Comments so far on this story:

1. MM wrote on January 1, 2008 9:53 PM:
"Well said! I've been thinking those things about the Reader for many years, and it's nice to know I'm not alone. When I do pick up the Reader, it's for a two-for-one roller skate coupon, not for news. The exception, of course, is on days when I think to myself, "I wonder what Matt Potter has to say about someone who knows/worked for/once was in the same building as Alan Bersin," another of his favorite topics."

2. How odd wrote on January 2, 2008 12:19 AM:
"What a weird, ironic piece, in too many ways to address. One obvious irony, of course, is your writing on the Voice's website that "Potter and the City Lights crew are obsessed with The San Diego Union-Tribune and its owner David Copley." Did you run this by Scott? Anyway, why in the world should Holman address his faith through the Reader, any more than you should here? What do I care about Holman's faith, at least as it relates to him owning the Reader? If he did that, he'd be much more criticized than praised, and he'd probably lose revenue. That's fine, of course, for you and me, if he loses money. But I tend to think it's okay for the owner of a business, even a weekly, to make some money. I don't read the Reader, or even look at it anymore, but I don't care if Holman changesit."

3. Tom Basinski wrote on January 2, 2008 6:11 AM:
"The Reader is indeed horrible. In the past I have queried the staff on a few projects, SASE included. My published credentials are considerable. I can't even get them to respond. I have given up on them. Their arrogance prevents them from caring. Tom Basinski"

4. San Marcos says, wrote on January 2, 2008 7:58 AM:
"Whilst the journalistic failures abound, sometimes it is correct to state the successes. The "San Marcos News Reporter" which was run by William F. Willoughby from a tiny office here in San Marcos, was always filled with news. It was filled with the sometimes complicated articles regarding finance (or abuse of it) and the people's struggles against big government. People from around San Diego County read the North County's Weekly News Reporter for NEWS. Bill Willoughby in his younger years was the editor of the Washington Star and came to San Marcos late in life. He exposed many wrongs and really did believe in Freedom of the Press as well as government Of the People, By the People and For the People. Sadly, his health failed - he was forced to deal with his ill health. We miss you, Bill !"

5. Paul Lazarr wrote on January 2, 2008 8:47 AM:
"As a consumer of most written media in San Diego, your column surprised me a little. Copley, Kittle and crew have lost most of their credibility these days. It's a good read for laughs and to see where the the old school establishment stands. Not much more. VOSD certainly made some inroads, but I haven't seen much of Neil Morgan lately. I'm hoping VOSD will buck the political establishment and provide a solid news source given the apparent impending doom of the UT. Not so sure though with Buzz Woolley pulling the strings. And your piece attacking The Reader didn't help. Many times, I have found City Lights to be the genesis of huge stories in San Diego. Of note recently was the whole Sunroad fiasco. The Reader broke it. Quite frankly, I like The Reader. It provides an avant-garde outlet for us kooks in the region."

6. Paul Lazarr wrote on January 2, 2008 8:47 AM:
"As a consumer of most written media in San Diego, your column surprised me a little. Copley, Kittle and crew have lost most of their credibility these days. It's a good read for laughs and to see where the the old school establishment stands. Not much more. VOSD certainly made some inroads, but I haven't seen much of Neil Morgan lately. I'm hoping VOSD will buck the political establishment and provide a solid news source given the apparent impending doom of the UT. Not so sure though with Buzz Woolley pulling the strings. And your piece attacking The Reader didn't help. Many times, I have found City Lights to be the genesis of huge stories in San Diego. Of note recently was the whole Sunroad fiasco. The Reader broke it. Quite frankly, I like The Reader. It provides an avant-garde outlet for us kooks in the region."

7. Paul Lazarr wrote on January 2, 2008 8:48 AM:
"I concur with "how odd"'s comments regarding Holman's religion. Bringing up that issue makes the column appear to be a borderline attack piece - which makes me nervous for the future of VOSD."

8. Billy Bob Henry wrote on January 2, 2008 9:27 AM:
"The Reader has a great section with Don Bauder and there seems to be a huge cross section of readers from here and Bauder's column, so if the Reader sucks, I would think you are basiclly saying the people who read it and find it entertaining suck, and those are YOUR readers also.......better not bite the hand that feeds you!"

9. No, BBH wrote on January 2, 2008 10:49 AM:
"The cross section is probably not that large. Bauder is one of those classic anti-boss bitter-Bobs. He is angry, embarrassingly so, about something, and unfortunately the Reader has given him a venue at which to display it. If there is one reason I don't even pick up the Reader anymore, it's Bauder being there."

10. Agree with Seth wrote on January 2, 2008 10:59 AM:
"Thanks for putting a voice to my long-held opinion that the Reader is a completely worthless publication. Too bad more of those businesses that advertise in the Reader don't just put their money into City Beat and let the Reader die a quick (but long-overdue) death. Bauder completely sucks now, Matt Potter is a broken record, and the rest is unspeakable drivel. They could afford to do so much, but like you said, why bother? Holman clearly has no journalistic ethic."

11. Dannyboy wrote on January 2, 2008 11:39 AM:
"Hmmmmm. So you think the reader is crap! Gee what do think of the infamous UT? I have lived in SD for 40 years. The Reader has served it's readers better than any local paper in this town over the years. Yes they have some strange weird articles and opinions from time to time. But no stranger then life itself. Way better then self serving statist quo that is not interested in serving the community."

12. Dannyboy wrote on January 2, 2008 11:39 AM:
"Hmmmmm. So you think the reader is crap! Gee what do think of the infamous UT? I have lived in SD for 40 years. The Reader has served it's readers better than any local paper in this town over the years. Yes they have some strange weird articles and opinions from time to time. But no stranger then life itself. Way better then self serving statist quo that is not interested in serving the community."

13. sandy eggo wrote on January 2, 2008 12:05 PM:
"Hettena, you are spot on. I work for an indivudal who is regularly noted by the Reader for "transgressions" that amount to having had lunch with someone who once changed the tires of someone who was, without a doubt a corrupt so-and-so. The six degrees of actual journalism practiced by the Reader (Potter, in particular) is a joke. I read it for the same reason why I read the Onion. Also, my boss has been blasted by Bauder too who, of course, never calls to fact-check. We don't ever ask for retractions because we don't like to waste our time... the Reader is that insignificant."

14. Larry wrote on January 2, 2008 12:13 PM:
"Bitter much? Bring back the spelling whiz kid. At least he was interesting."

15. Bruce wrote on January 2, 2008 12:28 PM:
"The Reader obviously has many audiences. Over the years I've been involved in San Diego civic issues which is Reader audience that I'm part of. During those years the Reader has consistently been the one source of reporting on insider deals without evidencing any fear of retaliation. Take Matt Potter, many times he has reported that people he calls in the Office of the Mayor refuse to speak to him. If you've followed his column, you know the reason is that he asks the tough questions. The same can be said for Don Bauder. Thank God for the Reader and for the 164,000 members of its weekly audience who keep it alive and kicking the hell out of the bad guys in San Diego each week."

16. Former Reader reporter wrote on January 2, 2008 12:33 PM:
"Sorry, but I have to fault the writer with putting too much of himself in the story. I would have liked to have seen more examples of the types of stories The Reader once did, and more input from people who have read it over the years, so we could compare then and now. Of course, The Reader always indulged its writers' "voices," sometimes to a fault. But Mullin and Holman tried to keep us in check. Now it's pretty obvious that Holman doesn't care."

17. 3fingerspointback wrote on January 2, 2008 12:50 PM:
"Hating on the Reader is as embarrassing when read in VOSD as it is when I read it in SD City Beat. "Waaahhhh! They don't report on the stuff that we care about!" Big deal. If you want up-to-the-minute news on wildfires, you shouldn't be waiting for the weekly paper to get on it. Where the Reader shines is in its documentation of San Diego history and culture, which is done better than any other media in this city. I also like Ben Katchor's strip, and Duncan Shepard's movie reviews."

