Wonkette
Roll Call is a venerable old Capitol Hill rag we should read more often, as it has to do with “politics” etc., but it costs munnie$ for a subscription, so meh. It probably has lots of valuable information and things! Anyway, people on the Twitters think it might be shutting down. At least, MSNBC cartoonist guy Daryl Cagle thinks so. However, some other guy thinks this is just the craziest thing he’s ever heard.
That’s Chris Dorobek of Federal News Radio, writing three (3) Twitter dealies about how Roll Call will be just fine. Thank God someone quashed this scurrilous rumor before Washington erupted in fires and riots and chaos and bank runs. Men have died over lesser events than the threatened demise of our precious Roll Call.
And for what it’s worth, our take: it is true that publications focusing on DC and politics did handsomely in 2008 with the MASSIVELY HISTORIC ELECTION and all, and may plausibly do well in the year ahead, as we witness a pretty major turnover in government and (cross your fingers!) what Obamatards like to call “sweeping reforms” on both the domestic and overseas fronts. Plus, now that nobody has any money to go to the movies or drink booze, watching politics will be the only form of “entertainment” left for those of us too stupid to buy a Wii when we could still afford it. On the other hand! Every publication in America and indeed the world will probably go bankrupt in 2009.
Is this the Fred Barnes one or the Morton Kondracke one? They should both shut down and become shelters for homeless mortgage bankers.
First Mitt’s pajamas, now random speculative tweets? The slowness of this news-day gives me a sad.
Does Roll Call cost money? I should know- I’ve lived in the DC area for 35 years- but I don’t.
If Daryl Cagyl (or however he spells it) says it, it’s gotta be true. That guy knows the funny in all things, except political cartoons. The ones he assembles on Slate are just terrible, ugly, not funny, unimaginative, etc. That’s why Josh goofs on ‘em every Friday.
I want to know who the asshole was who interrupted the navel gazing snifflefest of posts lamenting the possible closure of Roll Call to insert some completely irrelevant bullshit about an orphanage burning down with all the kids inside.
This just in: Kathy Griffin spotted knocking dicks out of all mouths over at Roll Call, which subsequently has going under.
I had no knowledge of this ‘publication’ until today. I would think however that a successful publication wouldn’t need to bury its subscription information at the bottom of the page and cost $485/year. Also as a regular reader of its parent publication since I was 15, I would think they could do a better job of promoting it so I would have at least heard of it.
But hey, maybe they can get a bailout.
No snark here, just being a bitterz. Economist has no fears of shutting down something that fails. They did that to my beloved Business Central Europe Magazine several years ago.
“When I get to Washington, I want three things: my phone messages, my schedule and Roll Call. Then I know what’s going on.”
— Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.)
He also needs some fucking money.
New York Time? Here.
Washington Post? Here.
Wall Street Journal? Present.
Roll Call?
Roll Call?
Roll Call?
Who needs Roll Call. I get all of my news from Wonkette.
facehead: Not going under… Going down.
Serolf Divad: Some people have their priorities all out of sorts. This is ROLL CALL we’re talking about!!!
The world is coming to an end! Roll Call in trouble? And who cares? And what the bling is Roll Call anyway?
Serolf Divad:KevoTron: Maybe the squeals of burning babies distracted the Twit from what’s really important. Some people!
Why the weeping? If Roll Call fails, we’ll still have Politico.
Contrary to rumors posted on Wonkette and on Twitter, Roll Call is thriving and not at all at risk of shutting down. It’s unfortunate what is happening to consumer newspapers and other media outlets around the country but fortunately for our amazing employees, readers and advertisers, the state of Roll Call’s condition is healthier than ever.
With our singular focus on Congress since 1955, our revenues and business opportunities continue to grow. In August, we completed a $43 million acquisition of the highly respected grassroots technology company, Capitol Advantage, on the heels of a previous acquisition of the legislative tracking company, Gallery Watch. We are hiring across the board in editorial and business positions. Advertising and subscription revenues are strong. Our parent company, The Economist Group, is in full support of our business strategy and looks to us for significant expansion. Suffice to say, our prospects for 2009 and beyond are extremely positive.
Thank you for the opportunity to put to rest this rumor.
Best,
Peter Cherukuri
Publisher
Roll Call Newspaper
So do the hydrants work or not?
I like rolls. Call me when they are half baked, room-air.
