Q: Some questions about humor in newspapers ...
I recently read an interview in which Dave Barry said, "I think there used to be more established humor in newspapers than there is now, and I -- my theory is editors are scared. They're just really scared. They don't want to annoy any reader. And if you write humor, the first thing you find is that any topic you write about annoys somebody." Barry speculates that if he were trying to launch his column today, he might have a hard time getting a foot in the door.
What are your thoughts about humor in newspapers? I'm interested in pitching a humor column and am wondering about the best approach. Do most newspapers use staff for their humor columns, or are they generally open to freelancers? Do you agree with Dave Barry's assessment that straight humor in newspapers is on the decline?
Angie
A: Newspaper editors are hired -- I am not making this up -- for our innate inability to distinguish between humor and seriousness. This is why some editors look perplexed when they read humor columns, but bust out laughing when humor columnists make serious requests for raises.
(Do not worry. I will not be giving you or Dave Barry any competition.)
As much as newspapers could use a few more laughs -- inside the buildings as well as outside -- the market for humor columns has never been strong.
Any sort of column at all is first offered around the building and, when no one is good enough or dumb enough to accept the opportunity, it is offered outside. When newspapers go outside with column offers, they can choose between syndicated material (safe, cheap and reliable, but generic), someone already doing the column at another newspaper (safe and expensive) or they can risk breaking in someone who is new to the genre or to the newspaper business (expensive and risky.)
It has never been easy to break in as a humor writer. Are editors less humorously inclined these days? Have you seen our circulation figures? Would a rippin' humor column fix that? Let's not kid ourselves.
