The New York Times Axes Green Blog

Last Friday the New York Times announced that it’s eradicating their green blog. My first reaction? Boo! Hogwash! That’s a bunch of crap!

In all seriousness though, my worry is that this cut is sending a message that environmental issues just aren’t that important.

While times are certainly tough for print publications these days, and cuts may be necessary this is a big blow to the Times eco-minded readers. Though in hindsight the demise of the green blog isn’t all that shocking given that in January the Times announced that it was dismantling their Environment Desk team.

The New York Times managing editor for news operations, Dean Baquet said, “Today, environmental stories are partly business, economic, national or local, among other subjects,” Baquet said. “They are more complex. We need to have people working on the different desks that can cover different parts of the story.”

Not an unfair point but let’s be real here if environmental issues were top of mind to the publication wouldn’t they keep a devoted desk to service the cause’s news. It’s disheartening that one of the world’s most prestigious and prominent publications will no longer provide a specific hub for environmental issues. Further, if a topic isn’t intrinsically part of a reporter’s job description it’s a LOT easier to ignore it.

The Times has nine fashion focused and nine sports blogs. I’m as much of a fashion loving sports fan as the next girl (if not more) but c’mon people.

In its final adieu the Times promised “we’ll forge ahead with our aggressive reporting on environmental and energy topics, including climate change, land use, threatened ecosystems, government policy, the fossil fuel industries, the growing renewables sector and consumer choices.”

Only time will tell.

Readers, what do you think of this cut? Does it make sense or are you worried that important stories will go uncovered?