18. A Publisher wrote on January 2, 2008 1:04 PM:
"Though your piece told some truths, one you missed is that the Reader is in sync with the business community, even if that community is made up of plastic surgeons, medical treatment centers and real estate. Obviously, they're quite happy with the circulation and response their ad dollars buy. And that's the rub; the other papers mentioned by posters may have done a fine job in news reporting, but if the local business community isn't on board, they're toast. Holman was smart enough to be earliest and shrewd enough to never lose his ad base and this made the Reader bulletproof. As for City Beat, they're not getting bigger and their ad columns show no zest for growth which means they're not long for this world. The last nail in the coffin is that the papers are free meaning no income from circulation, no matter how large it gets."

19. Marconi wrote on January 2, 2008 1:32 PM:
"Has no one noticed how thin the Reader has become, not just in content, but in size? The number of pages has been steadily decreasing for some time now. Also, where stacks of Readers used to disappear by the weekend, they now sit around through the next week. Holman's arrogance and self-indulgence were bound to catch up with him. A proliferation of new and better media outlets (and savvier audiences) has speeded up the inevitable decline of a shabby publication."

20. SDNative wrote on January 2, 2008 1:41 PM:
"Well, what else is new? The Reader makes its money from print ads and doesn't put a lot of effort into journalism. Owner makes money, end of story. The Reader has successfully sucks the life out of classifieds from the SDUT and the print ads from San Diego Magazine. The classifieds in the SDUT are 15% of what they were 10 years ago. San Diego Magazine no longer is the queen of vanity ads."

21. Gayle Falkenthal wrote on January 2, 2008 2:13 PM:
"Part of what constitutes successful communication is a robust response that moves the dialogue forward. Seth, your column scores on this point alone! I agree with you about The Reader's current state. Not so long ago I wouldn't have missed an issue. Unlike the recent wildfires, the Reader did terrific, engaging and valuable follow-up stories in 2003(full disclosure: I was quoted in one of them). It once featured the region's top freelance journalists and they won a slew of Press Club Awards for their work. As for Matt Potter, he's burned out, but at least his column is worth a look. But the Reader is solvant and you can't say that for many weeklies these days. So it's hard to argue with Jim Holman's model of success."

22. Neal Matthews wrote on January 2, 2008 2:47 PM:
"The commentary said I wrote an analysis of the Diocese of San Diego's accounts. Jeannette De Wyze and I both worked on that story and it was a double byline. All of us -- Holman, Mullin, Krueger, me and Jeannette -- worked on all those Catholic exposes. Staff-generated stories helped create an identity for the paper. We had a lot of fun together in and out of those drafty offices on State St., and it showed. It doesn't look like anybody's having fun at the Reader anymore."

23. David Rolland wrote on January 2, 2008 2:59 PM:
"I'm surprised that "A Publisher" doesn't know more about publishing. "A Publisher" obviously is not aware that free alternative weeklies have been thriving in this country for decades. The fact that CityBeat, which I edit, doesn't derive any revenue from circulation is a non-issue. Virtually all urban weeklies are free; does that mean they're all doomed? I think not. The name of the game is display ad sales, and yes, that's a struggle for the second weekly in a market. The good news is that our ad revenue is steadily increasing. As for our criticism of the Reader, we've pretty much limited that to Holman's anti-abortion crusade."

24. Omni-Potent wrote on January 2, 2008 3:34 PM:
"I'm not sure what the story is here. Hey, Seth- if your column is on "local media and journalism," how about the effect, the story behind, or your opinion of the recent layoff of UT reporters? The Reader is what it is- you pick it up if you have time while getting a cup of coffee, or want to see what the going rate is for a ping-pong table. Every now and then a good story pops up- like the one of living homeless for a year, which explained the lifestyle of a community all around us that we just don't see/understand. Prove them inconsequential by digging deeper..."

25. Scott McLachlan wrote on January 2, 2008 4:21 PM:
"Most of the columns that are in the Reader, I routinely bypass-- the sole exceptions being the City Light section, with the columns of Matt Potter and Don Bauder, and the Tin Fork column. Most of the music section doesn't interest me, and 99.9999 % of the ads I've never use, so they are ignored as well. However, the Reader DOES have interesting articles and cover stories-- things that tell stories from a different perspective, perspectives that are not generally found in other publications. For those reasons, I support the Reader."

26. Banjo Player wrote on January 2, 2008 5:38 PM:
"Just for the record: January 6, 2006 HEADLINE: San Diego judge bars publication of public records BYLINE: By SETH HETTENA, Associated Press Writer A judge has barred a newspaper from publishing information obtained under the California Public Records Act about a synthetic blood substitute undergoing testing, saying it would compromise the drug maker's trade secrets. Using documents from the county, the Reader reported July 28 that Polyheme was being tested only on trauma patients too ill to consent in downtown San Diego and three minority neighborhoods. The paper then sued the university in September to obtain unredacted versionsof additional documents."

27. D wrote on January 2, 2008 5:40 PM:
"David Rolland's post is somewhat annoying. I've read the Reader off and on for a zillion years. 99% of all readers of the paper would have no idea Holman was anti-abortion. So how is that fodder for attacking the Reader? If any pro-life articles were ever in there, I must've missed them. Now the U/T on the other hand, their bias is a joke - thus deserving of attack. To post #17, 3fingers, I agree with you, BUT, DUNCAN SHEPARD IS THEEE WORST MOVIE REVIEWER EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD!"

28. D wrote on January 2, 2008 5:53 PM:
"Ok, now I've actually read the article above all these posts. Some of what Seth says I agree with, some I don't. The Reader has the potential, and the circulation, but does come up short. I would open up the music section, only to be irritated to no end to find another nonsensical piece of garbage written by Richard Melzer. His reviews were often LITTERALLY "cat dog bark bark tree frog fish monkey Led Zeplin played last night." Seth is 100% off the mark in saying that Holman is wrong for not putting his views into the paper. Let me get this straight, a journalist wants a paper owner to dictate the views of the stories? Does this sound assinine to anyone else?"

29. KD wrote on January 2, 2008 5:56 PM:
"D, Holman spent a couple million dollars, if not more, of his own money on Props. 73 and 85. The Reader's main office on India Street was where people could send signature's and contributions supporting those propositions, and that address is listed as headquarters for a third go at a similar ballot initiative. Can Holman do what he wants with the revenue from his publication? Absolutely. But should the folks who are buying the ads know where that money's going? Yup. Matt Potter certainly lets City Lights readers know who's spending money on what."

30. D wrote on January 2, 2008 6:15 PM:
"A Catholic spending his own money on a cause important to himself. Ok, So where's the controversy? The owner of Carl's Jr is also a devout Catholic who spends money on personal causes. Should we demand every restaurant have "Carl Karcher spends some of his profits on pro-life causes" emblazoned above their doors? What Holman spends his dough on is not corrupt, its not sinister, its not controversial. Attack him for producing a paper not living up to its potential."

31. Thomas Larson wrote on January 2, 2008 8:21 PM:
"1 of 3: Where do I begin? Herretena has very little idea of what he�s talking about. His causal analysis of a publisher�s personal interests as an explanation for what is and isn�t reported is numbingly illogical. I am a cover-story writer for the Reader. In nearly ten years, I have been proud to write for a publication that encourages serious journalism and cultural writing. I have been able to do socially relevant stories on stem cells, Mexican girls sold into sexual slavery, foreclosure, pit bulls, migrant beatings, local foods, bankruptcy, and more. My culturally relevant pieces have been about San Diego�s light, abysmal high school textbooks, the molecular origin of life, local politicos Mike Davis and Dinesh D�Souza, Marilyn Monroe at the Hotel Del, and perhaps my best piece on Ken Druck and his foundation for families who have lost their children."

