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It's been real

Clea_Simon

Clea_Simon

Hi folks - I'm a longtime lurker, but figured this would be as good a place as any to say hello – and goodbye. For the past 12 years, I've written the "Radio Tracks" column for the Boston Globe, a weekly feature I inherited from Susan Bickelhaupt and was allowed to expand with interviews, discussions of webcasting, and more. Sadly, for me anyway, with the upcoming redesign of the paper's arts section (coming the weekend of Oct. 25), the column has been eliminated and next week's "Radio Tracks" will be my last. I've made mistakes and written columns that I wish I could retract, but I've also learned a lot about a fascinating medium and the great people who work in it. I'm going to miss it, and the many of you who have helped, guided, or served as sources for me over the years.

Be well,
Clea Simon
http://www.cleasimon.com
 
Hey Clea,

Good Luck in whatever you do next. I always liked reading the pieces, and appreciated ANY newpaper devoting ANY space to radio.

Hope the future brings you what you wish.
 
Hi Clea,

Sorry to hear your column is the victim of cutbacks, as is so much of media these days. Thank you for bringing information about local radio to the public for so many years, and especially for the many pieces and notes that you did about smaller and lesser-heard non-commercial, community, college, and public stations and their programming. I'll miss the column.

All the best to you in all of your other (and future) endeavors!
 
Best of luck and congratulations on a job well done. If the other paper is looking for a columnist who actually knows something about radio other than the left knob is volume and the right knob is tuning, they should give you a call.
 
Every time I saw your byline I thought of Paul Newman (you probably know why). I would have loved to have seen a column when the biz was at its peak. But not much was being done then. And it's too late now, when the biggest personalities are sports talk hosts.
 
Clea Simon Will Be Missed...

Clea: You will be missed. Not having a single writer who can put together words about radio for The Boston Globe is another sign that we must go elsewhere to find news. Readers have one less reason to find the Globe...something the paper certainly can not afford at this time.

Terrestrial radio should note that just as your column being taken away gives readers one less area of specialty expertise to read and look forward to; the constant downsizing, syndication of voices and lack of specialty shows in radio will lead to its downfall if Program Director's do not start paying attention. Terrestrial radio needs programming that is different, unique and not sent in from elsewhere to compete. It needs to be LOCAL to win.

Otherwise, listeners can hear the same stuff anywhere...including satellite, the internet and MP3's. I hear it from listeners all the time...it just doesn't seem to filter up to the powers that be. I am sure that my sentiments are echoed by many in radio--who have loved the medium since they were kids and want it to win, survive and prosper--while being a career of which we can be extremely proud!

With your skills, I know you will end up writing for another source, whether it be on-line or in print. Know one thing, everyone in radio appreciated the fact that someone cared about the hard work they were doing.

My best of luck to you and please stay in touch so we know where you wind up. I love your web site!


Barry Scott
www.lost45.com
 
Thanks, folks. I don't know what the Globe intends to do about covering the medium. Some of the bigger stories have been well covered by the business section, and the press releases tend to show up in Names.

As for there being no news in radio, well, I'd argue against that (and have been)! While terrestrial radio has become increasingly homogenized, this town has always been great for community and college stations. All the developments (and setbacks) for web radio could merit their own column, though I've tried to keep up. And, hell, the homogenization is its own story, too. Ah well... someone else's job, now.

Thanks for all your kind words. I'm still writing; if I end up writing about radio, you'll see me here. Otherwise, know that I'm lurking and play nice!

- Clea
http://www.cleasimon.com
 
Clea_Simon said:
Thanks, folks. I don't know what the Globe intends to do about covering the medium. Some of the bigger stories have been well covered by the business section, and the press releases tend to show up in Names.

As for there being no news in radio, well, I'd argue against that (and have been)! While terrestrial radio has become increasingly homogenized, this town has always been great for community and college stations. All the developments (and setbacks) for web radio could merit their own column, though I've tried to keep up. And, hell, the homogenization is its own story, too. Ah well... someone else's job, now.

Thanks for all your kind words. I'm still writing; if I end up writing about radio, you'll see me here. Otherwise, know that I'm lurking and play nice!

- Clea
http://www.cleasimon.com
Click to expand...

Will you be writing for "Cat Fancy" magazine?
 
Now be nice...
I do know that Jay Severin (never really did get into him, but tried his show for awhile) once started a show by railing against Clea for an article she did which started with "Jay Severin isn't a racist, he says..."
Severin also railed against the Globe-Democrat's Scot Lehigh, referring to him as "Scat He-Lies".
As far as I know, Mr. Lehigh does use his own real name though! :)
 
Now it can be told: Shortly after Severin started attacking me on air, I received an unsigned obscene hate letter from a fan of his: a drawing of a monkey masturbating. Funny thing was, the writer had put his return address on the envelope. Many of my friends at the Globe wanted me to get a rejection letter from the design department and send it back, but I figured this was an unbalanced person and not worth provoking.

And, Laurence, quite possibly - I don't have any assignments right now, but I will certainly be talking with them! I'll post on my blog (at http://cleasimon.blogspot.com ) if I do.
- Clea
 
Clea,
I am very sorry that you were cut at the Globe, not only for you but for radio in Boston as a whole! I remember the days of Norma (sorry I know it's not you paper) when she would actually get inside information from folks on the air in Boston Radio. It eventually evolved into the press releases handed down by corporate and the folks on the air...who?

I've had issues with some of your reporting over the years, but I was always pleased that you were reporting on us.

I'll miss you and I hope that you start, or become part of, an on-line version of your column.

Read you soon!
P
 
The Paper the Taylors built is being dismantled by the NYT and it is a sad thing to watch. Between offshoring the call centers and announcing the closing of the beautiful Billerica presses, the paper has fallen further than most in a troubled industry. It is only a matter of time before the Globe's masthead reads "The New England Edition of The New York Times."
 
Hey folks,
It's quite possible the newspaper coverage of the radio industry is a dead issue, and that perhaps boards and web news are the way to handle it. It's also clear that not everyone has enjoyed my coverage over the years. That said, the Globe is soliciting feedback on its new "g" arts section (starting on Friday), so if you have any thoughts on the discontinuation of "Radio Tracks," you can let them know here: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/1024new/feedback/

Finally, my final "Radio Tracks" should run tomorrow (Thurs). Not anything heavy, because I knew I was leaving.But maybe fun. -

Be well all,
Clea

http://www.cleasimon.com
 
I thought the same thing.
 
Good luck Clea!

I'm surprised, although not, that the Globe wouldn't move some of this stuff to the Web like the Herald has done with their gossip about the media industry. If they don't have room for it in print, it doesn't mean it isn't news or isn't worthy of publication somewhere. That said, you may be right about the fact that Web sites and posting boards are taking up the slack, if you will.
 
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