In April, I lose my beloved Christian Science Monitor five-times-a-week print edition, so I’m not sure what I’ll keep on the shelf in the bathroom. Potty breaks are going to be damn boring–or at least not nearly as informational as reading about young Kashmiris and peaceful protests. (For example).
More to the point, news blogs always include a link to the, you know, real newspaper when they do “stories.” If there are no more newspapers, does that mean all the blogs will be like wonkette and just make shit up?
Roll Call Publisher: Oh hai peter! We appreciate the update. In fact, mayhaps, from time to time, you should provide to Wonkette information as to the state of the Roll Call. Kthanxs
Roll Call Publisher:
“Contrary to rumors posted on Wonkette and on Twitter, Roll Call is thriving and not at all at risk of shutting down.”
Damn. Are you saying that we can’t just rely upon, e.g.., Fox stories of opinion based opinion on opinions? Jeepers, gosh, have you given the death knell to American, non-reportage (media) journalism?
Roll Call, you are such villains.
“Thank you for the opportunity to put to rest this rumor.” A sentence so constructed is why publishing and editorial are two different departments, no? Or is it Pete’s entry into the “write like Churchill” contest?
Roll Call Publisher: Thank you for clarifying. Can you please bring back Business Central Europe now since it appears you are flush with cash? I also have a great idea about several new business opportunities and hedge fund investments which would be great places to put your excess cash.
I guess all you hobo political media types now know somewhere to look for work. Do you think they pay bonuses for snark?
and Wonkette…new advertiser? I would like to see a full size picture of the publication where Campbell used to me
Roll Call Publisher: If you are correcting rumors on Wonkette, I give you about three more months.
If Roll Call failed, Morton Kondracke might get a job where people actually read what he writes. We can’t take that chance. Save Roll Call for Mort’s sake!
Roll Call Publisher: Hi, Roll Call dude! Look, you got married. And your wedding announcement in the New York Times, another paper that’s going under? Priceless. Here’s an excerpt:
Standing on the corner of Connecticut Avenue and M Street, the two talked about their favorite Gershwin and Cole Porter tunes. They agreed to play and sing together over drinks in the coming weeks. Casual meetings with friends at the Mayflower hotel’s piano bar turned into serious rehearsal times at Ms. Lenzner’s apartment.
“Serious rehearsal times”? Uff’da, ya you betcha!
Daryl Cagle is probably the hardest working guy in political cartoons today. He’s also one of the least talented, and one of the most subject to apparently baseless rumors. This latest claim of his that Roll Call is going under is only further evidence of that.
I remember Roll Call from about five or six years ago, when it was still free on the net. Then they decided to start charging $150 a year for it. Which is fine if you’re a multimillionaire blogger like Markos Moulitsas or Michelle Malkin. My initials aren’t MM, which is probably why I’m not a rich, successful blogger who’s resting on piles of loose cash that’s just sitting around the house.
Anyway, Daryl Cagle is proof that a lot of hard work and essentially no talent will get you pretty far.
It’s amazing that there is somehow room for The Hill, Roll Call, CQ, Congress Daily, The Politico, The Examiner, The Washington Times and The Washington Post.
Oops, sorry, forgot something. It’s not that amazing:
–The Politico isn’t making any money at all and is bankrolled by the Allbrittons, who get by with making a little bit of money off of Channel 7, old Riggs Bank money and NewChannel 8.
–The Examiner isn’t making any money at all and is bankrolled by billionaire Phillip Anschultz (sp?), who funds the Examiner papers from his own personal fortune.
–The Washington Times isn’t making any money at all and is bankrolled by the Unification Church and other mysterious business, community and religious donors.
–The Hill, Roll Call, CQ and CongressDaily? Just getting by.
–The Washington Post newspaper took about 200 “bye-outs” in recent years, is cutting sections, sold its College Park plant, froze executive salaries, and its parent, The Washington Post Company, now makes more money from its Kaplan educational services than it does from its media holdings.
loquaciousmusic: Ha, getting your wedding ‘published’ like that is such a sap move. The again they do claim to be in publishing. But I guess this is a mark of success if you are from WW or KY. It kind of reminds me of Charlie Crist’s ‘wedding’ and subsequent ‘annoucement’
$485/yr. just to read a written account of someone saying “Bueller” over and over again? What a rip-off!!!