32. Thomas Larson wrote on January 2, 2008 8:21 PM:
"2 of 3: Let me toot my own horn about my Ken Druck piece: after 9/11, Druck was called in to help New York families with their losses. My 10,000-word Reader article introduced him and his program to a man who told me that he had no idea where to turn in the wake of the attack. My article provided the bridge. Under the editorial leadership of Judith Moore, who died in 2006, I never felt that she sat on stories to prevent hard news. You want that—go to TV or the UT. The Reader sponsors long-form journalism, which is done nowhere else and when done well has given this community part of its identity."

33. Thomas Larson wrote on January 2, 2008 8:22 PM:
"3 of 3: I’m the writer who did the recent piece on SD’s highest paid executives. If you think we phoned this one in, copying our numbers from a list, your lack of critical judgment is obvious. (Because of this lack, I question how you can actually write a “column” about journalism, which presumes some expertise.) Perhaps you didn't read the story. Had you, you would have seen that the world of executive pay disclosure remains almost purposefully obscurant via SEC laws and the inbred network of accountants and executives. What it took to report that story was an editor and a reporter taking the time to understand and be accurate about every number we reported. Often readers need explanatory journalism in order to inform people about an issue before ANYONE can have an opinion about it. Go learn journalism and you might learn how to think."

34. Josh Board wrote on January 2, 2008 9:19 PM:
"As a columnist for the Reader, I'd like to add my two cents. I won't be redundant, on the points posted here that I agree with. I will say, if you don't like some of the cover stories...well, give the next one a chance. My story on little league coaches and parents that are way to hardcore. Also, I can tell you for a fact, that Jim doesn't just go thru the motions and run the paper to make money. I turned in a story on a former Mr. Universe/Mr. Olympia that lives in town. He told me a bunch of problems he had with the story, and I've been working hard on re-writing it. If he didn't care, he would've just taken the story, not cared, ran it. But he does care. Often times I don't agree with him, but to say he doesn't care is just stupid."

35. Dave wrote on January 2, 2008 10:21 PM:
"The Reader does serve a great purpose: unlike VoSD, the Reader provides blankets and shelter for the homeless. From my observations, about 6 Readers makes a nice sleeping mat."

36. Jay Allen Sanford wrote on January 2, 2008 10:37 PM:
"I've written around a dozen Reader cover features over the past couple of years, including one denigrated by Seth (Historic Local Concerts) and one praised in a comment by Omni-Potent ("Every now and then a good story pops up- like the one of living homeless for a year, which explained the lifestyle of a community all around us that we just don't see/understand"). The former story generated more feedback than most anything I've written in the past 20 years of doing this for a living, and the latter story generated a near-record amount of hits for the website. Clearly, a lot of people are reading AND enjoying the paper."

37. Jay Allen Sanford wrote on January 2, 2008 11:55 PM:
"I’ve written around a dozen cover features for the Reader over the past couple of years, including one Seth didn’t think much of (Historic Local Concerts), and one praised in a comment from Omni-Potent (“Every now and then a good story pops up- like the one of living homeless for a year, which explained the lifestyle of a community all around us that we just don't see/understand”). The former story earned me more feedback than just about anything else I’ve written in 20 years of doing this, and the latter story generated a near-record number of hits for the Reader website, after the link circulated around the world via the ‘net. Clearly, a lot of people are reading AND enjoying the paper. The Reader’s longtime success seems proof of this --"

38. footballer wrote on January 2, 2008 11:57 PM:
"Let's see. Buzz Woolley, backer of charter schools, opponent of school teachers unions, uses his tax-exempt foundation to give money to the similarly tax-exempt "voice of san diego". Then Donovan's Steak House, operated by Dan Shea, who the Union Tribune calls "a Chargers supporter who was instrumental in helping the team obtain a new lease with the city in 2004," gives more than $15,000 to the non-profit "voice of san diego", realizing a nifty tax write-off. Then somebody named Seth who quit his job as an AP writer about a year ago writes a blistering take-down of Jim Holman, publisher of the Reader, a full taxpaying commercial organization which over the last twenty years or so has caused so much grief to the Chargers that they will most likely soon be leaving for L.A., saving local taxpayers a bundle. Just a coincidence, no doubt."

39. Neal Matthews wrote on January 3, 2008 8:46 AM:
"This is worth the risk of sounding wistful, but I'm one of a handful of people who can pinpoint how much the Reader has devolved. Staffers and freelancers who wrote for the Reader before about 1991 would never have been so uncool as to thump our chests or get defensive about any of our stories. I'm embarrassed by the posts of the current Reader writers above. Sometimes Holman runs old stories of mine, which has always felt strange, but I'm going to email him now and ask him to stop. I don't want to be associated in any way with the current Reader."

40. Mague wrote on January 3, 2008 10:04 AM:
"I so used to live for Reader Day and its in-depth articles on local politics, SD history, SD ponzi schemes, etc. barely touched upon (if at all) by the U-T, that I disregarded the owner's anti-choice stance. Writers were excellent and the format allowed for exploration of the topics that a daily paper could not expend. My enthusiasm has waned somewhat lately, but the salaries and perks of local executives sure was a good one, I don't think the Sunroad guy was in it tho -- and that makes me wonder about just how accurate it was."

41. Mague wrote on January 3, 2008 10:24 AM:
"...oh,I wanted to mention the story on the Charter School sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce which got (according to the article) $250,000 of our tax dollars, and absolutely nothing came of it -- that's the kind of Reader story I'm talking about -- and nothing at all about it in the UT."

42. Joaquin de la Mesa wrote on January 3, 2008 11:45 AM:
"Which is worse, Neal, to thump one's chest in defense of self and employer, or to immediately wave the white flag and consort with those attacking you? You surrendered faster than WWII France. Seth, the week before the fires broke out, the Reader ran a cover documenting the how we were in the midst of a "perfect drought" that could cause such a firestorm. The week before that, the Reader ran a backcountry resident's first hand account of losing her home and rebuilding."

43. Joaquin de la Mesa wrote on January 3, 2008 12:14 PM:
"Double Dip. Seth, what is so great about "It�s time we said it loud and clear: San Diego is the armpit of the world. The town is middle class, stupid, mediocre and boring. It is plastic, sterile, unhip and sexually repressed."? Intelligent adults recognize this to be knee-jerking hack editorial passed off as journalism. Couple it with the raunchy sex industry ads you get in City Beat and you've got the typical throw-away alt weekly."

44. edward wrote on January 3, 2008 12:44 PM:
"Your definition of "content" is boring stories about who is ahead in the presidential elections: "Obama behind, Clinton ahead," or the much more electrifying "Clinton ahead, Obama behind," sort of story. Everyone who lives in California knows about the canyon fires. They happen every year, with boring regularity. Yes, there are truly electrifying stories about brave firemen risking their lives, the tragedies of families left homeless, and how can we forget the prospect mud slides that are to come as the rains dampen hillsides denuded of vegetation. Surpised we have raging successful alt-newspapers giving alt-news?"

45. Paolo wrote on January 3, 2008 12:57 PM:
"Gotta agree with edward and the others who question why this column was even written. Readers vote with their feet, and clearly they're running to -- not from -- The Reader. So they don't have bla bla bla stories on fires and politics. Isn't that the daily newspaper's responsibility? Alt-News content can take all forms, and it seems The Reader has a winner!"

