"The Dumbing Down of the Dailies"

It is a sad thing to think that the first things to go when newspapers get into trouble are the arts. In a world where I feel like the arts are constantly undervalued and underfunded, it pains me to think that not only are writers let go, but their cultivated expertise in various realms of the arts is lost. For those of us that fail to make time for things like writing or painting or singing, critics of the arts (or those that write an arts-related column or feature-story) provide a window into that world that reminds us of its value. If I had to read about business or depressing current events everyday, I feel like my creative spark would get deflated by such uninspiring news coverage. Public discussions of the arts are not only fun and interesting to read -- I believe they are necessary for our well-being.