Blogtown, PDX

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Mercury You Be the Editor

Posted by Wm. Steven Humphrey on Tue, Apr 24 at 2:05 PM

One of my jobs as the Mercury’s editor-in-chief is reading and responding to readers’ mail. Here’s an email we received today from Nikki:

Sure, the Mercury is the best newsweekly in town. Is that saying much? It used to be so much better, though, when Julianne Shepherd and Katia Dunn were writing. And it’s not just that they were lesbians that I add this question. How come all of your writers are white and straight? I get the white part because this is Portland and I know the chick in the news department is a dyke, but she doesn’t really count. You used to have gay people writing all the time (or at least regularly). A guy named Evan, I think. Your sex survey showed that about 9% of your readers (who filled out the survey) are queer. How come 9% of your writing staff ain’t queer? — Nikki

Now it’s YOUR turn to play editor-in-chief. How would YOU respond to this letter? Write Nikki a response in the comments below!

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Comments

Dear Nikki, because we say so!

Posted by Dex | April 24, 2007 2:31 PM

Better Yet...

Dear Nikki, I don't think you really count either.

Posted by Dex | April 24, 2007 2:32 PM

Why don't I count? I'm one out of the eleven here—which makes me exactly 9 percent of the editorial staff.

Posted by Amy J. Ruiz | April 24, 2007 2:35 PM

I'd respond with a version of what I said to Matt at Sex Beer and Charter Reform: The news operation at the Mercury is the strongest I've seen it since I moved here 10 years ago.

Posted by b!X | April 24, 2007 2:42 PM

That's an easy fix. Require all of your staff to be gay 9% of the time.

Posted by Seamus Gordon | April 24, 2007 2:43 PM

Who says we're not 20 percent gay all the time? Isn't it possible that we're overrepresenting?

Posted by Scott Moore | April 24, 2007 2:50 PM

Oh, and thanks b!X.

Posted by Scott Moore | April 24, 2007 2:50 PM

plus... Julianne wasn't a lesbian.

Posted by jim | April 24, 2007 3:08 PM

Isn't Jesus a lesbian?

Posted by Adrian | April 24, 2007 3:10 PM

If Jesus were a lesbian, you would think it would be mentioned on his/her blog:
http://www.jesuschristscoolblog.blogspot.com/

Posted by BGinLA | April 24, 2007 3:27 PM

I'd say: Dear Niki, Shut the hell up, 'cuz you're talkin' out yer damn ass.

Posted by threebs | April 24, 2007 3:47 PM

I'd say I knew a girl named Nikki, I guess you could say she was a sex fiend. I met her in a hotel lobby masturbating with a magazine. She said howd you like to waste some time. And I could not resist when I saw little Nikki grind.

So there, Nikki. Darlin Nikki.

Posted by Lelo | April 24, 2007 3:53 PM

I'm "white and straight" and I don't write for the Merc.

Dammit.

Posted by carla | April 24, 2007 7:43 PM

I'd say, "No gays? Wait til I tell my DOMESTIC PARTNER!

Sincerely,
Gaye

P.S. I am gaaaaay!"

Posted by Gaye Gaily | April 24, 2007 10:50 PM

I wouldn't respond?

Do you have to have an equal % of employees for every % of population? Or does this person only care about their situation?

I didn't choose to be sandy haired, but I damn sure better be represented by a sandy haired journalist. No one else can know what I'm going through.