46. Poppa wrote on January 3, 2008 1:16 PM:
"Local weeklies in general are average because the news happenings in SD are average. Journalists can't be blamed if there is little in this city worth covering outside of local corruption and a handful of independent record stores. The most interesting local weekly of late was CityBeat's breast cancer issue, which was good from beginning to end. Anders Wright is both a better writer and film reviewer than Duncan Shepherd. CityBeat's music coverage is generally better, but that is again limited by what little is happening in SD, and CityBeat's writers have a tendency to fawn whereas the Reader's writers don't. The Reader's hard news stories tend to be better than CityBeat's. I read each for different purposes."

47. Escape from SD wrote on January 3, 2008 1:20 PM:
"Actually, as someone who left SD after fearing my brain would atrophy completely, I must say that the Reader is EXACTLY the free weekly SD deserves. I think there's an ozone hole over the city that systematically erodes residents' cognitive abilities. Not to say it's still not a great town with the best fish tacos in the world..."

48. David Kraft wrote on January 3, 2008 1:22 PM:
"This story is proof positive that it's not news content that is going to drive the future of lucrative newspaper circulation growth, but rather old-fashioned technical issues of putting the newspaper where readers will pick it up. Oh, yes, I can hear the tears in newsrooms and I can't disagree with many of your criticisms. But how can anyone deny the business success of the SDR. The message is clear: forget about content, cut newsroom personnel, run wires, and few will really care. It is the ads that drive readership, from coupon-clipping housewives to sexually starved businessmen imagening quickies, and teens looking for real news."

49. Ryan wrote on January 3, 2008 1:56 PM:
"Interesting article. Although I don't live in San Diego anymore, I've long thought that the Reader is stodgier than an alt-weekly should be. There's some interesting bits -- the cheap eats column and blurt (if that's still around), but there's no "attitude" or "punch" that I think the best publications have. Before recent management shake-ups, the OC Weekly provided what I would consider a bold, on-going counter-point to the hypocritical establishment of Orange County. That's the sort of publication San Diego needs. Oh, San Diego needs an alternative publication that welcomes readers. Many of The Reader's pages are like a bed with a thin sheet of news surrounded by giant comforters of advertising."

50. Ryan wrote on January 3, 2008 1:56 PM:
"Interesting article. Although I don't live in San Diego anymore, I've long thought that the Reader is stodgier than an alt-weekly should be. There's some interesting bits -- the cheap eats column and blurt (if that's still around), but there's no "attitude" or "punch" that I think the best publications have. Before recent management shake-ups, the OC Weekly provided what I would consider a bold, on-going counter-point to the hypocritical establishment of Orange County. That's the sort of publication San Diego needs. Oh, San Diego needs an alternative publication that welcomes readers. Many of The Reader's pages are like a bed with a thin sheet of news surrounded by giant comforters of advertising."

51. ReaderReader wrote on January 3, 2008 3:32 PM:
"A strange story from Seth Hettena, slamming the San Diego Reader, its publisher, senior editor and City Lights writers. If it makes everybody on India Street mad enough to rededicate themselves to intrepid journalism and exposes of the corrupt local establishment, I will say the piece served a good purpose. Maybe the Reader's apparent quiescence is just reorganization since the death of Judith Moore and repositioning in light of current journalism economics. But Hettena is off-base calling for Holman to go religious on us, or by presenting seriously the views of people -- good writers, undeniably -- who were fired years ago in a Reader schism, or by trivializing Don Bauder's important financial reporting or by painting Matt Potter (Polyheme, Chamber Charter School, Bersin's border and in-city landholdings, convention center, baseball park, Chargers' guarantee, so much more ) as some kind of tired scribe. Preposterous."

52. Albert wrote on January 3, 2008 3:32 PM:
"Anyone 'embarrassed by the posts of the' former Reader writer above, Neal Matthews, who was 'so uncool as to thump his chest about' his work from the good ol' days? Hopefully Holman will take him up on his request to stay out of the Reader in the future."

53. Josh Board wrote on January 3, 2008 4:54 PM:
"Neal, your point makes little sense. I defend a person I think is right. It's not a matter of thumping my chest. I met a guy at a party once that claimed Duncan Shephard was paid off by some movie studio to give a good review. I spend an hour explaining why that was impossible, and at the same time, saying how I never agreed with is reviews (and on that note, I love the film critic for CityBeat). My problem with CityBeat, is they spent so much time bashing. And it's funny. I came across something on some online thing...I forget the name now, but it's rather popular. It's a site where anyone can write reviews on things. And someone posted about the Reader, and how horrible it was. Turns out, that person was an editor at CityBeat. Of course, they didn't mention that in their rant."

54. Josh Board wrote on January 3, 2008 5:05 PM:
"Whereas I have no problem saying CityBeat has a great film critic, good columnist (ed decker), and nice music coverage, I think their editor uses his pages to always rant about his political views. My boss NEVER does that; yet my boss always gets knocked for it. So I'll take every opportunity in the world to defend him. I was writing about a party, and a woman complained about his stance on abortion. I said, "Why does that bother you? He doesn't write about that. He doesn't tell us to write about it." And we had a spirited discussion on it. Do I agree with him on those views? No. But what I disagree with more, are unfair attacks. So Neal, if you think I'm doing this to sound cool...sorry bud. I think going to parties and writing about keeps my cool quotant up high enough."

55. Advocate wrote on January 3, 2008 5:06 PM:
"To those who argue that Holman's personal religious activism is a separate issue from the Reader itself, I say look again. First, the Reader (not Holman, the Reader) has donated tens of thousands of dollars of services to the anti-abortion rights campaigns, including printing, layout, and websites. Second, the Reader's offices, not Holman's house, continue to be used as campaign offices for this, the third parental notification initiative in as many years (look on their website). Third, have you noticed that it is the only "alternative" weekly that refuses all ads from gay or lesbian groups or businesses? Or from family planning clinics or abortion providers? That there are no same-sex personal ads? Don't kid yourself -- every time you pickup the Reader you are furthering Holman's religious zealotry."

56. Cranky wrote on January 3, 2008 5:29 PM:
"I think Poppa is on to something. Let a thousand journalistic flowers bloom. If a few have a stench, so be it. Bitching about the Reader is as old a San Diego pastime as bitching about the 'zonies in the Summer. Just go out and write the damn stories, OK??!"

57. D wrote on January 3, 2008 5:56 PM:
"The only Zealot I see here is Advocate (#55), who looks possibly to also be KD (#29). I am Catholic, I am "pro-life", and I think its pretty reasonable to tell a parent their child is pregnant. I haven't seen the inside of a church in many many years, but apparently I'm a religious zealot. It seems some posters here don't truely have a problem with the Reader, its their rabid hatred for Christians that they're trying to mask as journalistic critique. If Holman ran a bunch of carwashes, you'd be crying about the way he dried the cars. The guy wont put his own views into his own paper, with 160K circulation to "spread the word", and he's called a religious zealot. Idiocy."

58. Kelly Davis wrote on January 3, 2008 6:37 PM:
"Chill out, D. I'm KD. I'm not "Advocate"—-swear on my Catholic mother's grave. I was merely pointing out that it's The Reader's success that's made it so that Holman can sponsor a ballot measure, or two, or three. And run side publications like this one: link If Holman were to put his political views in The Reader, advertisers would run. Smart business move on his part."

