Here's a start for taking action BRUIN fans...

My experience in the media is that ideology trumps economics every time.

I cancelled the ‘wrap in the ’70’s, so my anecdotal evidence comes from other newspapers.

I took the Pasadena Star News but cancelled when it endorsed some candidate who I didn’t like. I got a call from the circulation department trying to get me to re-subscribe. I told the subscription guys that I would never spend another penny on that paper until the editorial staff was replaced, because I did not agree with its editorial policy. That prompted a mini-debate, but eventually the guy gave up. I hope he explained why I wouldn’t re-subscribe.

Here in Tampa, we subscribed to the Tampa Something, but cancelled because I really got all the news I needed for free on the ‘net, and didn’t have to take out old papers once a week, and I got the news for free. They called about once a week. Mrs. Fox 71 then subscribed to the St. Pete Times because she wanted to get the coupons that came out on Sunday, but we cancelled because she could get the coupons on line. They called to try to get us to re-subscribe.

The point of these anecdotes is that newspapers are all about to join the choir invisible. They are about to be come ex-newspapers. They are dead parrots. If I got a call every time I cancelled a subscription, I can only imagine how many phone calls would be generated by an en masse cancellation.

Here is a partial list of reasons why every Bruin should cancel. Others will want to add to it, I’m sure.

1. The ’wrap was, is and always will be totally and completely sold out to the trOJans. Why would any Bruin want to subscribe to the official propaganda vehicle of just$c?

2. Every penny paid to the ‘wrap is the equivalent of a contribution to just$c*. Other businesses have to pay for publicity and PR. just$c* doesn’t because it gets all it needs from the trOJan times. Please, Bruins, look at your check register. Add up how much you pay the ’wrap every year. Do you contribute that much to UCLA?

3. There are alternative sources for news. There are other newspapers There is the evening news on TV. There is the internet.

4. The ‘wrap sports reporters are not worth wasting time to read. Seriously. Let me put it this way. Does anyone really care what Tim McCarver says about a baseball game? Or what Dickie V says about a basketball game? Aren’t both of those guys just “white noise” that you automatically filter out? If those guys show up on TV, do you automatically turn the volume up so that you don’t miss a word? Of course not. So why should you care what any of the idiots on the ‘wrap say? [I know the opposite view here – someone needs to keep track of what they say so that the propaganda can be negated. I have no objection to ONE person buying the wrap if necessary. Nestor can be trusted for this, if he can’t find a way to get a day old paper from one of his neighbors.]

My main argument is money. I truly believe that every penny sent to the fishwrap is the equivalent of a contribution to just$c.* No Bruin should be a party to that sort of thing. It’s just wrong. Anything that keeps the ‘wrap in business is wrong. It may all be a lesson in futility. The ’wrap may go on forever. But at least one Bruin has the satisfaction of not having contributed to the ’wrap. I won’t be an enabler.

that I followed your advice a few months ago. My roommates and I had a subscription to the Garbage wrap. But the incident regarding OJ Payogate was the straw that broke the camels back. It wasn’t until I read a New York Times article calling out the LA Times and BILL SPLASHME (Posted by Nestor) for its Shoddy reporting that I decided to cancel our $UCTimes subscription. I also told the company that I was canceling my subscription to donate to a newspaper with Journalistic integrity, The New York Times, and cited the article discussing the UCLA coverage. I love the New York Times, and all my local news comes from the internet. I’m still disgusted that UCLA allows the $UC times to host its festival of books on our campus. But maybe some day, they will learn their lesson…