Oregon Media Insiders

Local writer Jamie Rich has a reading next week at Powells for his new book, Have You Seen the Horizon Lately. I believe this is Jamie's third novel, but he has also written several comic book series, was an editor at Oni and Dark Horse, and has been a contributor to Willamette Week and The Mercury. And with all of this to his credit, the local media hasn't done a damn thing in covering his new book, promoting the reading on Tuesday, or that much else regarding his work. In fact, to the best of my knowledge, not a single local or regional newspaper has even reviewed the book.
Now, in full disclosure, I know Jamie, and when push comes to shove, I would say he is a friend. But my concern about how much coverage he has gotten has very little to do with how well we know each other. My biggest concern is how everyone dropped this ball, especially Willamette Week and The Mercury. As both of those weeklies continue their pissing contest to prove who has their finger on the pulse of this city, week after week I read evidence that they both actually have their thumb up their asses.
I will take my share of blame for whatever I neglected to cover during my tenure at WW. But what I find interesting is that in my years at WW, while people often complained to me about the content and lack of coverage in that paper, I hear even more of it now that I am gone. Seriously, at least once a week, I hear from someone I know about how much WW is slipping. Once in a while, as was the case a few weeks ago, a stranger will recognize me, and proceed to tell me how much they can't stand the paper. I shrug my shoulders and say, "It ain't my thing." But what is even more ridiculous is how many people complain to me about The Mercury.
I guess my point is that there are people out there as frustrated with both of those newspapers, as well as other news outlets, as I am. And for whatever reason, they feel the need to complain to me.