59. Dave F wrote on January 3, 2008 6:41 PM:
"Seth- If you think the owner is somehow "wrong" for being a devout Catholic, then you should at least respect him for not shoving it in your face in those pages every week. Secondly, they have a calendar (several pages worth - not just ads)that painstakingly details everything that I want or don't want to do in San Diego over the next week....how is that not a great local resource? Finally, I think that Dave Rolland should embrace the idea of a two weekly town and stop trash talking the Reader. They laid the groundwork for a publication like Citybeat to make a profit in this very conservative town. Is CityBeat going to stop charging for ads once they make a handsome profit? God forbid they become "filthy rich" like he claims the Reader is. Gannet, Viacomm, GE - they are rich, not the Reader"

60. A Publisher wrote on January 3, 2008 9:05 PM:
"Far from slamming Holman, or Rolland at City Beat, the key to the Reader's success was timing. Like the firstborn in a family, the Reader got a head start in SD and is the favored son among SD businesses that buy the ''bonehead buy''---putting ad dollars in the largest circulation paper of its kind and excluding all others. So long as biz schools churn out marketeers with myopic ad buying habits, the Reader will thrive and CB will have to fight like hell to live. And it won't improve content for either paper. Newspapers will soon rely on fewer good reporters carrying on in the long run; while this deprives the public, it boosts the bottom line. Newspapers are facing their own form of economic Darwinism, and the traditional remedies for carving a profitable niche in SD no longer apply. We must reinvent the wheel."

61. Jim wrote on January 3, 2008 9:34 PM:
"Seth, Your characterization of Don Bauder is silly. Read up on his back columns, then tell us how many times his analyses have been incorrect. There is a difference between always being angry and expressing disgust at what appears to be non-ending, endemic corruption in this town."

62. David Rolland wrote on January 3, 2008 9:47 PM:
"Dave F - Did I say the Reader is "filthy rich"? Maybe I did; I don't recall. What I do know is that it's among the most profitable weeklies in the country, if not the most profitable. And I do know that Holman has spent about $4 million and counting on his anti-abortion initiatives, which, again, is really the only trash I talk about the Reader. In my world, $4 million worth of spending money is pretty rich. I don't want the Reader to go away (the more the merrier), but I'd love to have some of its money so I could pay our writers better than I currently can."

63. Rocky wrote on January 3, 2008 10:46 PM:
"Ever tried to pick up a copy of the Reader the day after they come out? Right, they are all gone. Must be a reason. Not to many publications in this town fly off the shelves like this baby. As for Don Bauder, I wouldn't miss his stuff. The guy really knows how San Diego ticks and he tells it like it is. Speaking for myself, I look forward to Thursdays and the Reader, and you can't beat the price."

64. Harryo wrote on January 4, 2008 4:29 AM:
"You know what they say...you get what you pay for. As a NorCal resident I'm always amazed on how many plastic surgery and botox ads are in every SoCal weekly south of Santa Barbara...for some reason those ads aren't in NoCal weeklies...wonder why?"

65. Paul Douglas wrote on January 4, 2008 9:05 AM:
"I grew up in San Diego and left -- fled -- twenty odd years ago. Reading Seth's piece and the reactionary and defensive comments (starting not up top but around the late middle, 37 or so) by Reader staff (and "A Publisher"), highlights why everyone I knew in high school also left San Diego within minutes of receiving their diploma. To wit, that Truman Capote was really speaking about S.D. when he famously remarked on the loss of 10 I.Q. points per year living in California. Apparently, the taint of the military industry complex, with all the chest beating, "pro" business screeds ("Long live the straight white male!") is still thriving. Idiots and their ideology aside, what I found curious absent from Seth's sly piece was that Craigslist has eroded local media's clamp on lucrative classified ads & will affect the discourse(vis news reporting resources) than "nifty" conspiracy theories."

66. Kate wrote on January 4, 2008 9:39 AM:
"Let me get this straight - a business owner has a established a product or service in an attempt to make money? My word! Sarcasm aside, the Reader is well liked in San Diego because it offers something for everyone - free classifieds, music news, local politics, breast augmentation ads (look around San Diego... that is what people want...don't blame the Reader). They do not place all of their eggs in the journalism basket. If VOSD ran a story about 'what are you wearing?' they may lose credibility, but this type of thing is OK in the Reader because the cover story is not necessarily the crux of the issue."

67. Rocky wrote on January 4, 2008 10:18 AM:
"Hey Harryo, have you also heard the saying that the "Best Things in Life are Free?" As for Paul Douglas, I also grew up in San Diego and with so many opportunities in this beautiful "City by the Sea" I made my career right here in the "Perfect Weather Capital of the World," and love every minute of it. Maybe instead of fleeing the scene after high school, taking advantage of one of San Diego's well accredited colleges might have proven lucrative in the quest of preparing one for the many opportunities that everyone from other states and even countries flock to southern California to obtain. Most folks I know that left San Diego for various reasons try to find ways to get back. (Now let see, what does Bauder have to say this week.)"

68. K-Lynn wrote on January 4, 2008 10:29 AM:
"Seth makes a valid point when he compares The Reader to publications like The Boston Phoenix, L.A. Weekly and Washington City Paper—-all fantastic weeklies with top-notch local and *gasp!* national coverage. And the stories in those papers aren't crunched in between gigantic boob and botox ads. And, Rocky, come over to the Henry's market in Hillcrest. There are stacks of Readers taller than I am well into Tuesday."

69. Rocky wrote on January 4, 2008 11:11 AM:
"K-Lynn, Did you ever think that the Reader may be to intellectual for the average Hillcrest reader?"

70. Paul Douglas wrote on January 4, 2008 11:20 AM:
"I am very intrigued by the oft stated justification for the San Diego Reader's journalistic mediocrity. Namely, so long as it is a financial "success" and the "business community" approves, all is good. That's similar to overlooking Madonna's off-key, baby sitter voice and cloying lyrics because "she's a good businessperson." The larger fact ignored -- or terrifying to those defending the S.D. Reader's mediocrity -- is that business which remain complacent are doomed . So, I say, rave on republican readers, wave those tattered civic flags and thump your calcified chests while technology sweeps you off India Street, the La Jolla flatlands, & the Rancho Santa Fe gulleys. The fact that Seth can write and publish such a screed - which clearly irritates the F out of you - confirms the obsolescence of the San Diego Reader and its ilk. And oh, BTW, I suspect advertisers are reading this, too."

71. Rocky wrote on January 4, 2008 12:11 PM:
"This subject has brought out more comments then any other subject that I have seen in the VOSD in a very long time. This just proves that the Reader is definitely here to stay. OK Mr. Bauder, let this be the subject of your next article."

72. Poppa wrote on January 4, 2008 12:34 PM:
"Paul Douglas, that problem can be easily remedied. I operate by a 99% rule, which holds that 99% of people in SD worth knowing are either from somewhere else or have lived somewhere else for a significant amount of time. They're free from this city's vacuum and they can see SD for what it is, both good and bad."

73. K-Lynn wrote on January 4, 2008 12:39 PM:
"As opposed to where, Rocky? And please define "to [sic] intellectual"--do you mean columns like "Party Crasher" and "Remote Control King"? Or, how's about that "Diary of a Diva"?; Oh wait--it's the "Like, like, like wow!" column that they just don't get. That must be it."

74. Rocky wrote on January 4, 2008 1:51 PM:
"WOW K-Lynn, you know your Reader. Sounds to me like your an avid fan and weekly customer of this weekly publication. That must be it. The stores in La Jolla and Delmar that carry the Reader are usually out before 5pm on Thursday. Nice to know where to pick up a copy if need be. That's Henry's in Hillcrest, right?"

75. Advocate wrote on January 4, 2008 3:49 PM:
"I'd love to see how many of these comments can be traced to the same IP address as the Reader's own network. How about it Seth?"

76. Paul Douglas wrote on January 4, 2008 3:58 PM:
""Poppa" - aka patriarch, or "A Publisher" ? - your reference to elites makes me think of a wanna be double dipper (postal & SSI check) who drives from Chula Vista to the La Jolla Pannikin to sit amongst the bored and fatuous "elites" who spawned Andrew Cunanan (The Musical!) And your 99.9% "rule" (originating with whom... O.J.?) is flawed: dumb as San Diegans can be free ultimately trumps everything (esp. for rich people) & given Craigslist has sent traditional newspaper classified ad sections into a spiral hence the raft of layoffs @ the SD Union, the Reader will be - inevitably - hit by this. Seth's piece provokes a response for the simple fact that it's well written & hits an (uncomfortable for elites, real & imaginary) nerve. Times are changing. Get ready!"

