6.22.2009

Let your newspaper's editor know

Orange here with a special request: If your local newspaper just started running the Los Angeles Times crossword this spring, the editor's probably getting cranky letters from folks who were used to the old crossword and are demanding an easier puzzle. We need some push-back against these Forces for Mediocrity. Do you love the L.A. Times puzzle? Do you maybe even wish it were harder? Send a letter or an e-mail to the editor of your local paper's features section (or wherever the crossword runs) and let 'em know.

Norm the BART-riding solver who left a comment on Friday, this means you. And the rest of you, too. If you need help tracking down the right person to contact at your paper, leave a comment here with your newspaper's name and we'll nose around for the contact info.

If you've already written to your paper, would you mind posting the contact info for the benefit of your fellow readers? Thanks.

12 comments:

Orange said...

The Detroit Free Press switched to the LAT puzzle; got complaints and switched to the Daily Commuter puzzle, and switched back to the LAT today. Michiganders can contact managing editor Julie Topping here: "Call me at 313-222-8850, or e-mail crossword@freepress.com."

Rex Parker said...

I had emails sent to crossword@freepress.com bounced back to me, FYI. Might just be me :(

I guess I'll have to call.

rp

Anonymous said...

DUE TO AN ILLNESS I JUST STARTED DOING THE PUZZLES AFTER A LONG ABSENCE AND ENJOY THEM VERY MUCH. THE WEEKS BEGINNINGS ARE GETTING EASIER FOR ME BUT BY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY THEY ARE HARDER. IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WOULD WANT MORE DIFFICULT ONES YOU WOULD GO TO THE NEW YORK TIMES OR ANOTHER SOURCE FOR DIFFICULTY. DON'T MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE DOING JUST FINE WITH THIS ONE.
MARY KAY

Anonymous said...

Who cares? Google the word crossword and the third or fourth line down is the LA Times puzzle. You can work it inline or print it free.

Rick

Anonymous said...

Would love the contact for the Hartford Courant...for what it's worth, the Dallas Morning News has the daily commuter puzzle and LAT...that would seem a good answer. They also have the NYT puzzle in delayed syndication.

Thanks,

Fritz

Crockett1947 said...

When the TMS syndicated puzzle went away, our paper, The Oregonian, did a month of test puzzles, a different one for a week at a time, and then polled the readers. LAT came in third in the poll, so we now have some lame mamby-pamby puzzle that doesn't challenge at all. I think the probability of reversing that decision is slim to none, so I'm content to go to cruciverb.com nightly and get my LAT puzzle fix.

Thanks for the blog, folks!

Anonymous said...

When the Chicago Tribune started to syndicate the LA Times (which they own) puzzle I was the first one to complain. I have written since to thank them. The LA Times puzzle is superior to the old TMS puzzle, but my fear is that with the Trib's on-going financial mess (thanks Sam Zell!!) the new LA Times/Rich Norris puzzles will be dropped.

This past Sunday, the Trib announced additional changes that are coming in July. One of the newly cut items will be their Sunday Magazine, which contained the Sunday Crossword for years. Hopefully the Norris puzzle survives, because my subscription won't if the Norris puzzles are gone!!

Orange said...

@Fritz: For the Courant, write to the Reader
Representative, Bernie Davidow, at readerrep@courant.com. Or write/call: The Hartford Courant, 285 Broad St., Hartford, CT. 06115; Phone: 860-241-6200.

Anonymous said...

Hey Orange: I love a good crossword challenge but the LA-style is just plain dumb. I think someone's trying to be too clever by half with the result that the clues and answers don't make sense - clever NOT, more like clumsy and obscure.
As a proud Canadian I say give me back our old Globe and Mail (Toronto) crossword - we don't need no south of the border interloper.

Have a good day :)

Crosscan said...

The preceding does not represent the opinion of all Canadians.

Anonymous said...

Oh for the good old days and the original puzzle. So many friends are complaining about the LAT. Maybe I'll have to stop the Free Press (it's that bad!) TOO HARD AND WAY OUT THERE.

BonnieN said...

We get the Detroit Free Press and in reference to the comment above, we have emailed out hearts out to that given email address..,they all bounce back, and that phone number,the mailbox is full so you cannot even leave a message!!! In other words, they do not want to hear from us! we hate the changes.