The End of the Road

Posted on March 5, 2012 – 9:32 PM | by OldManFoster
  • Share

As the March  issue went to press I had to make a very difficult decision: barring some unforeseen development, this will be the final issue of Midtown Monthly.  At the very least it will be the final edition with me at the helm.

Some readers may know that our sister publication, Capitol Weekly, ceased publication of their print edition on January 12. After 23 years, the Weekly now exists as an online-only publication, a reflection of the difficulties of maintaining a print operation in the age of the internet.

While Capitol Weekly and Midtown Monthly are separate publications, they did share infrastructure: ad sales staff, accounting, art direction, printing, even office space.  With the elimination of Capitol Weekly’s print edition came a corresponding reduction in sales staff, an office move, and a significant change in our printing costs.

We’ve spent the past six weeks checking and rechecking numbers, talking with potential investors and exploring options to keep Midtown going.  As we go to print, I don’t believe that any of the options we’ve looked at can make the numbers work.  And after five years of ignoring those numbers, the time has finally come to listen.

I’m sad, but I’m also proud.  I’m proud of the work that our contributors have done.  I’m proud of the contribution that Midtown Monthly has made to the public narrative of Sacramento. I’m proud that we spotlighted a side of Sacramento that is often ignored, or even maligned.  I’m proud that in over five years I’ve never published anything I didn’t stand behind.

It’s been an amazing way to spend five years, and I’m thankful to have had the privilege.

As always – thanks for picking us up.

Tim Foster
Editor, Midtown Monthly

 

  1. 26 Responses to “The End of the Road”

  2. avatar

    By eric enriquez on Mar 5, 2012 | Reply

    Thanks for all of the hard work and also for letting me play with your Musical Chairs.

  3. avatar

    By Jackson Griffith on Mar 5, 2012 | Reply

    Damn. Just damn. As a reader and a Midtown resident, I’m truly sorry.

  4. avatar

    By Mindy Giles on Mar 5, 2012 | Reply

    Ditto what Jackson said.You and this publication are stellar.
    Out of town right now, but would love to meet when we get back.

  5. avatar

    By Laura Edmisten on Mar 5, 2012 | Reply

    Thank you Tim for all that you have done with Midtown Monthly. I always looked forward to each issue and I really think this is a loss for Sacramento. I am very sad to see it go.

  6. avatar

    By Ski Taylor on Mar 5, 2012 | Reply

    Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
    So sad to see you go. Truly. Thank you for all you gave us- Midtown Monthly was a shining light and a consistent source of local inspiration.

  7. avatar

    By Gretchen S on Mar 5, 2012 | Reply

    Thanks for all your tireless work on helping make Sacramento a better place! Here’s to all of you!

  8. avatar

    By Paloma Begin on Mar 5, 2012 | Reply

    This is a huge loss for all of Midtown, Tim. Thank you for 5 great years…

  9. avatar

    By Zoran Theodorovic on Mar 5, 2012 | Reply

    So sad to see you go, glad I saved some.

  10. avatar

    By Dane Henas on Mar 5, 2012 | Reply

    Tim,

    I’m stunned! I wish I had a million dollars to give you to keep publishing. Another thing that we’ve all kind of taken for granted going away… this is real a real bummer!

  11. avatar

    By OldManFoster on Mar 5, 2012 | Reply

    Dane, that’s OK, we’ll take just a quarter million!

  12. avatar

    By Vlad on Mar 5, 2012 | Reply

    I thoroughly enjoyed your magazine and it’s sad to see it go.

  13. avatar

    By Ben Morss on Mar 6, 2012 | Reply

    Sorry to hear this too!!!!

  14. avatar

    By Olive Garwood on Mar 6, 2012 | Reply

    NOOOO WAY!! I am saddened with this news. I grew up wanting to be a journalist, and am now so upset that this culture of young, and even “old” people, don’t get what they will be missing with the elimination of print media…Oh God..do they only have “RUSH” left? I’ll hope that each and every one of you will do well going forward! Best of Fortunes to all of you!

  15. avatar

    By Teri Weesner on Mar 6, 2012 | Reply

    Thanks Tim & Liv & all the Mid Mo staff. I enjoyed it so much. Sad to see it go <3 Teri

  16. avatar

    By Elizabeth on Mar 6, 2012 | Reply

    So sorry to hear. It was a great magazine. Cheers to 5 great years!

  17. avatar

    By Michelle Barbaria on Mar 7, 2012 | Reply

    This makes me so sad. I love Midtown Monthly. And Thank you for featuring lots of my friends and things, and events I care about. I will miss you.

  18. avatar

    By Richard Hansen on Mar 7, 2012 | Reply

    Such a labor of love. And nothing quite like it here in Sacramento. And nothing to fill the enormous void created. Tim, you all have done amazing things between the covers of MidMo. You all have my deep appreciation.

  19. avatar

    By M. Azevedo on Mar 8, 2012 | Reply

    Dear Tim (and Liv)- I am so sorry. Midtown Monthly has been incredible in its support of the arts, business and capturing the history and vibe of Midtown Sacramento. From the first issue it was clear that the publication was much more than merely a business venture but a labor of love. Thank you for a wonderful 5 years. It will be missed.

  20. avatar

    By Klinger on Mar 9, 2012 | Reply

    So sad to hear! Midtown Monthly worked hard and struggled over its run, but it never dimmed quality-wise.

    Thanks to Tim, Liv and Becky for all their hard work and the opportunities they gave to writers, reviewers, photographers and designers. I enjoyed writing the Incoming column a few years ago and my Musical Chairs piece was a blast to write as well.

    With your endless creativity I’m sure there is plenty more to come in other outlets!

  21. avatar

    By WayneCha on Mar 10, 2012 | Reply

    I was heartbroken when my girlfriend passed on the news of MidMo’s demise, but you only truly miss those things that really mean something to you, so thanks for giving us so much to enjoy during the past five years. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to be a contributor for the December issue. I handed out quite a few copies of that one to people who had never read MidMo before, so I figured I was doing a good job of expanding your readership for at least one month. Anyway, thanks again, and best of luck on all future endeavors.

  22. avatar

    By Debra van Hulsteyn on Mar 10, 2012 | Reply

    You have been a bright shining light. Great coverage, contributors. I’m sad to see such a “real” publication disappear.

  23. avatar

    By Shirley Hazlett on Mar 11, 2012 | Reply

    Midtown Monthly has been a little gem of a publication, celebrating Sacramento’s uniqueness with keen insights and good humor. With a sense of loss, I read that the end of the road has been reached.

  24. avatar

    By Melanie on Mar 19, 2012 | Reply

    This is sad news indeed. Yours is the only local publication I read on a regular basis. You guys will be missed for sure.

  25. avatar

    By JB on Mar 19, 2012 | Reply

    Thanks for everything. You will be missed

  26. avatar

    By Brian Orcutt on Aug 20, 2014 | Reply

    So sad!

  1. 1 Trackback(s)

  2. Mar 19, 2012: I’m Back, Sort Of. | Undercover Caterer

Post a Comment