As a journalist working in print media for more than 25 years, I am distraught to see the severe cutbacks and, sometimes, the folding of U.S. newspapers. The vast majority are suffering because of the economic downturn, as advertising revenue has dried up. But seeing the Daily Californian's piece on the economic travails of the Daily Planet, it is appropriate to note that much of its diminished revenues is a result of the poor quality it has been reduced to under the auspices of editor-in-chief Becky O'Malley.

Long before the economy turned stagnant, the Daily Planet saw its advertisers leave in droves. Why? Because instead of providing reportage of local matters, the paper became the overtly biased mouthpiece of Becky O'Malley's pet causes. In addition to her obsession with opposition to any sort of downtown development, O'Malley turned the paper into an incessant demonization of Israel. In response, readers began to wonder why this should be such a focus in what is supposed to be a journal covering local events. O'Malley's editorials and pro-Palestinian contributors of op-eds and letters dominated the opinion pages so much so that some started calling the paper "The Daily Palestinian."

Indeed, on Aug. 8, 2006, O'Malley seemed to give credence to those who charged her with anti-Semitism when the paper published an op-ed by an Iranian who said the Jews were to blame for every catastrophe that has befallen the Middle East throughout history. In response, Mayor Tom Bates, Oakland's former Mayor Jerry Brown and other prominent politicians vehemently criticized the paper, yet O'Malley refused to apologize.

This was the last straw for many readers. They let advertisers know they wouldn't patronize enterprises that provided ad monies to a biased publication. And correspondingly, advertisers voted with their feet. Ultimately, the Daily Planet was forced to cut back from two issues to one issue a week.

Not long ago, the paper saw its primary reporter, Judith Scherr, resign, saying she was tired of having Ms. O'Malley cut quotes from those with whom she disagreed. But by then it had become clear that O'Malley was keeping the Daily Planet afloat with her own money so she could spew her biases into the community. Now that she is tiring of throwing so much capital into what she dubiously calls a newspaper of reportage, she is asking for donations. The betting is that the paper will soon fold, which for our community would be addition by subtraction.