Rubin Institute for Music Criticism to fund classical music journalism position at The Seattle Times
For Immediate Release — Jan. 19, 2018
Lindsay Taylor, Consumer Marketing Manager
SEATTLE — The Seattle Times has announced a partnership with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music to fund some coverage of classical music.
The funding comes from a grant from the Rubin Institute for Music Criticism, in partnership with the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation. The Rubin/Getty Consortium is designed to support a range of positions at news outlets that have faced or are facing the unfortunate task of eliminating or reducing their classical music coverage due to budget cuts.
“Our mission is to advance qualitative discourse on classical music and to provide a new means of support for journalists,” says Jessica Downs, program director of the Rubin Institute for Music Criticism. “The Seattle Times has demonstrated a compelling commitment to providing substantive music coverage of the highest caliber. We are delighted and honored to partner with the Seattle Times and its talented writers in this meaningful endeavor.”
Under this program, The Seattle Times will retain complete editorial control over assignments and content, which may include coverage across different areas of classical music including symphony, opera, chorus, ballet (with an emphasis on the music), and some jazz.
The program went into effect January 1 and will continue for a full calendar year.
“Seattle is known for its varied and thriving classical music scene,” says Don Shelton, executive editor of The Seattle Times. “We are grateful for this generous grant which will help us give it the enhanced coverage it deserves in 2018.”
The Seattle Times serves Washington state with independent, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism, as the region’s most trusted news media company, dedicated to public service. The Seattle Times is the second largest newspaper on the West Coast and the most-visited digital information source in the state. Founded in 1896 by Alden J. Blethen, The Seattle Times’ stewardship is now led by the Blethen family’s fourth and fifth generations. The stewardship also includes the Yakima Herald-Republic and The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.