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J©URNALEDITORIAL
K©MENCOMMENT
Newsweek is gone
with a whimper
So Newsweek is gone, another victim of
the digital revolution. Only Tinle remains
as a sad, shadowy reminder of the rich era
of weekly newsmagazines. And Time may
not survive very long, either.
The demise of Newsweek as a print prod-
uct available on newsstands and in your
mailbox was hardly unexpected. In truth,
it was dead two years ago when a 92-year-
old millionaire bought
it on a whim for $1. The
seller was The Wash-
ington Post Company. It
had rid itself of a money
loser.
Oh, they say News-
week will still be "pub-
lished" online. But in
reality it is dead. Does
By JOHN anyone remember The
KOMEN Seattle Post-Intelligenc-
er? It quit printing a
daily edition and all but
vanished when it retreated to "publish" on
the web.
Time is still on the newsstands and con-
tinues to have subscribers. But it is a far
cry from the day when it was a must-read.
It began publishing in 1923 "as a news
magazine which summarized and orga-
nized the news so that 'busy men' could
stay informed." That is how Time described
itself.
Newsweek came along in 1933, copied
Time's format, and the two weekly news
magazines slugged it out competitively for
decades, to the benefit of a reading pub-
lic. Americans were kept inlbrmed of the
week's events nationally and globally by
the two well-staffed weekly journals.
But with the arrival of the Internet,
both magazines soon bailed out of their
news summary formats. They tried to com-
pete with the Internet by becoming jour-
nals filled with opinion columns and wordy
essays It didn't work. Readers bailed out
in droves
Now Newsweek is in its death throes on
"the web" and ~me struggles to stay in the
print realm, publishing long-winded trea-
tises and printing fewer and fewer pages of
advertising. How long before it, too, winds
up "publishing" a lame internet product?
But, dear reader, all is not lost. A new
print product is at hand, and it seems to be
winning growing numbers of subscribers. It
proclaims itself in large bold letters "THE
WEEIC' and it is delivered via mail to your
home every Friday.
Like the old Time and Newsweek, THE
WEEK summarizes, but it is a summary
of"the best of the U.S. and international
media." And it does a bang-up job in a full-
color, art-filled, well-designed, typographi-
cally attractive 48-page magazine sized
'just a tad smaller than the dead and dying'
newsmagazines of old.
In summarizing "the media," THE
WEEK indeed actually emulates the origi-
nal Time and Newsweek concept, but in
a far more breezy and interesting style.
Perhaps it was inadvertent or perhaps
it was purposely done, but the magazine
does succeed in summarizing what is hap-
pening in the world. Reading an issue of
the magazine, one comes away with the
sense they've caught up with the important
events of the week.
And it isn't frivolous. It pays attention
to important developments and persons
of importance, not People-style celebrities
and royalty with their pants down. Cutesy
headlines don't exist. Its art column is enti-
tled "Arts," its book reviews are under 'The
Book List;" business news is under "Busi-
ness." It reviews the reviews of art, film
and stage found the week before in print
publications and online websites.
It seems to be thriving by word of
mouth, one reader introducing others to
the magazine. And it has a vigorous in-
magazine subscription campaign with
mail-in cards offering gift subscriptions at
bargain prices.
Did Time and Newsweek bail out too
soon on their once tried-and-tested format?
Were they intimidated by the internet's
free-news frenzy? We'll never know, but
there's now a new newsmagazine on pub-
lishers' row challenging the concept that all
is lost to smart phones and digital tablet
reading devices.
LETTERSTOTH EEDITOR
PAPERBOY
• John Komen, who lives on Mason
Lake, was for 40 years a reporter and edi-
tor, 7~V anchorman, national TV network
correspondent, producer, columnist, edito-
rial writer and commentator. His column,
Komen Comment, appears each week in the
Shelton-Mason County Journal.
Shelton-Mason County
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Published weekly by Shelton-Mason County Journal, Inc.
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Telephone (360) 426-4412 • www.masoncounty.com
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Keeping (
It seems these days th
everywhere you look,
perts and pundits are
state of the economy.
