I was making an effort to enjoy the tea, food, and the weather. Trying not to check my email, or keep telling myself I’d failed. The job leads had poured in when I posted the news of the layoffs, but I wasn’t about to keep doomscrolling LinkedIn from the lounge chair at the pool.
Gamaksan yesterday
this has only become more poignant as I’ve grown older and had children of my own and come to the realization that I, like Homer, will never be allowed to retire
Ilsan Lake Park, South Korea, today
Scenes from Chiang Mai
The view from the hotel restaurant in Chiang Mai, Thailand, this morning. The world is a good place, full of beautiful culture, delicious food, interesting languages, and fascinating people.
A week and a half after the Washington Post closed the Seoul news hub and I lost my job, I’m feeling better. Several editors have reached out, and I plan to do a lot more writing. I’m glad I live on this continent—Asia is a fascinating place. So many stories to tell.
My novel, The Pot Job, spotted at the new bookstore, the Denver Book Society. 17th and Humboldt.
"We were the scrappy overnight newsroom of a major global media organization trying like hell to honor its reputation and give our readers a full picture of the world." @bartschaneman.bsky.social on The Washington Post eliminating its hub in Seoul. therepublicofletters.substack.com/p/we-were-a-...
Journalists in New Orleans have no idea how their work lives are about to change for the better. Or maybe they do! Either way, wonderful for everyone involved, @hankstuever.bsky.social especially. www.nola.com/news/veteran...
The final Sunday arts section I worked on. (It’s a lovely one.)
I’m also going to go hard on my Substack, drawing on my experience as a newspaper columnist. Please subscribe.
bartschaneman.substack.com
Work is how I’m coping with getting laid off at the Washington Post. Editors: I’m open to any general assignments on the ground in South Korea, and I have extensive experience in business writing and book-related coverage. Link to my clips below.
The Post's announcement named Book World as a discrete entity being eliminated, which led to a lot of kind words, all of which are greatly appreciated. But other critics weren't in a section entirely eliminated (though what will remain of it, I have no idea), so I've seen much less about them. 1/2
Wrote about getting laid off and why media workers deserve a little grace.
www.readergrev.com/p/washington...
Jon—once my editor at Slate then my colleague at the Post—is such a brilliant journalist and thoughtful human being. Any publication would be lucky to have him.
What? There were many articles written about this. What are you talking about?
Journalism is a great industry to go into if you want to become speedrun becoming a Marxist.
My heart breaks at the end of the Books section at the Post. So many brilliant people there, especially @roncharles.bsky.social, the most beloved book critic I know. I feel like I should write more about this, but I’m on deadline and trying to finish a freelance piece myself.
Thanks, Steve! Anyone celebrating the end of the Washington Post can eat a large bag of (unsavory materials.)
Only road there is these days
Thanks, Nick. Dark days
Big support to all of us post-WaPo folks
Feels like a good day for wearing Launcher shirts
Sorry
having trouble processing the washington post news on top of all the other news of the worst people in the world gutting or degrading things that matter. I'm just so sad & angry. primarily, the journalists who've been laid off (many of whom i look up to) deserve better. but it hurts all of us.