77. Joaquin de la Mesa wrote on January 4, 2008 4:04 PM:
"K Lynn, you're right, Phoenix, LA Weekly, and Voice articles aren't sandwiched between botox ads, they're sandwiched between TRANSEXUAL ESCORT ADS. It's to Holman's credit that the Reader has always avoided the sex industry's ad dollars while every other alt weekly in the country takes them."

78. Paul Douglas wrote on January 4, 2008 4:13 PM:
"re: Advocate & ISP tracing. Note to self, touch base with White House wire tappers. incredible as this may sound, there are people -- well, me & I've id'd myself in all my posts - who live far & away from S.D.. I found the piece via link on Romenesko news. yes, it's true, Advocate, people actually do use the internet for news. From your s.n, BTW, should I likewise "assume" you work for the LGBT newsrag of the same name? I don't know Seth but if I met him, I'd suggest he'd leave S.D. a.s.a.p. & get a job writing the media column of the New York (that's an actual city, Advocate) Observer."

79. D wrote on January 4, 2008 6:03 PM:
"My apologies to KD. I have a low tolerance for those that hate, and I mistook you for Advocate and/or Dave Rolland. That link leads nowhere, by the by..."

80. CM McLaren wrote on January 4, 2008 6:04 PM:
"Lighten up everyone. The fact that The Reader has survived so long, has always attracted talented writers, and is able to move with the times is a plus for San Diego! As for Jim Holman's faith as a Catholic,- is there something wrong with that? No! If anything it reveals a man of principles and integrity. Holman also served his country in Vietnam, was wounded and rides the bus more often then not because of the pain caused by those wounds. So, as I say...lighten up. As for you, Mr.Seth Hettena, aside from becoming VOSD's official Catholic basher,.. remember you're just a little columnist, in a little 'paper' with a little if any real view of the world. Pity..."

81. CeeMac wrote on January 4, 2008 6:21 PM:
"Seth, I agree with you 100% about the Reader. For better or worse, I judge a magazine by its cover. The cover stories I've seen on the Reader over the past few years have caused me to NOT pick up the magazine. If I need to read up on local news or find out my local entertainment options, I go to VOSD, CB, or UT websites to find what I need to know. It has been YEARS since I've gone to the Reader. That magazine is no longer my cup of tea. However, I cannot completely slam the Reader. I met my husband through the magazine a number of years ago, and I am pleased to report that we have been happily married now for over eleven years."

82. Jim wrote on January 4, 2008 7:36 PM:
"I am the man who complained about Seth's treatment of Mr. Bauder in post #61. ("Silly" was the wrong word to use. My apologies to Seth.) Other than that, I pretty much agree with his analysis, especially about City Lights. Who edits those tips? Who edits the lead articles? They could make much better use of bylines (hint: they belong at the beginning of the story) headings, and sub-heads. Every once in awhile, they hit a home run, as in the Inzunza expose, but who wants to read 1/3 of the way through a 10k-word article before you can figure out what it is about? If not for Mr. Bauder's columns, I would not bother with the Reader, either. I have no interest in botox, facelifts, tanning booths, or body piercing."

83. ReaderReader wrote on January 4, 2008 8:27 PM:
"In this fun, free-wheeling blogosphere, I guess anything goes, including rabid Catholic-bashing and ugly innuendo -- or is it truth-telling? David Rolland, you just oughta mind your own struggling business over at whats-it-called? Oh, right, CityBeat. You want more money? Why doesn't your filthy rich nameless out-of-town owner ante up to make a real paper? Maybe Holman will buy CB and then provide enough money for more and better writers and editors. Many people feel the Reader is becalmed lately. Maybe this will be a wakeup call."

84. Cranky wrote on January 4, 2008 8:50 PM:
"I have an idea! No more hating! God, the comment about the Reader being too intellectual for Hillcrest caused me to spill my Cosmo. Jerk. Oops, did it again. Bitter journalists in Dago - wow. I think another angle - no Holman bashing, no transexual escort ad bashing, no woe the end is nigh because of the internet ranting - one of these fine journalists who seem to have nothing better to do than vent on VOSD could investigate the insidious pay for play disease that is the cancer among the suddenly ubiquitous 944 style glossies. Attack those schmucks..."

85. Another view wrote on January 4, 2008 9:21 PM:
"Strikes me there's a whole bunch of "news" papers out there, each seeking their own niche of readers. And should I really expect a hell of a lot in depth from something I pick up that is free. I really could get pissed off paying for something that has absolutely nothing in it, which could spark an unpublishable rant about the vapid San Diego Union Tribune. So this sort of wierd guy publishes a paper...he gives it away...and he's making lotsa money selling ads for it... What's my investment to give a fig?"

86. Rocky wrote on January 5, 2008 9:52 AM:
"I wish that all you folks who have been bashing the Reader would hopefully not pick up an issue unless you plan to read it. It makes it really difficult for us who look forward to a copy every week to have to hunt for one. I have hit at least 3, and sometimes 4 locations on occasion before I have found one. With the price of gas this gets expensive. I do believe you must be reading them as you seem to know exactly what pages all the great articles are on, the different columnists, and what is currently in the advertising section. So, if you must, please only grab one next time as you leave the store. Or better yet, just grab a UT. It won't be as interesting or as informative, but it will certainly work well in the bird cage or the cat box."

87. Wayne wrote on January 5, 2008 10:10 AM:
"I guess so. I haven't picked up the freebie Reader for about a year now. 75,000 words from Seth and his commentary writers illustrate the problem: Too many words with no content. Fortunately this drivel isn't printed on precious paper pages."

88. Delmer wrote on January 5, 2008 10:56 AM:
"A lengthy article complaining that one newspaper is harping on another. How ironic. The major complaints are that it is mostly ads and complains about the UT. It is a free weekly. It is what it is. What I don't understand is the pass given to the UT for its lack of content. I picked up the UT midweek and it was the thinnest I've ever seen. The obits took up over half of page three of the local section, and the back page was half ads. That means there was less than three full pages of local news in the major paid subscription daily for the third largest paper in California. They let go a bunch of people last December, and did it again this year. The paper is becoming mostly ads. That is a real story."

89. Delmer wrote on January 5, 2008 12:28 PM:
"Seth, you complain that Bauder is bitter about some perceived UT bias and insinuate it is unfounded. You quote bauder referring to UT hit pieces as if the claim is unfounded. You ought to at least read his articles and read the UT articles to which he is commenting so you know what you are writing about. A UT editorial accused Aguirre of breaking campaign finance laws. A UT news reporter, supposedly a separate and isolated department from the UT editorial page, actually quoted the editorial writer as a main source for a news story on Aguirre breaking the law. The editorial was completely wrong. The UT was threatened with lawsuits and published a retraction. That is not a small deal. Maybe he is bitter, but Bauder was right on target."

90. Delmer wrote on January 5, 2008 12:28 PM:
"Seth, you complain that Bauder is bitter about some perceived UT bias and insinuate it is unfounded. You quote bauder referring to UT hit pieces as if the claim is unfounded. You ought to at least read his articles and read the UT articles to which he is commenting so you know what you are writing about. A UT editorial accused Aguirre of breaking campaign finance laws. A UT news reporter, supposedly a separate and isolated department from the UT editorial page, actually quoted the editorial writer as a main source for a news story on Aguirre breaking the law. The editorial was completely wrong. The UT was threatened with lawsuits and published a retraction. That is not a small deal. Maybe he is bitter, but Bauder was right on target."