The topic dominates n(
lines, political debates an
throughout Mason Count
Many local, state and t
dates running for public (
the economy as their mai
form. Some want to pass
ment policies or change p
Others want to maintain
Forecasters' economic
theories on
society
Editor, the Journal
In order to change the (
rent situation, the behaviq
mr finger on the local economic pulse
it just aboutjust like the wt~.ather -- vary depending news briefs. It will also be a good litmus
politicians, ex- on the source. One thing is for certain test for readers interested in seeing how
discussing the -- we at the Journal pride ourselves on our local, state and federal policies will
having the best local political and eco- affect our unique economy in Mason
wspaper head- nomic coverage you will find in Mason County.
d coffee houses County. That's why we were excited in There is a fine line between business
¢ and beyond. September to unveil our new business news and advertising. In our coverage,
ederal candi- news page. you will see information about business
ffice are using The page, compiled by Journal re- expansions or remodels, new product
a political plat- porter Gordon Weeks, spotlights local lines, changes in operations, award
aws, imple- small businesses and economic trends, recipients and new hires, to name a
rocedures. It keeps readers abreast of new busi- few. For more information on what we
Lhe status quo. nesses opening up in Mason County, as consider business news, email Weeks at
)redictions -- well as gives businesses a way to submit gordon@masoncounty.com.
of humans and their civil
systems, we have to be op
minded. It will be a relati,
soft change, much of whic:
has already begun in man
communities. Problems in
government, finance, educ
tion, health care and entit
ments are all in need of m
ethical change. Sharing m
caring are important. Thfi
ing only of you is desperat
out of fashion.
We all know the "Great
Generation" (born betwee]
1920-1938) had it really r~
with 13 years of depressio
followed by five years of w
(with a few years break), c
cluding with more years o:
war. I don't blame them fc
wanting to create a perfec
world, d I':. azantville," fc
their children. The GGers:
dreams were realized for t
children, the "Baby Boom(
They amass a total of 60-7
million born between 194q
and 1964. The BBers were
destined to create a world
that was to be all theirs,
I'm not generalizing peopl ~,
rather the current system~ of
the world. America's BBe~s
created the current globallsys-
tem of business, governm~ nt
and entitlements (me desc rve
a cheeseburger!).
It started with market- when it ended in 1970. statement. As executive direc-
ing to that mass of children Creativity is free and ram- tor of the Port of Allyn, I've
to have the best toys andpant, change is happening at worked closely with Randy for
clothes. Then, as young a fierce rate and people are more than four years and dur-
adults, they created their own finding happiness. I think ing that time he has consis-
system of sex, drugs and rock progressive, Northwest liv- tently treated me with respect
'n' roll, defying their parent's ing is something to relish. We and been an excellent supervi-
system. Finally, as adults, the have the ability to be creative sor. I had occasion recently to
BBers convinced themselves and resourceful. We can influ- watch him in a pretty tough
ur- that hard work for wealth and ence the world and change the negotiating session with a
pr positions in society were the future. It's good to vote, you state agency and I could not
only way to go. Ultimately, should always vote, but it's have been more impressed
;n- TV marketed lifestyles like more important than ever to with his ability to communi-
~ely "Dynasty" and "Dallas" and volunteer. Health care will be cate the port's position and
1 convinced everyone to own a determined by how much weachieve concessions that I
y McMansion and a vacation will help each other. Food will don't believe I could have. He
home, at any cost. Relation- be grown to share as part of was respectful but strong and
a- ships, finance, entitlements our nutritional system. Edu- the meeting ended on friendly
le- were at the center of thecation will be a combination of terms. That is the mark of a
ajor culture of civil sabotage for in school, at home and virtual, leader in my book.
,d oneself. In 2005, it seemed a Community will participate Three years ago I might
lk- reality, and competition was in specific cultural experi- not have supported him for
ely fierce ... poor ences and education. The only county commissioner but he
As a Gen-Xer (born be- way to fix finance and the has worked harder than any
est tween 1965-1980), I was told economy is to slowly devalue commissioner I have had to
l we could continue this system it (although.it seems to have learn the job, the responsi-
,ugh and prosper even more than devalued itself for some time), bilities of the port district
a, the BBers. They didn't know The theory of Occam's razor and his role as a commis-
ar I was already influenced by tells us to trim away things sioner in accomplishing port
on- punk rock and its defiance until you get to the core of goals.
to own nothing and run so- problems, good or bad. Then During the past year,
cial interference. Sprinkle in you will find happiness.Randy has gone through a
"Fast Times at Ridgemont life-threatening battle with
High" and I was convinced. I Howard L. Leggett cancer and not once did I
was turned off to the BBers Union hear him complain about the
eir competition by their sheer challenges he had been given
,rs." numbers and a 20-year head nor see him rest in his work
1992,, chose Neatherlin to represent the port. It was
0
start. In about
life over money. Much of the truly amazing to see someone
generations younger than me hi-1 V carry that kind of burden and
have, too. Sustainability is the .._ s m. vote yet give his all in serving the
norm now, entitlements are public.
