All She Wrote

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The news seeped through yesterday that L.A. Times Envelope editor and reporter Sheigh Crabtree has taken a buyout deal and is off to other pastures. A friend told me last night she hasn't been around that much over the past couple of weeks. If you're reading this, Sheigh, I'm sorry for the trauma and hope you land something else soon. But what is there? What in the way of nourishment or mild comfort can be had these days for a first-rate pro with a print history? Damn little, it would seem. But let's think positively.

Print journalism these days is like the third act of Goodfellas. Every other day you're Ray Liotta talking to Robert De Niro in front of the diner. Liotta: What happened? De Niro: They whacked him...fucking whacked him. Liotta: Ohhh, God.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 28, 2008 at 7:14 AM

comment #1

Joshua Mooney says ...

Jeez, Jeff, you are a BUMMER, man! RE: Crabtree, I refuse to believe that "THR" to "L.A.Times" doesn't mean anything in terms of her future. She looks to be young. She's clearly ambitious and talented. She may have some tough times ahead, and print may well die on the winds of change. But, to quote Sherlock Holmes at the end of "His Last Bow": "It will be cold and bitter, Watson, and a good many of us may wither before its blast. But it's God's own wind, none the less, and a cleaner, better, stronger land will lie in the sunshine when the storm has cleared."

Posted by Joshua Mooney at October 28, 2008 8:25 AM

comment #2

K. Bowen says ...

I used to wonder if "Sheigh Crabtree," as peculiar a name as that is, actually existed. Judging by the photo, she does exist. And how! :)

Posted by K. Bowen at October 28, 2008 8:58 AM

comment #3

Tom O'Neil says ...

That won't be All She Wrote, all told, Jeff, of course -- Sheigh's a gifted journo, great gal and dear pal to Hollywood's media herd. Surely, everyone will rally to assist now. Luckily, Sheigh has advanced knowledge of the new cyber-journalism -- that's a huge plus. The big minus: those of us at The Envelope who had the pleasure of working with her day to day are missin' her hugely already. I betcha she ain't missing one thing, though: a hysterical email at 11:55 p.m. from one of us mad bloggers nudging her to hurry up, hurry up, HURRY UP and move a blog post b/c it's SOOOO URGENT!

Posted by Tom O'Neil at October 28, 2008 9:09 AM

comment #4

JD says ...

Does anyone else read insincerity and mean-spiritedness in these endless "so and so got bought out today" posts? Jeff is pretending to extend sympathy when he's really just arrogantly patting himself on the back for being a web journalist, rather than a print journalist (like there's any real difference or he had any choice in the matter). If you ask me, he's taking competitive glee in the misfortune of others.

Posted by JD at October 28, 2008 9:14 AM

comment #5

Joshua Mooney says ...

Hey JD: Jeff's not usually that subtle.

Fred: Maybe you can clarify something for me. Since I've been, you know, waiting for the fleet to show up, I've read a lot, and...
Ted: Really?
Fred: And one of the things that keeps popping up is this about "subtext." Plays, novels, songs - they all have a "subtext," which I take to mean a hidden message or import of some kind. So subtext we know. But what do you call the message or meaning that's right there on the surface, completely open and obvious? They never talk about that. What do you call what's above the subtext?
Ted: The text.
Fred: OK, that's right, but they never talk about that.

Posted by Joshua Mooney at October 28, 2008 9:21 AM

comment #6

Kristopher Tapley says ...

I think we all know where she's gonna land.

Posted by Kristopher Tapley at October 28, 2008 9:22 AM

comment #7

The InSneider says ...

You know she did just sell a 'tiny' script...

Posted by The InSneider at October 28, 2008 9:40 AM

comment #8

gruver1 says ...

Wells to Tapley: Don't tell me she's going to write/edit for Poland.

Posted by gruver1 at October 28, 2008 10:05 AM

comment #9

corey3rd says ...

The business is turning into a game of musical chairs. 20 years ago, once you were "in," you could jump around to various publications. But where's there to jump? The chairs are getting pulled. It's almost as bad in the world of indie film where all the executives are finding less open chairs when they need to swap shingles.

Posted by corey3rd at October 28, 2008 10:29 AM

comment #10

akstanwyck says ...

Sheigh is not a conventional print journalist--she has just the right credentials on the online side to write her own ticket should she choose to do so. She's the best of all worlds, a hybrid print/online pro. She gets the brave new online world.

Posted by akstanwyck at October 28, 2008 11:02 AM

comment #11

btwnproductions says ...

It was announced today that the Christian Science Monitor is moving to web-only. But as newspapers make 92% of their revenue off the print publication (and are not non-profits, like the Monitor) it's unlikely other papers will follow its example.

Posted by btwnproductions at October 28, 2008 12:32 PM

comment #12

drgogol says ...

Actually, the Christian Science Monitor is going from 5-daily-issues-plus-a-weekend in print to just a weekend: losing, in effect, the Monday-Friday editions and becoming a weekly in print.

Posted by drgogol at October 28, 2008 2:53 PM

comment #13

Jennifer Merin says ...

I'd like to say that this news is shocking. Unfortunately items like this seem to have become the norm. Soooo many layoffs and buyouts in print media. Now online, as well. Too many of our colleagues are wondering whether they'll be the next to go. The outlook does seem dismal, but Sheigh is a gifted, energetic and highly valued movie journalist, and will undoubtedly find green pastures...and hopefully soon.

Posted by Jennifer Merin at November 6, 2008 10:00 AM

comment #14

free games says ...

We all know where she's gonna land.

Posted by free games at October 27, 2009 1:51 AM

comment #15

dd says ...

Actually, the Christian Science Monitor is going from 5-daily-issues-plus-a-weekend in print to just a weekend: losing, in effect, the Monday-Friday editions and becoming a weekly in print.

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comment #17