Monday Morning Media Quarterback

Another day, another bad decision at the Los Angeles Times, this time killing their Las Vegas entertainment blog, A Movable Buffet, the only LA Times blog I read every day.

Las Vegas entertainment journalist Richard Abowitz had contributed his informed, well-written observations on the likes of Perez Hilton, Paris Hilton, (who he wrote was popular among Las Vegas club workers because she brought the crowds),  Playmate Holly Madison (below), and his bete noire, magician Criss Angel of Believe.

Las Vegas was built on millions of people from Los Angeles coming to the casinos to gamble in the desert, and more recently to sample the fine dining and the many entertainment options there.  Historically this has been a huge source of advertising to the Times as well, with many pages in the Travel and Entertainment sections.  There’s also a major crossover with the Hollywood lamp the Times is trying to steer its sinking ship by.

Obviously, the paper couldn’t find a way to monetize The Buffet, so the handful of dollars the Times paid Abowitz and his photographer, Sarah Gerke, were seen as a cuttable expense item.  Especially on the Internet, a newspaper won’t grow by cutting off its fingers and toes.