SF Guardian Authorized to Take Village Voice Media’s Stuff, Sparking .05′s First ’10 Contest and Making the Ghost of Norman Mailer Laugh Its Ass Off
Federation
In case you haven’t heard, Village Voice Media owes the SF Bay Guardian a lot of money–as in 21 mil. A California judge ruled earlier this week that the Guardian can actually go after the dough, potentially opening the way for the Guardian to start selling VVM outlets or (among other things) forcing the chain into involuntary bankruptcy.
Empire
David vanquishes Goliath? Hideous miscarriage of justice? No matter how you feel about the ruling, .05% wants to know. Argue your case in the comments section below. We’ll automatically enter anybody who includes contact info into our first ever “Ms. and/or Mr. Media Insight Competition!” (We’ll announce winners and prizes next week.)
January 9, 2010 at 2:57 am
Everyone interested in this has had a good look at the VVM head honchos, if not directly affected by them. I feel safe inferring justice was served as far as this case goes.
As for the consequences, The Bay Guardian probably doesn’t want to be known as the Alt Weekly That Helped Kill A Lot Of Other Alt Weeklies. Perhaps they don’t care, but earning that title certainly wouldn’t help the future of the Bay Guardian for many obvious reasons.
If they’re smart, however, they’ll play tough in public, and play whatever politic theatrics needed to get their money owed. And I’m guessing they’re eyeing VVM headquarters and its top execs, which is likely where most of the money really is.
VVM will play the victim — maybe even well! — and the Bay Guardian will be VVM’s much needed scapegoat to make more cuts to the VVM family of alt weeklies — and this is where the sad part will likely come in.
January 9, 2010 at 7:02 pm
I just want it to be over so I can stop hearing about it. That said, I’m more likely to believe that Tim Redmond is a guy who’d strangle someone with his own ponytail than I am to trust whatever he (Redmond) says. I think I cared more about this kind of news when I actually worked at the Weekly.