City Link
Originally called XS when the Sun-Sentinel created it in 1991, this was one of the first alternative weeklies in th
e nation launched by a mainstream daily newspaper. There was some criticism at first, but that ebbed as the entire alt-weekly industry began merging down. XS was renamed City Link in 1997 and later transferred from the Sun-Sentinel to Forum Publishing Group. It reports an audited weekly circulation of 53,000.
7 comments:
Having worked for all of the alt-weeklies in South Florida (okay both), it's easy to say that City Link is the better atmosphere for a young writer.
Two of the biggest complaints are that T.M. Shine won't write about you, and it's too quiet. While the first is somewhat irrelevant, the latter is true. The staff is eerily quiet at times, but eager to talk and joke around if you make the first move, plus their stories of industry insiders are an endless supply of laughs and their experience in the field is priceless.
City Link's biggest problem, and largest benefit are the same - corporate oversight. While New Times has very loose structure, and many decisions are based on personality and personal preference, there are rules at City Link. NT tended to hand out less hours, meaning there were no bennies, if they didn't 'like you' there could be problems and the editors tend to be possessive over writers - many times not even allowing broke, part-time college students to freelance. CL's bennies are almost too good (imagine being able to see a doctor, finally, after working for a few years as a journalist), and the pay is about the same. But, if there's a mistake with your email, it could be a few days before anything gets fixed. Feel free to pass the time by seeing a dentist, or an eye doctor, seriously, when was the last time you got your eyes checked?
Five out of a staff of about a dozen, let go within a month. Sad. The management must all be praying that the MetroMix mothership comes and takes them away to a safe place.
People! I do not understand why such giddiness in what we're going through at City Link. It's curious to me that of all the publications listed in "Inside Job," City Link has the most comments, all of which are overwhelmingly negative.
It's a tough time right now for all of journalism and I wish I could understand why so many of you (or maybe just a few) are so thrilled at our tough go of it. It has been a very hard, very emotional time and to read how you revel in it makes me lose sleep at night. The staff that will continue on here are all good people -- people with families to raise, mortgages to pay, groceries to buy, just like you.
If you want to laugh about our situation, please go to a local bar and buy yourself a drink and laugh hysterically, but please stop ranting at our expense. It helps no one. If you feel the need to continue with your diatribe, at least have the balls to say your name.
Regards,
Laura
City Link, in keeping step with its ilk, seems to have prided itself in its cheeky critiques in many of the areas common to its tabloid cousins. Sardonic words aimed at films, eateries and politicians often accompanying somewhat arrogant commentary about musical acts are the foundation on which City Link built its success. City Link even managed to cobble together the intestinal fortitude to name a Jackass of the Year. This is what these types of publications do and City Link would often hit the mark.
That being said, one would hope that when a similarly critical and cynical finger is pointed back at them, City Link would humbly accept it with the grace they expect from their quarry. One would imagine that many of the people involved in the targeted bands, restaurants, clubs and theaters were decent people who may also have a mortgage or two. I’m guessing that on occasion, the Jackass of the Year may also purchase groceries. I don’t imagine sympathies will be exchanged from either side of the fence.
The fact is that this is a difficult time for publishing all around. In the end, the publications that provide their readers with quality content, make sound business decisions (like keeping their websites up and running), and are blessed with a little luck, will make it out the other end of the Zellian tunnel.
Remember this post from July 24, 2007?
Anonymous said...
I love this sinking ship mentality.
Do you honestly think they would invest so much money into restructuring and hiring new blood if the ship was going down?
Please.
Well, they've cut their staff in half and they're still losing money. Sure, they'll blame it on the economy and the fact that newspapers are losing readership and advertisers every day. But if you look nationally at alt newsweeklies across the country, many are thriving. Why are they doing well? Because they are serving their readers. City Link doesn't serve anyone. The magazine looks and reads like it's being put out by a bunch of burned-out hacks who gave up on quality a long time ago and are trying to guess what the youngsters want.
They've turned their backs on an older built-in readership that they worked so hard to attract and whom loved the magazine to try to get the coveted 18-35 market. I've got news for you, 18-25 years olds are largely broke. Remember those long gone days Linkers?
18-25 year olds with low incomes are not a big enticement for advertisers to drop coin to attract.
City Link does what it does poorly while trying to attract readers with no money and that's why it's in the state it is today.
We at City Link are screwed and they are doing nothing to help us. They are doing nothing to get more readers or sell more advertising, just letting more and more people go. I fear that one day I'll show up and the doors will be locked.
I worked at City Link several years ago. T.M. Shine wrote about me, and he was awesome.
As for the work environment:
Disorganized at best. My supervisor did little to no supervising. The amount of work I was doing was above and beyond the very small amount of money I was being compensated for my time.
It was a good place to get some experience, but I'm glad to be gone.
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