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Time Out axes LGBT section – a high price to pay for 'free' Time Out axes LGBT section – a high price to pay for 'free'
(about 4 hours later)
Some people thought that Time Out going free last year, and abandoning any pretence at comprehensive listings, was the end of an era. But it was still recognisably the same magazine: irreverent, funny, gently subversive, and a tireless cheerleader for London in all its cultural diversity.Some people thought that Time Out going free last year, and abandoning any pretence at comprehensive listings, was the end of an era. But it was still recognisably the same magazine: irreverent, funny, gently subversive, and a tireless cheerleader for London in all its cultural diversity.
But this does feel like the end of an era. Paul Burston, for 20 years the gay (now LGBT) editor of Time Out, has announced that he had been given the push in the latest wave of cost-cutting, along with the LGBT section and other "smaller" sections such as Dance and Classical.But this does feel like the end of an era. Paul Burston, for 20 years the gay (now LGBT) editor of Time Out, has announced that he had been given the push in the latest wave of cost-cutting, along with the LGBT section and other "smaller" sections such as Dance and Classical.
Is it a sign of the times, that we no longer "need" an LGBT section; that, with even a Tory prime minister pushing through same-sex marriage, equality has been fully achieved? Or is it merely a sign that, as more and more publications go free, they will increasingly focus only on where the ad spend is? With Russia cracking down on homosexuality and India's Supreme Court recently recriminalising gay sex, with a Stonewall survey in 2012 of 1,600 gay, lesbian and bisexual teenagers in the UK showing that half had suffered homophobic bullying at school and that two fifths of those had contemplated suicide, it's clearly not the former.Is it a sign of the times, that we no longer "need" an LGBT section; that, with even a Tory prime minister pushing through same-sex marriage, equality has been fully achieved? Or is it merely a sign that, as more and more publications go free, they will increasingly focus only on where the ad spend is? With Russia cracking down on homosexuality and India's Supreme Court recently recriminalising gay sex, with a Stonewall survey in 2012 of 1,600 gay, lesbian and bisexual teenagers in the UK showing that half had suffered homophobic bullying at school and that two fifths of those had contemplated suicide, it's clearly not the former.
It seems to me extraordinarily short-sighted to axe the LGBT section; in the words of Oscar Wilde, it's the act of people who "know the price of everything and the value of nothing".It seems to me extraordinarily short-sighted to axe the LGBT section; in the words of Oscar Wilde, it's the act of people who "know the price of everything and the value of nothing".
For decades its recommendations have guided people, perhaps unsure of their sexuality or new to London, to safe spaces in the capital. More than that, it has reassured them that they are as normal and as numerous as lovers of music, dance or grainy subtitled films. The singer David McAlmont was just one of those who wrote online tributes as the news broke, saying that as a "recently arrived closet case from South America … the listings led me to a gay support group and a new life".For decades its recommendations have guided people, perhaps unsure of their sexuality or new to London, to safe spaces in the capital. More than that, it has reassured them that they are as normal and as numerous as lovers of music, dance or grainy subtitled films. The singer David McAlmont was just one of those who wrote online tributes as the news broke, saying that as a "recently arrived closet case from South America … the listings led me to a gay support group and a new life".
I must confess an interest here. I employed Burston when I was editor of Time Out in the 90s. During Paul's tenure, Time Out won a Stonewall award for LGBT coverage, and he himself was shortlisted for Journalist of the Year by the European Diversity Awards and by Stonewall. Ironically, as his departure was announced, it was also announced that his gay-themed literary salon, Polari, had won LGBT cultural event of the year. Hopefully, Time Out's loss will be someone else's gain as other papers clamour for his services, but it feels like more than just Time Out's loss: it's London's loss.I must confess an interest here. I employed Burston when I was editor of Time Out in the 90s. During Paul's tenure, Time Out won a Stonewall award for LGBT coverage, and he himself was shortlisted for Journalist of the Year by the European Diversity Awards and by Stonewall. Ironically, as his departure was announced, it was also announced that his gay-themed literary salon, Polari, had won LGBT cultural event of the year. Hopefully, Time Out's loss will be someone else's gain as other papers clamour for his services, but it feels like more than just Time Out's loss: it's London's loss.
Time Out was once more than just a business. It was a champion of the underdog, a righter of wrongs. For many Londoners, introduced to films, bars or, yes, gay clubs they might not otherwise have discovered, it was a way of life.Time Out was once more than just a business. It was a champion of the underdog, a righter of wrongs. For many Londoners, introduced to films, bars or, yes, gay clubs they might not otherwise have discovered, it was a way of life.
I know the magazine has difficult choices to make in a competitive marketplace. I understand that former editor and recently appointed chief executive Tim Arthur has the respect of his staff – including Paul – and that without him these cuts might have been deeper still. But this serves as yet another warning, in both online and print journalism: there can be a high price to pay for "free".I know the magazine has difficult choices to make in a competitive marketplace. I understand that former editor and recently appointed chief executive Tim Arthur has the respect of his staff – including Paul – and that without him these cuts might have been deeper still. But this serves as yet another warning, in both online and print journalism: there can be a high price to pay for "free".
• Dominic Wells is a former editor of Time Out and runs a film blog London, Hollywood
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