Although I thought Worcester Magazine achieved only a shadow of its promise, I also mourn its passing. It's doomed to become nothing more than a good way to light charcoal fires and wrap fish, duties newspapers have always performed AFTER they were read.

I am still reserving my judgment until I see what the future holds. Remember, as interesting and thought provoking as Womag could be it was far far far from perfect and can use a LOT of improvement. This new acquisition could go either way really. Womag definitely is not a case of if it ain't broke don't fix it.

You could tell Worcesterites that Mike O'Brien himself was going to come to every household and present them with a million dollars and even after they got the check they would figure out a way to spin it negatively. I myself try to see what develops.

I have heard some not so bad things about their North County papers though. Like I said, I'll reserve judgment.

When Fletcher took the reins 15 years ago, there was an invitation to area writers to allay their fears and submit their stuff. That's when I strapped on the courage to put my first essay into a mailbox on Vernon st. (Which I promptly tried to crawl into, desperate to retrieve the envelope). Where is that encouragment now? For writers in Worcester there is no outlet for our talents, no place for our voices that isn't tied up tighter than tight by money men. And for those of us who love to write, it was never about money in the first place. Worcester Magazine has had its peaks and valleys; at times, it has reflected whomever was at the editorial helm. I've worked with all of the editors hired since 1993, and ironically, Allen Fletcher was one of the best the paper ever had, though he only filled in during searches for new editors. I only wish he had committed to that position; he wouldn't have sold, I guarantee it. As a columnist I treasured the opportunity to write untethered by the politics of the front office. It really was an alternative paper for me, one where I could raise my voice without fear of censure. I can't help but feel that I've witnessed a real death of creativity and artistic freedom with this transaction.

don't rule out a Worcesterite print edition Erin.

Wow. How cool would that be.

I would like to see the print version of the site become some sort of extension of the what happens here already. Take topics that everyone is talking about and do some in depth coverage of it.

You will start seeing new original content and most likely a redesign of the entire site coming very soon. In order to accommodate new writing and create a clear distinction for readers as to what is original content and what is user contributed forum stuff.

It's exciting and I really hope that it organically becomes something meaningful to read each week.

Any time I read a post like this, all I think is...well...if they fucked up that badly, put something into the market place to compete, if that can't be done, then it says something about the market.

I am sorry to see WoMag go down this path, but as Gabe said, you can't judge until you see the new product...lest you become like the whackjobs who want to boycott movies they have never seen.

I hope that the best of the old WoMag can find new life and am anxious to see what Duncan has up his sleeve. In the meantime, I mourn the loss of the voices I read at WoMag.

I really hope they keep action geek ;)

As a complete media attention whore, I will miss WoMag as much as I miss Scott M. We (in the Worcester area) got pretty durned spoiled. Charlene and Scott were the most accessible writers and promoters of the local music scene. That was worth it's weight in gold and then some.
Bummer.
Steve