As abruptly as the NBA season was unceremoniously cancelled in 2020 to help “flatten the curve,” my long-running column for the Winnipeg Free Press, siteseeing, was part of the unexpected cutbacks after an over twenty-year run in the paper.
A few years back when the Free Press bought Uptown, my previous column, alloneword.ca and all the other online archives of the free street paper (including decades of unique stories from dozens of writers, band interviews, politically-themed photojournalism and alternative comics), were eliminated from the internet, despite being a rich archive of the city’s vibrant arts, culture and music scenes. A significant portion of this content is permanently lost, even though it could have been preserved affordably and utilized as a valuable resource for Free Press writers to reference. Additionally, it could have enriched local Wikipedia entries, while continuing to attract visitors to the paper's online platforms. As AI-driven advancements redefine the lifespan of content across audio, visual, and written formats, the evolving nature of consumption habits further underscores the importance of retaining these types of materials.
It was a short-sighted decision to let that content disappear forever, especially in a city that boasts about our music, culture and influence on pop culture.
Embracing the DIY spirit that has always defined Winnipeg for me, you’ll be able to continue to read about the edges of pop culture, technology, music, culture, movies, cybersecurity and our increasing concerns around digital and data privacy through the aging lens of a post-PC punk second-wave raver who has hopefully yet to jump the shark.
AI Created Self Portrait