Rest in peace, Washington Blade. Low resolution image of December 1st, 2006 front page of The Washington Blade.
As far as LGBT news publications go, The Advocate magazine may be the most prominent LGBT news source, but the D.C.-based Washington Blade is also a strong contender. That may no longer be the case—on Monday, November 17th, Blade’s parent company, Window Media LLC, announced that it had ceased all of its operations, including the publishing of Blade, Atlanta-based Southern Voice, and South Florida Blade.
It was hardly unforeseen. Since 2001, Window Media had gone on a buying spree, purchasing a plethora of gay newspapers and magazines, including national newspapers like Washington Blade, but also local LGBT papers like New York’s Genre magazine and New England’s IN Newsweekly. When Window Media acquired these papers, it replaced largely local content in favor of national stories. Major brand labels, instead of local, small businesses, largely comprised the newspapers’ and magazines’ advertisements. Whenever it bought a local LGBT paper, Window Media tried to nationalize it, much to the chagrin of the local LGBT non-profit organizations.
However, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people did not appreciate being treated like a marketing commodity. They naturally didn’t continue buying newspapers that sacrificed their alternative voice to become national media advertising machines. By the beginning of 2009, Window Media’s publications were in financial trouble. In March, Genre magazine was the first of the company’s magazines to suspend its operations. Four months later, the New York Blade folded.
Although it may not be any surprise that Window Media and its subsidiaries have gone under, it’s a disturbing trend that plagues not just LGBT press, but all print media. Just this month, The Advocate announced its plans to market itself and combine subscriptions with Out magazine, ending its 40+ years of stand-alone status. When announcing the decision, the CEO of The Advocate’s parent company, Here Media, cited problems with the print publication model including the costs of paper, printing, and postage. Additionally, the Obama administration currently is in talks about a potential bailout of major newspapers including very well-respected mainstream papers like The New York Times and The Washington Post.
While the loss of LGBT newspapers may not be such a big loss compared to the potential downfall of The New York Times (I could never see The Advocate conducting “in-depth” reporting at the level of the big newspapers like The Washington Post), their demise certainly doesn’t help LGBT visibility. The Washington Blade, the oldest and one of the most well respected LGBT news sources, had conveyed to queer people that they were not alone. Founded shortly after the Stonewall riots in 1969, it encouraged gays and lesbians to come out of the closet during a politically tumultuous era. It was a long-standing tradition for these newspapers and magazines to give LGBT Americans a voice when others tried to silence them. So now, without them, will the LGBT community lose their voice?
I don’t think so. After all, mainstream newspapers, even traditionally conservative ones like the Chicago Tribune, are covering many LGBT events without sharp disdain for LGBT Americans. The social environment has changed in a way that allows discourse on LGBT issues by the mainstream. With the general media now covering more of these issues, it will no longer be up to specifically gay media to prompt active LGBT discussions.
Moreover, part of the reason that print news media is failing is due to the Internet. Free expression is encouraged on the Internet and there is something inherently democratic about a place where a complete amateur can have as much voice as the elite. There is no shortage of gay news blogs, and while they may not have as many features or look as tidy or neat as gay print magazines, they still provide a voice for the LGBT community.
However, I am troubled with blogs claiming they are the only “authoritative” news source or dictating how LGBT politics should be discussed. While there are blogs like Towleroad.com and JoeMyGod.com that discuss LGBT issues, they don’t foster real discussion. These blogs are written by single individuals and marketed towards those with the same ideological and political point of view. Furthermore, most blogs don’t publish editorials where people can stake a claim, support it with evidence, and potentially convince others to join their side.
When this practice existed in gay newspapers, this meant internal debate by queers for queers. Now there are many clamoring voices, but they are all isolated. I worry that these newspapers and magazines are still more likely to spark debate on a topic, compared to blogs. Although there is little danger of complete silence on LGBT issues, the quality of and—ironically—grassroots participation in the debate may suffer with the rise of Internet blogs.
The loss of LGBT print media represents a sad state of affairs for the community. In spite of the numerous problems with Window Media’s publications, the magazines and newspapers added voices to the discussion about a variety of LGBT issues, including marriage equality.
Although I feel that the queer community will be heard in spite of Windows Media’s bankruptcy, it will suffer if current trends continue. Trying to buck the trend, the former Washington Blade staff met this week to try to re-launch the paper under the new name, DC Agenda. But amidst a recession and the quickly thinning field of profitable newspapers, it doesn’t seem likely that they’ll succeed. For the time being, the story remains grim. Let’s just hope that there will still be someone left to report on it.
