Chicago Sun-Times Columnist Jay Mariotti Unexpectedly Resigns
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Mariotti Says Sports Journalism
Becoming A Web Site Business |
Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist Jay Mariotti, "resigned on Tuesday after 17 years with the paper," according to Jim Kirk of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Mariotti said that he "decided to quit after it became clear while in China [covering the Olympics] that sports journalism had become 'entirely a Web site business. There were not many newspapers there.'" He said that "most of the journalists covering the Games were 'there writing for Web sites.'" Mariotti "didn't disclose any specific plans except to say he will continue doing his regular stint on ESPN's 'Around the Horn.'" He also said he is "talking with a lot of Web sites." Mariotti said that he "sent a resignation letter to" Sun-Times Media Group CEO & Publisher Cyrus Freidheim. Mariotti, who signed a three-year contract extension with the Sun-Times in June, said stepping down "was my call entirely." Mariotti: "I'm a competitor and I get the sense this marketplace doesn't compete. Everyone is hanging on for dear life at both [Chicago] papers. I think probably the days of high stakes competition in Chicago are over" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/27).
A DYING INDUSTRY: Mariotti said, “It’s a move I had to make. I left a lot of money on the table here, at a paper that frankly, is losing a lot of money. … I feel like I’m working for the Titanic.” Mariotti: "There are some old-school newspaper people who I admire and respect who are really clinging to that print product. I think that’s a mistake. ... Print product is dead. It all has to be fed into the Internet product now. ... The Internet is going to save the written word." Mariotti mentioned the success of Yahoo's Olympic site and said of online news organizations, "These places are for real. They’re legit. It’s something we all have to come to grips with. … I don’t know anybody under the age of 40 who’s picking up that newspaper and reading it" (670THESCORE.com, 8/27).
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