By Cheri Rae
I’m sorry to hear the Sound go silent. Young Jeramy Gordon came to town with a good idea and almost no idea what he was getting into. And for a while, he did a fine job with his upstart publication; just about the only person who benefited from the News-Press mess of 2006.
The time was ripe for a change—but, sadly, it died on the vine.
But it wasn’t for lack of talent.
He had lots of help from local professionals who offered their expertise, their community contacts and their mature points of view to this young publisher who was getting on-the-job experience in the volatile publishing world. Many of us worked at far less than our going rate—yes, and sometimes for free—just to help him get his project off the ground.
For a couple of years, Loretta Redd and I were featured columnists—she on Tuesday, me on Thursday; both of us met every Monday afternoon with our young publisher-editor, schooling him weekly in Santa Barbara issues and individuals, politics and priorities.
He gave us an open forum to express our views—and for that I am grateful. And, in return, I won a couple of statewide awards for his publication. I wrote about a number of local issues: the candidacies of JMike (remember him?) and Steve Cushman; the proposals to eliminate the Y at De La Vina and State and institute height limits; well-researched history and preservation pieces. And there were national issues: very personally revealing columns about race, adoption and gun violence. I eventually learned that a member of our community actually nominated that body of work for a Pulitzer Prize—not bad for a new, little local paper.
A decent alternative to the longtime daily, it sounded and looked good for a long time. We longtime professionals who worked for our young boss did everything we could to help make it a financial and journalistic success.
But there was a time when the whole production simply soured—and the paper went into a downward spiral from which it never recovered. Loretta left. The always-controversial Gina Perry wrote a horrific column that never should have seen the light of day. After a series of unfortunate events, I, too, resigned.
Afterward, I still hoped for its success, but having been around in publishing for more years than I care to count, knew too well that the paper was no longer on a positive path. The reasons had nothing to do with the print vs. electronic realities that drive debate in publishing these days. He gave it a good run, and his head just got turned in the wrong direction. It happens. It’s too bad. Life goes on.
Give props to Jeramy Gordon for having the vision and taking a chance. I hope he learned a lot from the experience of making a Daily Sound.
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Thank you for the reminder. I remember those early days when you are Loretta were the best things about the Daily Sound and yes, it was refreshing to read conservative points of view put into broader readership.
I too thought there would be growing niche for the Daily Sound and did not consider myself well-read without picking up a copy, whenever I could find one. Then it became thin, lost its substance and ultimately became irrelevant. Thank you for saluting its initial efforts and verve.
They had a shot and your columns were definitely the heydey! People had DS bumper stickers just out of spite for the Supress. That could have been a viral campaign on its own.
Generous, kind and, I think, an accurate column. I am very sad the paper failed: Santa Barbara south coast, Goleta to Carpinteria, is big enough to need two daily papers, but whether we are big enough as people to be willing to support them, is doubtful.
Online is almost entirely opinion and press releases: except Noozhawk, I think, does a good job in reporting but it’s limited; Edhat, well, if fires and scanners are your thing, it’s great – they now have photos from the ambulance chasers and that section seems very popular; and the Indy news clips, just that.
But for those of us preferring to make up our own opinions there’s a huge gap of facts available to do so. Our local government suffers as a result: most councilmembers now see no need to even reply to constituents except in election year. Why bother? No one is going to know about it anyway except the foolish resident who took campaign promises as worth something.
Thanks to Jeramy Gordon, for trying – and in fact making – a difference for a while, at least.
The Daily Sound Web site is back up.
If it was up yesterday it is down today. Wouldn’t count on it!
The “crackdown’s” spiral wasn’t over bad prose… It became part of the ride along media machine. You name it (misconduct) and our local force has tried it. Journalism is hard enough, so why try to serve two masters?
I hope the News Press is listening!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKOREFKhXgE&feature=related
Ah, the benefits and drawbacks of youth. Mr. Gordon brought a dream to reality, but like many young entrepreneurs, didn’t have the tenacity to see it through during the times when his dreams were challenged. He created the Santa Barbara Press Club, only to watch it fade after a few months; his paper hit the streets ‘running’ with color photos, then home delivery, but that too, faded into black and white. His main problem was not meeting obligations and not always telling the same story twice…monies paid for home delivery for instance, were not reimbursed upon ending that service, checks to staff and other obligations began to bounce regularly. Even at the end, his difficulty with admitting defeat with honesty reflected poorly on his character. Much to be admired, apparently much still to be learned. Hopefully, he’ll put more sustained effort into his marriage, than he did into his image.
It took a downward spiral when things like a column promoting Randall Von Wolfswinkel appeared on the front page as a news story. The Sound was overextended for too long, both financially and professionally. That’s the state of all media in this town and it’s only a matter of time before it is reduced to nothing, unless some outside resources come into play. But they can’t rely on unpaid talent and press releases forever.
WHat will happen to Kitty in the City? Doubt anyone will pick her column up.