Readers respond to demise of Bridge column

Many readers were disappointed to see this note on the front of the Calendar section Monday morning: "The Bridge column has been discontinued. Ask Amy will take its place on the comics pages."

By noon Monday, 60 readers had called the Readers' Rep office, and 31 had e-mailed to protest the change.

Sallie Hofmeister, assistant managing editor for arts and entertainment, explained the decision. "A recent survey indicates that only 3% of our subscribers read the column every day, and that 89% never look at it," she said.

Moving the Ask Amy column to the spot where Bridge used to be “frees up space for news and features” elsewhere in the Calendar section, Hofmeister said.

John Blowitz of Indian Wells was among those who wrote in. "Perhaps us avid column readers are not your most desirable demographic, and perhaps your surveys showed that there weren't enough of us compared, say, to 'Bizarro' aficionados, but we are loyal, Frank Stewart Bridge column, L.A. Times readers nonetheless. Please reconsider," he said, adding: "P.S. And I love 'Bizarro,' too."

Ann Cressman of Laguna Niguel also hoped editors would reconsider the decision. "I cannot believe you are discontinuing the Bridge column. Bridge is a wonderful card game. It improves memory and concentration," she wrote.

Several readers, including Carl J. Anderson of Simi Valley, mentioned the earlier loss of Bridge on Sundays. "I was more than disappointed when the Times discontinued the Bridge column in the Sunday Times," Anderson wrote, "but to delete it all together is unforgiving!" 

Readers often wonder why something else can't be cut instead of a feature that they like. " 'The Bridge column has been discontinued' -- and yet you continue Sudoku. Is the L.A. Times out of its mind?" asked D.B. Prell of Palm Springs.

Still others, including Harriet Himmelstein of Laguna Woods, explained their enjoyment of the column. "I have breakfasted every day for many years with the L.A. Times Bridge column and the comics (well, most of the comics)," Himmelstein said. "This respite from the world and local news before the daily grind is a great comfort. Please, bring it back."

-- Deirdre Edgar

 

Comments

[Robert Jansen]

I ran across a sarcastic comment a few days ago. I shall paraphrase: "A significant portion of the reading elite in the USA are the purchasers of the National Enquirer."

How much further do the editors of the Times intend to stoop to further reduce the literacy of its readership?

[Ron Saritzky]

Like other readers, my breakfast wasn't "complete" this morning without perusing the comics page, then reading and analyzing Frank Stewart's Bridge column. It got my thought-motor running, ready for the day's challenges.

I know the Times is suffering economically, but I don't think the REAL reason is to "free up space for news and features" - it's the cost of paying Frank Stewart for the columns themselves. It's a cost-cutting move, not a "news enhancing" move. It's only a handful of column-inches.

[Alan Dirkin]

I am a former news editor of Daily Calendar. Pretty well everyone up there knows me. My wife and I both read the bridge column every day. That makes two of us for one subscription. We don't remember receiving the survey. But here's the point: It's almost a badge of honor for a member of the Calendar staff not to have played or play bridge and to profess utter ignorance of the game, as if that is some sort of appropriate scorning of another generation. Can you name anyone in Calendar today who plays? Did anyone who plays bridge participate in this decision? I don't know you Deirdre, nor do I know Sallie Hofmeister but I'll venture a guess that neither of you play bridge. Please tell me I'm wrong. This is a game that teaches people to add, subtract and THINK.

[Bonnie Silber]

No more Bridge Column?

Why do I need the L.A. times.

Who WAS more loyal than us; your teenage subscribers?

Amy should ask us!

You know who we are.

Adios

[pierceout]

I don't think a survey is necessary to realize that very few people read the bridge column anymore. Good move, L.A. Times.

[Conando]

I'm more disappointed that you didn't use the space to reinstate some comics that you recently dumped.

[David Sievers]

I am quite certain that the 11% of those who sometimes read the bridge column represent a far more desirable demographic for Times advertisers than the average reader.

This is therefore a poor economic decision as well as an editorial and intellectual disaster.

[Liz Newman]

My husband and I are greatly distressed that the Times has discontinued the bridge column. For decades, it has been something we share at the beginning each day. It's as challenging as Sudoko and as entertaining as the comics. It's also as stimulating as the news, without the grief attached. PLEASE put the bridge column back in the daily paper!!!!

[Quentin Compsen]

A top-drawer newspaper should carry certain items simply as a matter of journalistic quality. If your focus group surveys showed that a minority of readers ever looked at the editorial page, would you discontinue that as well?

In any event, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Times is no longer a top-drawer newspaper, and it won't be cluttering my shelves for much longer. The bridge column was one of the very few worthwhile features that couldn't be accessed for free, on the Internet. But no longer, so I shall no longer need to subscribe.

[Myrna Levy]

My husband and I have enjoyed the bridge column for more than 50 years and are saddened to see it go along with so many items in the LA Times.

Not seeing the stock reports has forced us to subscribe to the Wall Street Jouirnal. For us there will soon be little to read in the LA Times.

How very sad for a major city like Los Angeles to have a paper for so few.......

[Marion Hogue]

Among many Bridge players who read the Bridge column, I am terribly disappointed to find that LA Times has removed it from the weekly issues. How was it that you determined that only 3% of your readership actually read the column? It would be instructive to know how your methodology works, because I would guess that the few of us who are left subscribing to the Times also read the Bridge column. I hope that your 3% is not just a guess!

