For decades, alt-weeklies like the San Diego Reader were a city's rebellious voice, digging into local politics, covering underground arts and publishing stories no one else would. But their survival depended on classified ads and print advertising, both of which were decimated by Craigslist and the rise of digital media. Now, one by one, these once-essential papers are vanishing. As the Reader ends its print run, we look at what their disappearance means for local journalism.
"They were irreverent. They were conversational. They had a point of view, but they also had a way of looking at the news of the day from a different angle because they knew they had to be different," said Scott Lewis of Voice of San Diego. Lewis began his career writing for an alt-weekly in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Photos: A final glimpse inside the now-closed San Diego Reader office
"And so I think it's demise as a print product — as something that was available, especially the music stuff — it's a bummer to think that these major cities are now going to continue, maybe forever, without that staple of the coffee shops. That thing you could pick up to look at what's coming up, just to have. Print products were the original mobile, right? That's what you could carry with you — and now it's gone."
Guests:
- Matthew Lickona, owner and editor in chief of San Diego Reader
- Jim Holman, founder of San Diego Reader
- Scott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief of Voice of San Diego
- Jesse Munyoki, KPBS student assistant and host of KCR's DaCulture
Voice of San Diego is a nonprofit news partner of KPBS in our Public Matters series.
Alt-weekly reads:
- "Insomnia" by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- "A Pretty Good Chinese Restaurant" by Jonathan Gold
- "Fifty years of the Reader's best stories" by San Diego Reader authors
- "Tam Hoang, Coronado teacher, recounts his voyage to English" by Tam Hoang
- "Loma Portal and Midway District during WWII - a walking tour" by Margot Sheehan
- "Why Elizabeth Smart Became a Household Name" by
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