91. K-Lynn wrote on January 5, 2008 12:49 PM:
"Joaquin, if you ever read any of those papers, you'd see that adult advertising is confined to the back of the paper. Whatcha got against those ads, anyhow? Trannies are lovely people. The Reader's got two-inch-wide columns so as to accommodate as many ads as possible. None of those other esteemed weeklies test a reader's eyesight like that."

92. Coast Watcher wrote on January 5, 2008 1:48 PM:
"I don't care how great or how poor of a journalistic effort the reader is. It's too big, too filled with ads and as long as the publisher continues to fund anti-woman/reproduct rights politics I'll never touch it again. I gave up reading the Reader years ago when I learned he was behind the parent notification anti-privacy push."

93. A Publisher wrote on January 5, 2008 8:10 PM:
"That guy who moaned about bitter ''journalists'' in Dago was right."

94. A Voice From Foggy Bottom wrote on January 5, 2008 9:53 PM:
"Excuse me if I'm crashing into a left coast discussion here, but lemme tell you all this guff about the great Washington City Paper is pure guff. Trust me, I read the paper weekly. It was great under Jack Shafer, but has since suffered mightedly and is failing on its mission to inform, in my very humble opinion. Frankly, it sucks."

95. HOLD ON wrote on January 6, 2008 8:03 AM:
"The Reader is incredibly important because of Don Bauder's city lights articles. Bauder exposes the stories the UT won't and VoSD isn't. Many important stories would go unnoticed without Bauder and the Reader. If half of what Bauder writes is true we should all be upset. I noticed that Seth doesn't dispute Bauder's work, just his motivation. Does that mean Seth recognizes Bauder's work is solid and begs the striking question, "What was Seth's motivation for this article?""

96. Alex Farnsley wrote on January 6, 2008 10:10 AM:
"It is a sick and sad relic."

97. Alex Farnsley wrote on January 6, 2008 10:20 AM:
"Maybe "shopper" is a better word than "relic." It is certainly a vibrant "shopper.""

98. Hey, Neal Matthews wrote on January 6, 2008 3:16 PM:
"Get over yourself, for gosh sakes."

99. David Rolland wrote on January 6, 2008 5:08 PM:
"ReaderReader - Not sure what I did to incite your wrath, but just for clarification, the owner of CityBeat has a name. It's Mike Flannery. He owns Valley Printers, which prints CityBeat and many other papers. I'd love it he were to shower CB with money. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. Following an initial investment to get CB started, we now can spend only what we generate. CB isn't perfect, by any stretch, but I'm very proud of my staff and freelancers for what they do, considering they can make much more money elsewhere. Again, I haven't criticized the Reader's content, only its publisher's views on homosexuality and abortion rights, which I find bigoted and dangerous, respectively."

100. commenter wrote on January 7, 2008 4:45 PM:
"I work for the U-T, and I have to agree with the wistful Neil Matthews. There was a time when he and several others at the Reader wrote often highly critical stories about the U-T and what was going on inside the paper. But at the same time, they were fair, well-sourced, and accurate. They were a must-read for everyone at the U-T, even if they made you wince. As a result, those at the paper felt compelled to comment. And they served to point out flaws and missteps; no organization is without them. Matt Potter, however, wouldn't know a good source if it bit him in the ass. His pieces are usually so distorted, slanted and devoid of reality they are laughed off as more rantings from the asylum. Much the same for Bauder on this topic. Like Matthews, I long for real reporting, not invective."

101. commenter wrote on January 7, 2008 7:29 PM:
"Sorry, that should be Neal Matthews."

102. SD Refugee Returnee wrote on January 8, 2008 1:25 AM:
"Except for visits, I've been away from San Diego since 1982. Back in the day, I never knew nor that the Reader's publisher was Catholic, pro-life, etc. To his credit. However, I've come back to visit several times in the past few years, and I've been extremely disappointed by the publication. Cover stories meander on forever with no ostensible point, only to turn out to be 15-year-old articles from the Readers' morgue. (Fills up space cheaply, OBVIOUSLY). Vapid cultural observations by a soiree intruder who can't write. City Lights articles that are so "insider" and hard to follow that it seems the introduction and conclusion must have been accidentally deleted. I don't care about the publisher's personal views (and appreciate that they aren't peppered throughout the publication). I do care about good writing and interesting articles. I'm still looking for the San Diego print publication that contains those attributes consistently."

103. Fred Williams wrote on January 9, 2008 6:52 AM:
"Seth has unfortunately sounded the death knell of the Voice. Although Voice started out promisingly, as an alternative to both the UT and the Reader, it has become just another mouth piece for the establishment."

104. Sandman wrote on January 9, 2008 1:51 PM:
"Don Bauder's City Lights column is the only thing worth reading in the Reader. Feature articles that run for 9,000 words often seem to be written by aspiring writers who blather on and on while they struggle to find something to say. The topics are often dull and sophomoric, the "sources" questionable, and the editing virtually nonexistent. Who has time to read this kind of gibberish? There's too much good stuff out there to read instead."

105. Rich Heulsman wrote on January 10, 2008 9:23 AM:
"I'm surprised you didn't publish this article under the name "M. Raker". spite is best focused on personal endeavors, rather than attacking others."

106. Teter wrote on January 11, 2008 2:33 PM:
"The Reader, once a creatively inspiring environment, is now a train wreck. The owner (who is actually quite a nice, intelligent person) is more concerned about his own agenda, namely the lives of unborn children, than the lives of the many devoted employees who made his zealous endeavor possible. He has millions in the coffer to spend on this, yet cares nothing to repay gratitude to the people who made his dreams reality. Valuable employees are fleeing the company in droves. I must wonder of Jim Holman, why do you care so little about the lives of the people who made the Reader what is once was more than the lives you diligently march for. Is not all human life of value? Do you not see the destruction you have wrought? Perhaps if you have a home in Coronado and another in the mountains and are able to support yourself and your family nicely, the people whose lives are devastated by your single-mindednes are inconsequential. How does one justify destroying the lives of so many? Surely it cannot be by paying blood money to your own cause? Jim, walk to another church. Live on nothing to support you. Try and find another job. Be the people, the living who brought you to where you are today. They have families to support and housing barely affordable. Care about everything, not just your own agenda. This is not love, this is not God, this is selfish and aberrant. Daily confession will not wash this away. Stand on the tracks of your train wreck. Maybe then you will realize the lives you have so devastated."

107. D wrote on January 12, 2008 11:12 AM:
"Teter-tot, I had no idea that the employees of the Reader were living lives of ruin, poverty, and despair. Gosh, by most of the posts by his employees here, you would be tricked into believing they may or may not share his views, but like him as a boss who leaves them be. And how many staff does he have, that would qualify a "drove" departing his employ? What a bunch of Christian hating nonsense."

108. Teter wrote on January 14, 2008 10:13 AM:
"D, I did state my admiration for Jim Holman. This is far from "a bunch of Christian hating nonsense", it is simply a statement of facts. I admire and respect people of all faiths. Might I suggest that you not read into things not stated and simply read what is written?"

109. D wrote on January 14, 2008 1:19 PM:
"I read what was written. You clearly allege Jim Holman cares only for his "zealous endeavor", a thinly veiled aspersion - what you are really calling him is a religious zealot - and he cares not for his employees, whose lives, you ridiculously claim, he is destroying. And then you claim you're merely stating facts. Please. Does he drown puppies too? Try to post as eloquently as you can, but your Christian hating core continues to shine through."