cliche, survival is the only op- Editor, the Journal I will be voting for Randy
tion. And let me tell you, it's I seldom write letters of en- and I hope you will too.
a whole lot of fun! It's steeped dorsement but I fhel I have to
with feminine ethics of fertil- share my perspective on one Bonnie Knight
ity, virtuousness, truthfulness of the candidates. Character- Allyn
and caring. The BBers told izing Randy Neatherlin as a
us this was the '60s. I was 3 bully is just not an accurate See Letters on page A-5
A few observations on next Tuesday's election
If you're a true, dyed-in-
servative, then you will
liberal -- I'm not.
If you're an uptight Seal
New Yorker, then you'll m~
lieve me to be a knee-jerk
Sorry, I'm not that either.
Reagan got my vote twi
Perot, once, Dole once, Bus
and the current president
twice).
My thther raised me to
am) that dinosaur of a citi2
vative Democrat.
When I first saw Presid(
Obama speak, a little mor~
years ago at the Orpheum
Sioux City, I was in awe.
Not by the president. It
lather crowd that night.
Its demeanor resembled
I had seen in that same ph
6 years old.
Bobby Kennedy had pac
torium and the people mus
he was one of the Beatles
all, 1966.
My dad, who was a unio
had been given the singula
ing as Kennedy's chauffem
I was disappointed when h
the stage. He wasn't even
Nonetheless it was, for a 6-
pretty riveting introductiol
Seeing then-candidate C
2008 took me back to that
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Page A-4- Shelton-Mason County Journal- Thursday, Nov. 1,2012
the-wool con- listened to his words I couldn't help but though we can look ahead now and won-
think me a think about what the conservative pun- der how it might get worse than this.
dits were saying. If you're a political junkie, as am I,
tle-ite or a Platitudes and hope but no substance, there will always be an inherent excite-
,re likely be- The crowd would ment surrounding any election because it
onservative. ~ have disagreed but I is our primary act of citizenship.
left the rally early and In the '70s we saw our president im-
e, Bush once, still a little proud to be peached and forced to resign. It almost
h Junior none an American -- only happened again in the '90s and that presi-
,nce (okay, because someone had dent survived his term only to watch his
finally gotten a few veep win the popular vote and then step
,e (and I still citizens fired-up about aside for two more rounds of the Bush
en, the conser- being Americans. family.
It was the reason The 2000 election debacle caused a se-
,nt Barack By TOM President Reagan got rious and educational look at disbanding
than four MULLEN my vote twice -- he the electoral college.
Fheater in made me feel good, onceAnd while you and I might shake our
more, about my citizenship, heads in disbelief, it produced, at least for
rcas his all-in-a That task has become increasingly dif- a while, a more involved citizenry.
ficult. The anti-candidate advertising must
that of a crowd When I walked to the polls in 1996, I have the opposite effect on more than the
ce when I was didn't know ifI could vote for President likes of me.
Clinton (he made me feel icky) or Sen. Last year I heard two members of my
~ed the audi- Dole (he made me feel dull), rotary club retell stories of lynchings they
have thought After that election and upon reflection, had witnessed, and just three years prior
- it was, after I decided it was all the anti-candidate ad- to that a man of color was elected presi-
vertising that had me loathe to vote at all. dent of these United States.
plumber, So I swore off it. Ours is a great country for Republi-
r honor of act- When an anti-(fi!l in your favorite can- cans, Democrats and every other political
that day, and didate) ad flashes across my iMac, I click animal.
didn't take the window closed. And whatever the outcome next Tues-
sked to speak. If an anti-(fill in your least-favorite day, we will persevere because we have
year-old, a candidate) ad shows up on the tube, I look more in common with each other than
L to politics, the other way. the far-right and the far-left, who run our
bama in We all know (if we've voted in an elec- parties, would have us believe.
ime and as I tion) that it keeps getting worse -- even My ballot's in the mail.
nember of Kari Sleight, publisher Advertising: Composing room:
Association. Dave Pierik, St. Acct. Executive William Adams, graphics
Newsroom: Maggie Burdick, ad representative
Adam Rudnick, editor Pressroom:
esses, Natalie Johnson, reporter Front office: Kelly Riordan, production manager
~ut outside Gordon Weeks, reporterDonna Kinnaird, bookkeeper Travis Miller, press operator
tate. Emily Hanson, sports reporter Renee Chaplin, circulation Mary Northover, press assistant
Cricket Carter, mailroom
supervisor