CL edit department restructures, lays off senior editor Eric Snider
July 14th, 2009 by David Warner in NewsI distributed the following memo to the Tampa Creative Loafing staff this afternoon.
In the face of declining print revenues and an according shift of resources to web-first production, Creative Loafing is restructuring its editorial staff. Unfortunately, these adjustments have made it necessary to eliminate the position of senior editor held by CL veteran Eric Snider.
There is no question that CL will be a different place without Eric. He has made a major contribution to the company as a writer and editor, and his style, his street smarts, his charismatic presence and journalistic expertise have added immeasurably to CL in print, online, and in our day-to-day lives.
We will miss having Eric as part of the staff, both as a journalist and a friend. He will continue at CL full-time through the end of this week; after that, we hope to continue working with him on individual projects.
Sharry Smith, Publisher
David Warner, Editor
Nothing much else to say except that the recession sucks, that this was an extremely painful decision, and that it brings to four the number of layoffs we have had to make this year from an already small edit staff. And yet, in spite of everything, I’m still optimistic about the future of this company.
But Eric will be missed.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Who’s going to start the kick-ball games in the retention pond?!?! We’re gonna miss you, dude!!
July 14th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Sorry to hear about this…Eric has been entertaining us with his wit and insight for many years…your writing will be missed, Eric. Thanks for always having something to say.
Online publications will never take the place of printed publications to me. It’s the equivalent of an MP3 vs. an album. It just ain’t the same.
Thanks for all the laughs all these years, Eric.
July 14th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
as a longtime reader who cannot stand to see grammar mistakes, and one who read and commented on the paramore entry before this post, to read that senior editor Eric Snider has been let go fully solidifies my decision to break off my 20+ year reader/advertiser/recycler relationship with creative loafing.
so long!
July 14th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Eric edited the best story I ever wrote for the Weekly Planet — Hog Wild — or something like that. He understood that going with a bunch of rednecks on a wild hog hunt was all about putting the reader there and taking them on the chase, making it immediate, the falling down in the swamp, hearing the cry of the hog when the dogs cornered it and then the awful silence after one of the hunters slit its throat. Good experience. Thank you Eric.
July 15th, 2009 at 9:58 am
I don’t know how you could do this. There are a dwindling handful of reasons to read CL, and you’ve just eliminated another one.
July 15th, 2009 at 11:03 am
For how sad Eric may be, Creative Loafing will suffer more.
Please cancel my connections with your organization.
July 16th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
PITIFUL!!!!!!
July 16th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
You’ll be missed, Snider. It won’t be the same (or as much fun) without you.
July 17th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I’ve worked with many fine writers and editors over the years. I have to say that Eric has been among the most fun. He has a great sense of humor; a coolness that belies his dogged determination to get the story; and an amazing instinct for constructive collaboration with others.
Jobs and business plans sometimes disappear.
But talent and spirit like Eric’s never go away.