Village Voice Lays Off Nat Hentoff, 50 Year Veteran

The troubled Village Voice laid off three employees Tuesday, including Nat Hentoff, the prominent columnist who has worked for the paper since 1958, contributing opinionated columns about jazz, civil liberties and politics.

Lynn Yaeger, a fashion writer who has worked for the paper for about 30 years, was also laid off, as was Chloe A. Hilliard, who has written for two years.

"Nat Hentoff wrote liner notes for every great musician that I've ever loved, from Billie Holiday to Bob Dylan and Aretha Franklin, and that's not even what he's been writing about for the last 30 years," said Tom Robbins, a Voice staff writer.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[mellene]

So sad, I always loved his writing. I guess it's like everything else in this culture which only admires youth.

[keepacoolhead]

The New Times conglomerate that has slowly but surely gobbled up more and more weeklys doesn't know what real journalism is. I've been reading them for 21 years and their stuff always isn't much more than dishrag quality. Firing Nat Hentoff? I never liked them and I like them even less now.

[BigHeadTodd]

Same old, same old. Fire anyone who has loyally worked for a company for many years and deservedly commands a higher salary. Then simply replace them with yo, yo, yo interns who are happy to work for a pittance and free bagels and lattes on Fridays.

The print media is NOT dying. Corporate cockroaches who only are into journalism "to make money" are making it commit suicide.

We love ya, Nat!

[Phuz01]

Sorry to see you go, Nat; you always held the bastards' feet to the flames. Now there are only three reasons left to read the Voice - Musto's column, Feingold's theater criticism, and Savage Love. Sadly, these are all fluff compared to the vital, relevant journalism offered in the Voice's heyday. It's no longer something worth go out of your way to pick up, and its content certainly isn't worth the price of a subscription. If the hacks who have systematically dismantled the Voice are too obtuse to see this, then the paper deserves to fold; its talent will find other venues for their work.

[deepfreezevideo]

You DON'T lay off Nat, you fire someone in upper level management for being too stupid to keep the rag afloat. You lay off Nat Hentoff you might as well fold the damn paper.
Nat Hentoff IS The Village Voice.

What a crock.

[SUIGENEROUSLA]

Couldn't agree more.........what BS............

[jeffp26]

Nat Hentoff is not only a major contributor to thought on jazz and politics, but on the very freedom that allows the press to function in our society (leaving aside the very serious question about how well it functions). At 83 years old he is vibrant, and spectacularly intelligent.

The Voice, on the other hand, is old, tired and a shadow of its once self.

[MzzJames]

It's a disgrace to work at a place for 50 years and at least not own a part of it--Oh the joys of capitalism!

[NoSillyName]

Hentoff is a legend. This is outrageous. I hope he finds something bigger & better than the VV.

[bbbbmer]

It's about time conservatives feel the brunt of the political economics they expound so verbosely upon others, yet are so seldom subject to....

[wembakoy]

Now the election is over what are you thinking now about your country?

This is my suggestion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a08L8fcNZLk

Happy New Year 2009 to all.

Thanks

[RobinSeattle]

Oh man, they laid Nat Hentoff off? Wow. Just wow. How sad that is. I haven't always agreed with Nat, but he is a mighty good and thoughtful man. How about HuffPo steps up to the plate and gives Nat a forum here?

[Fabini]

Hey, older employees cost more, it's just business, not personal. A twenty year old intern with spell check can fill a page for a whole lot less. Quality, experience, insight - fa-gid-about-it. That's so old fashion.

Seriously, the Village has lost its voice.

[Eric8869]

Everyone gets old - supporting your logic you better start saving.

[Larkinvos]

An idea for the New York Times:
(no charge)

Do not renew Bill Kristol's contract.
Replace him with Nat Hentoff.

[Bitsko]

Great suggestion.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Seconded.

[vigwig]

Great idea larkinvos, Hentoff has been a voice in the wilderness re civil liberties during this Patriot Act era, one of the few with the balls to do some serious reporting on the erosion of our liberties. Get on it NY Times.

[redkim]

Yes, and we can look forward to them being further eroded with Obama as President.

[RobinSeattle]

There is one word for that idea: NICE!

[ladyrefined2000]

go away, Nat...........you are tooooooo old.....

so is Imus........LOLLOLLOL

[byrdland49]

Brilliant!

[InsideBrooklyn]

I consider this felonious assault with intent to kill. . . .

[NotMcCain]

What happened to "last hired, first fired"?

Sounds like kids at the helm now who don't understand what they're doing.