Mark
Jurkowitz, who for many years served as media critic for the
Boston Phoenix before landing at the Boston Globe, is returning to
the newspaper.
Jurkowitz will
fill the slot opened by Dan Kennedy's move to teach full-time at
Northeastern University.
Kennedy leaves
the Phoenix at the end of June. Jurkowitz starts at the paper July
5.
Jurkowitz
studied journalism at Boston University, edited the TAB chain of
newspapers, and worked as press secretary in the unsuccessful
congressional campaign of James Roosevelt (FDR's grandson) before
joining the Phoenix.
For several
years Jurkowitz wore two hats at the Phoenix, serving as News
Editor as well as media columnist and critic.
Jurkowitz served
a very brief stint as Executive Editor of Boston magazine, before
being recruited to serve as the Globe's Ombudsman. After two years
in that role, he became the daily's first full-time media
writer.
"The media
landscape is a lot different from when I first started writing
about it at the Phoenix," said Jurkowitz. "Media criticism was
much lonelier then. There was no Internet. No Jim Romenesko. No
Reliable Sources on CNN.
"I'm coming back
because media criticism really began in the alternative press. The
Phoenix offers the space and the freedom of voice and the format
to dig into every crevice of our media culture," Jurkowitz
concluded.
In announcing
the move, Phoenix editor Peter Kadzis had this to say: "Who says
you can't come home again?"
Jurkowitz will
carry the title of senior writer and media critic. In addition to
covering the media, he will write about a broad range of subjects
that will include politics and sports - his other passions. He
will also write daily for the Phoenix's online publication
BostonPhoenix.com, as did Kennedy. (Kennedy's media blog has
attracted a robust national audience.)