[Ken Donohew]

When my wife called Monday about bridge column being left out of the paper, we were told that it was temporary. I do believe that you have many comics that are not read by more than 3% of your clients. I would like to know how and when you took your survey. The bridge column is one of the main reasons why I take your paper, so it looks like I have to reconsider why I pay for your paper. I know that you have many more areas in the paper that you can eliminate so that the bridge column can be saved. I do not believe that you are saving too much by eliminating it. But I can save a lot by eliminating you!!!!! I hope everybody that looked forward to your daily bridge hand reconsiders paying for your paper!!!!!

[Ellen Kippel]

The main reason my husband continued to get the LA times after moving from Orange County to Oceanside was because of the bridge hand. He was upset when you stopped having the bridge hand on Sunday. Now it appears that you stopped the bridge hand during the week as well. After 30 plus years as LA Times subscribers, I guess it is time to terminate our subscription. I am sorry about that since I do like the LA Times editorials and the Orange County and LA local news

[Roy Wilson]

You delete the Bridge column and keep the horoscope written by an astrologer! Unbelieveable. Bridge players have local, national and international tournaments and you never cover them, and now you have deleted the Bridge column as well. Just how much does it cost to carry this column, anyway? Certainly no more than that silly horoscope.
Well, I also can delete and will save the price of a subscription. Thank you, internet.

[Richard Rottman]

I was greatly disappointed that the Los Angeles Times discontinued the bridge column. Although I am only an occasional bridge player, I thoroughly enjoyed reading and puzzling over the daily bridge hand and deciding how I would have bid and played it. I often discussed the column with my bridge playing friends and family members. I didn't realize how much I looked forward to the daily column until it disappeared. I have suspended my subscription to the LA Times and will cancel if the column is not reinstated.

[Irv Levin]

My girlfriend will have to do without her daily study of bridge, which she plays twice per week with friends.

Sadly, if the cutbacks continue and eventually include the crossword and sudoku, it will lead to the demise of our family.

i hope there is a chance the newspaper can put the daily bridge column on its website.

Sigh.

[Alice]

It was absolutely devastating to see that the Calendar section would no longer carry the bridge column. I suggest that you reevaluate the number of readers who look forward to reading this column every morning.

[john Opdyke]

I am very disapointed regarding canceling the bridge column/ we need some pleasant articles in the daily news we see/ please reconsider/

[Lynn Dotts]

I am so disappointed to lose the bridge column in the LA Times. It has been a morning staple for me for many years. Actually, the bridge column genders more discussion amoung my friends than most of the news articles. At least the Pasadena Star News understands the importance of a bridge column. I have several friends who subscribe to the Star News only because of the column. I hope the Calendar section reconsiders its decision.

[Dan Axtell]

Re: your discontinuation of the Bridge column. No one surveyed me. Who did you survey, just the non-Bridge players?

[Robert Silverman]

No surprise. As the country dumbs down, bridge (and chess) are replaced by electronic games. In the part of New England where I live I play at three different clubs. As players leave to go to the happy hunting ground, no one replaces them. The average age at these clubs is hard to tell. Who can count that high? A final comment. Anybody who thinks the ACBL is an organization working for the common bridge player should do a little research on the subject.

[Josh Carino]

PLease reconsider your decision to totally eliminate your Bridge column which is a source of enjoyment and therapy especially to the aging population.

[Laura Gherman]

I can't tell you how upset I am at the cancellation of Frank Stewart's bridge column. It took alot to convince my husband to subscribe to the LA Times and I told him how much pleasure I got in the early am. reading that column along with some others, but this makes you no better than some third rate podunk paper....Many of us here in the desert have been loyal followers of that column for years. Shame on the individuals who made that decision. No doubt they don't play bridge at all is my guess.

[RONALD S. SMITH]

Every Sunday morning the first part if the paper I turn to is the Chess Column. I enjoy solving the puzzle. If I can't do it in five minutes I make sure I keep the page for the solution next week. I then look to the local chess news to see what has and will be going on in LA. I always enjoy going over the analysis of the games by our local International Chess Master, Jack Peters. It is because of this column that I then go on line for more local chess news and that second game that has shrunk from the print edition. Why should I continue with my subscription and support of my local paper that won't support a cultural aspect of Los Angeles? I might as just well get my news from The New York Times or USA Today. The paper just continues to shrink and shrink the local news. My late mother used to say the expression used in her day was "Get Modern." She updated it to "Change is Good." Thank You Mom and Thank You Los Angeles Times. I am now going to follow Mom's advice and have my breakfast with my IPad. My print subscription to the Los Angeles Times is hereby Terminated. Ronald S. Smith.

[W. Shih]

I enjoy all the games in the Times including Sudoku, KenKen and previously, bridge. Nobody asked my opinion about deleting the bridge column. Are you sure your survey is accurate? It's a shame that you can't spare such a small space for a wonderfully rich game. Hope you'll reconsider your decision and reinstate the bridge column in place of some of your inane space fillers.

[Peter Landecker]

I am disappointed by the demise of the bridge column in all future Los Angeles Times issues. From my point of view, it took only a relatively small amount of space, and seems to have had a loyal following. I hope that the LAT will reconsider this decision.

[Douglas Tucker]

The Dallas Morning News eliminated its Bridge column not long ago (or started to), and its readership successfully mounted a campaign that got it reinstated, so keep those cards and letters coming in, folks!

On the other hand, perhaps we, the Bridge-playing population, are appealing to the wrong authorities? If only ACBL would upgrade their "Hand of the Week" (http://www.acbl.org/learn/hand-of-the-week.php) to "Hand of the Day" we could eliminate our dependency on newsprint for Bridge stimulation.

What say you, LA Time readers? Contact ACBL: service@acbl.org
All you have to lose are your your rubber bands!