Petition to save a daily bridge column

[zenbiddist]

If you like the idea of a daily bridge column in your newspaper, please sign this petition to protect Ron Klinger's fantastic Sydney Morning Herald column. On December 2nd it will be cut to twice-weekly, and after that, who knows?

 

Petition:

https://www.change.org/p/sophie-milionis-help-save-the-smh-s-bridge-column?recruiter=50147443&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition

 

Thanks!

[The_Badger]

Yes, here in the United Kingdom too I have seen both bridge and chess columns disappear over the years. It's important to keep a public profile for these games: it encourages people to learn them. My local bridge club advertises in the monthly community magazine to attract both new and old players. Bridge and chess columns - and crossword puzzles, too - have been replaced by mind games that on the surface require less effort and less involvement. Sad to see.

[barmar]

The venerable New York Times cancelled Philip Alder's column 3 years ago.

 

But fan support sometime works. The LA Times cancelled their column 8 years ago, but restored it a couple of months later after receiving lots of complaints. Surveys showed that only a tiny minority of readers looked at the column, but the ones who do are highly engaged.

[pescetom]

In Italy there is a huge divide between the mainstream press and bridge. Probably goes back to pre-war times when Mussolini was deeply suspicious of foreign mind games and rebaptized bridge as "ponte", pretending to ignore that it was his daughter's favourite pastime. Now even the national federation has stopped printing it's (once excellent) magazine.

 

In UK last week I was heartened to see that the Times still has a decent bridge column, with a well written and accessible piece by Andrew Robson.

[PhilG007]

Even though I'm a Brit and will never be able to read Ron Klinger's column.I still signed the

petition in recognition of the knowledge I gained in reading his books

[661_Pete]

I used to follow Zia Mahmood in the Guardian regularly - until they axed the column some years ago. I was not happy. I wonder whether they could be persuaded to reinstate it?

 

At least there are some interesting hands posted on this forum...

[pescetom]

I used to follow Zia Mahmood in the Guardian regularly - until they axed the column some years ago. I was not happy. I wonder whether they could be persuaded to reinstate it?

 

 

I find it myopic that a traditional press organ would risk alienating a small but high level component of their declining readerbase in this way. I assume such a decision is based upon guesswork rather than economics given how much it must cost to remunerate an expert bridge columnist.

[barmar]

I find it myopic that a traditional press organ would risk alienating a small but high level component of their declining readerbase in this way. I assume such a decision is based upon guesswork rather than economics given how much it must cost to remunerate an expert bridge columnist.

Print media is struggling in general these days, so probably every column inch and licensing fee makes a noticeable dent in their budgets. It's not hard to understand why they would consider axing something that only a miniscule fraction of their readership cares about. When the LA Times axed the column it was after a survey that found that only 3% of readers read it.

[pescetom]

Print media is struggling in general these days, so probably every column inch and licensing fee makes a noticeable dent in their budgets. It's not hard to understand why they would consider axing something that only a miniscule fraction of their readership cares about. When the LA Times axed the column it was after a survey that found that only 3% of readers read it.

 

Print media is struggling to have something that is not available sooner and free on internet, and specialist columns of recognizable quality are one of the few effective arms they have left. I question whether 2 hours a week by Zia would make a noticeable dent in the Guardian's finances. 3% (to quote your example) of readers well satisfied might even justify it. Especially if those 3% of readers are (say) 6% of those who actually purchase a copy and 9% of those who are likely to continue to do so.

[barmar]

They're probably not paying Zia for his time. They're paying some syndicator that sends his column to lots of different newspapers. I have no idea how much they might charge for it.

 

But I suspect it's probably the column-inches that matter more to them. They presumably think they can replace the space his column takes up with something more of their readers will find interesting (either LA TImes or NY Times replaced it with an advice column).

[pescetom]

They're probably not paying Zia for his time. They're paying some syndicator that sends his column to lots of different newspapers. I have no idea how much they might charge for it.

 

But I suspect it's probably the column-inches that matter more to them. They presumably think they can replace the space his column takes up with something more of their readers will find interesting (either LA TImes or NY Times replaced it with an advice column).

 

I only once read the LA Times, but I read the Guardian for years and assure you it had little more interesting than a bridge column. Of the Times I read last week I remember only the editorial (begging the Labour Party to take a stand against Brexit!) and Andrew Robson's bridge piece (which I doubt was syndicated).

[SelfGovern]

A few years back the Houston (Texas) Chronicle dropped its daily bridge column. A concerted effort by local bridge players got it reinstated. With only one problem: Whether a bidding or play problem, the question is always, "Your play?" (or is it "Your bid?" -- it's so annoying that I've quit noticing it)

 

Recently in Abilene, Texas at their Regional, I noted that the local paper had a listing of recent top finishers from a number of bridge clubs. That's what a paper in a town of 115,000 can do, I guess. It was quite exciting to see it -- and the regional, while small, was full of some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. I recommend it if you're looking for a very enjoyable week of bridge.

[msjennifer]

Print media is struggling in general these days, so probably every column inch and licensing fee makes a noticeable dent in their budgets. It's not hard to understand why they would consider axing something that only a miniscule fraction of their readership cares about. When the LA Times axed the column it was after a survey that found that only 3% of readers read it.

 

SIR,i agree with you entirely.Todays press can not afford to give space to games of Chess ,Bridge and the like.Same is true for the daily comics ,crosswords etc. which used to appear everyday.As you say, probably less than 1% of readers are there who have the time, energy or interest in reading these subjects today.One has to go with the changing times .As regards Ron Klinger, he has own paid subscriptions to his bridge site where he gives daily, and weekly problems and hands for thosereally interested in Bridge .There are many more sites too which are available on payment.The new era is of mobiles and laptops and all old-timers have to simply accept the facts as they are without any arguments.

[pescetom]

The new era is of mobiles and laptops and all old-timers have to simply accept the facts as they are without any arguments.

 

That is for sure, but the old-time printed press survives on old-timers who buy a copy rather than just look at the phone. Who is more likely to shell out cash, the 90% who would never read a mind game column or an editorial or the 10% who do?

[The_Badger]

I used to follow Zia Mahmood in the Guardian regularly - until they axed the column some years ago. I was not happy. I wonder whether they could be persuaded to reinstate it?

 

At least there are some interesting hands posted on this forum...

 

I stopped reading The Guardian regularly some years ago, too. It's a shadow of its former self these days. Bridge is probably now looked upon as a pastime that Daily Mail readers engage in. Say no more...

[barmar]

Recently in Abilene, Texas at their Regional, I noted that the local paper had a listing of recent top finishers from a number of bridge clubs. That's what a paper in a town of 115,000 can do, I guess. It was quite exciting to see it -- and the regional, while small, was full of some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. I recommend it if you're looking for a very enjoyable week of bridge.

My town paper used to occasionally list the locals who did well in sectional and regional tournaments, but I believe this was just due to another town citizen submitting them, similar to the way they get wedding/engagement announcements (which they don't post any more, either), notices of meetings of civic groups, etc. AFAIK there was no active involvement by the reporting staff.