Poetry in the Newspapers
By Melanie Simms
According to Dana Gioia, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, "Daily newspapers no longer review poetry. There is, in fact, little coverage of poets or poetry in the general press." (Can Poetry Matter, The Atlantic Monthly, 1991).
John Timpane, Philadelphia Inquirer Commentary page editor, adds: "Today, in my opinion, most newspaper people are afraid of poetry. They're afraid readers won't understand it, especially poetry they (these newspaper people) find "hard" or "experimental." It amounts to a fear of the verbal. (Kelly Writer's House, 1999).
One could barely argue Gioia and Timpane's claims today, as print media seemingly loses ground with technological advances in communications, and as the art of poetry and its society becomes increasingly associated with the limited scope of the "academic elite." However there is, even today, life for poetry in the press. This article addresses the newspapers that currently accept poetry from the general public; listed below are the following newspapers in the United States (compiled by poet Melanie Simms) that presently accept poetry submissions.
(If anyone has information on additional listings, please e-mail them to Melanie Simms at moonspinner@pa.net or contact her at her website: www.poetmelaniesimms.net).
Current List of Newspapers that Publish Poems:
The Philadelphia Inquirer: Contact: John Timpane: jt@phillynews.com
The York Daily Record: Contact: Bill Diskin: bill@billdiskin.com
The Oregonian: Call 503-221-8100 and ask for the poetry editor.
The Santa Cruz Sentinel, Santa Cruz, CA: Contact 831-423-4242 and ask for the poetry editor.
The Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Contact: 412-423-4242 and ask for the poetry section.
The Christian Science Monitor: Contact: 617-450-2000 and ask for the poetry section.
Clearly this list is small, which only forwards the concerns of the American public that poetry in the newspapers is a dying breed, but thanks to the "die-hard" efforts of those remaining voices in today's newspapers, listed above, America still has hope to see the art rekindled.
Every poet at home has an opportunity and obligation as well to assist. The newspapers depend upon the people. Share your voices of concern so that people like Dana Gioia, John Timpane, and your humble author, Melanie Simms are not so alone in their desire to see this once fluent art revitalized. You can do so by submitting poetry to the newspapers listed above, writing to the editors of your local papers to request they create a poetry page, or, if you're creatively (and financially) inclined, start your own small newspaper press that publishes poetry.
Let the voice of the people be heard in the art of poetry, and thrive once again in the news!
Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com
|