110. OceanBeachBarfly wrote on January 14, 2008 4:00 PM:
"I can't believe nobody has mentioned that Gawd-awful Party Crasher column. Nice idea, but the writing is bad beyond belief. This week's lede: "I heard about a jungle-themed party in National City. I put on a pair of khaki shorts and a jungle shirt that my mom gave me years ago. I'd worn it only once before. I borrowed a pair of binoculars and, outfit complete, headed out. I thought I'd have the coolest gear, but when I walked in, I saw three people who were dressed just like me. Two with hats. I turned into a third-grader, though, thinking, Ha! My binoculars are bigger than theirs. They'll have binocular envy." This is "edgy" writing, Josh?"

111. setfree wrote on January 18, 2008 9:37 AM:
"Jim Holman actually is a nice guy. Fanatical about his causes, to be sure, but in person will not even mention them to someone he may figure won't be responsive. I haven't talked to Holman in years, don't plan to - just the facts, ma'am. He knows that most people who pick up his paper do not do so to read the editorial matter, but rather to get the restaruant and nightclub and theatre doings, and, at least before craig's list, the classifieds. I wrote a little for this paper in the 80s, when it was more tightly edited. But even then I had no illusions as to why it was so popular. And,I think, pissed off the early and mid '80s editor when I told him so"

112. setfree wrote on January 18, 2008 9:46 AM:
"At one time the R came in three, separated sections. Front section was mainly editorial, second the reviews, thihgs to do, nightclub, theatre, restaurant ads. Third section was the classifieds. I mentioned to Holman that I'd often see the paper at the newstands, etc stripped of the 2nd and 3rd section, and the cover left on the floor. Not long after they come out with the one-piece Reader. Obviously, front section advertisers could see the same thing I did! Early 70s, the R was in trouble, ready to fold. Then, Holman got lucky, hired a former air conditoning salesman, Howard Rosen. His sales skills saved the R. He once told me that the editorial content provided a nice "gray background" for the ads."

113. D wrote on January 18, 2008 10:47 AM:
"Gosh Teter, what kind of evil power does Holman hold over former employees such as setfree? Holman can crush setfree, destroy his life, leave him in ruins, and still lead setfree to believe "Holman actually is a nice guy.""

114. setfree wrote on January 18, 2008 11:17 AM:
"Just stating the facts, and in general. JH did something early this decade with a private-to-him email that was dishonorable, but before that he wasn't a rat. (Okay, give him a 7.5 out of 10. Tho by "nice guy" I mean not a pest, pays writers well, like that). When he hired Moore he knew he was turning his pub into a kind of literary magazine, but knew it didn't matter - that the pub was read by very few. He really could have filled it with cheap syndicated stuff, and pocketed the samed money, but went ahead to let the literary magazine people make more money than they could ever do writing for the Sewanee Review."

115. setfree wrote on January 18, 2008 11:32 AM:
"Note to D: I was never a "former employee." Freelancer. Was offered a staff job in the '80s, but turned it down. Was doing other things. Howard Rosen is a real power at that sheet (and before he got the soft job there Matt Potter thought that maybe Howard was part owner) and does have some input re ads. Example: in mid 80s Holman allowed some ads that showed aborted fetuses. A stream of angry letters followed (and the R published at least some of them, they didn't censor letters like the daily rags nationwide often do), many from local R advertisers saying that if such disburbing ads ran again, they would cancel their ad contracts. To my knowlege, the R never again ran such ads. So even Holman's dedication to his causes has rational limits . . ."

116. True wrote on January 21, 2008 5:24 PM:
"I'm not a member of the journalistic elite so I can only speak from the heart. I can say that after thirty years of experience in knowing Jim Holman, Seth's representation of him couldn’t be further from the truth. Out of respect for the man and knowing of his reluctance to allow his personal life to interfere with the editorial content of the Reader I'll not repeat the personal stories I know of him. Agree with his politics or not, suffice it to say, you'll not meet a more caring, honest, fair minded man. If you want to know the measure of a man, take a look at his appointment calendar and his checkbook. As to Holman's income and how he spends it, I can say only this. Not too long ago I nearly ran him down in a crosswalk downtown as he was riding his bike to work. True."

117. Teter wrote on January 22, 2008 6:34 PM:
"To True, I agree with you totally. Jim Holman is an honorable, caring person and my regard for him is beyond highly respectful. I know him well and I thank you for your commentary. (I will not respond to 'D's off-forum comments, they are simply meant to incite). Jim Holman is indeed a fair minded man and he is truly pure of heart. If, however, you were indeed to look at his checkbook I doubt it would match those of who have made the strength the Reader his amount a possibility: the small people who create the Reader a reality, the engine that drives the machine. These people are the unseen, uninsured and under-employed, the people without a lifeline and no safe place to fall. Once again, having witnessed this I only wish that he were to able to have the same compassion for those who made his endeavors and life possible, those unseen checkbooks are at zero, whose housing is beyond said checkbook ... whose healthcare is no longer possible to meet. I simply wish he would care enough to afford the same care and compassion for those who helped to make his dream a possibility. Were I to be so gifted by so many to support my personal cause I hope that I would return the favor to those and give them what I am able to fiscally endure."

118. JAD wrote on January 25, 2008 8:51 AM:
"Outstanding column, spot on. I've encountered Bauder and Potter professionally, and to call the former bitter and the latter lazy is both accurate and perceptive. Perhaps it only seems like The Reader has the highest percentage of ads to content in the Western World; but it's a mathematical certainty that the ratio of sheer verbage versus actual insight expressed within the content itself is equally depressing."

119. Inner City Reader reader wrote on February 1, 2008 9:23 AM:
"True story: the Reader covers stories about city government processes that are never even mentioned by UT, CB, or VOSD. Last year I contacted all three about an import issue involving abuse of process at Land Use, including HUD money abuse. I begged reporters for coverage of the issue, in any form, so that taxpayers could learn about and understand some of the issues. The U-T and the Reader reporters each contacted and met with me, both conducting long, thorough, professional interviews. The Reader ran the story in a timely way (timing was important to accomplish my goal of informing the public); the U-T reporter kept delaying, and eventually wrote me a terse email stating that the managing editor canned the story, declaring it "boring." The truth is that it was controversial and directly involved some of U-Ts insiders. Long live the Reader."

120. Inner City Reader reader wrote on February 1, 2008 3:01 PM:
"Correction; I contacted the U-T, Reader, and CB, not VOSD; and addendum - the U-T reporter was among those laid off last December. He was a very excellent writer and reporter. It makes me sad."

121. setfree wrote on April 12, 2008 8:00 PM:
"The subject is now pretty stale, but I will add one item: I had heard from a South of the Border source that sometime around 2003 the owner of the Caliente operation and former mayor of Tijuana, the Mexican mega-millionaire Jorge Hank Rhon, bought a piece of the Reader. Or more precisely, that he was interested in doing so, not publicy, a private deal not to be publicized. My source, who knows Sr Hank and his associates, did not know if the deal had gone down. At the time I thought the information interesting, but inconclusive. (Tho the Hank family apparently did buy a major Wash DC lobbyist during the Clinton years and convinced Janet Reno to repudiate a report from her own DoJ.) But last year, when I saw the R republish Neal Matthews' apologia for Hank re the murder of a journalist, a repub apropos of nothing, I had to wonder."

122. setfree wrote on April 12, 2008 8:16 PM:
"BTW, Neal Matthews knows well that anything a writer produces while on salary for a publication is "work-for-hire." It belongs to the publication. They can use it every week if they so desire. Freelance work, after first serial rights are sold, reverts back to the writer."

123. unionpilot wrote on April 29, 2008 2:13 AM:
"The Reader is not about journalism. It's a money making tool for a religious zealot. He uses the advertising dollars of the Reader to fuel his sinister plan to take away women and gay rights. Why does he care? Insider info is that Jim's 'not-yet-out' son works at the Reader...with his gay, anchor baby, lover, none the less. I couldn't make this stuff up, folks! No joke!"