Stephen King steps in to save Maine paper's book reviews

By
AFP
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Thanks to everybody who subscribed to the Press-Herald. You saved the day, Stephen King tweeted. Photo: AFP

NEW YORK: When Stephen King's local newspaper, under financial pressure, announced it would cut regional book reviews, the horror author swooped in — and managed to save the section with just a few tweets.

The story began on Friday, when King shared that The Portland Press Herald, a prominent newspaper in his home state of Maine, would no longer publish locally-written reviews of books set in the northeasternmost US state.

"Tell the paper DON'T DO THIS," tweeted the 71-year-old author, a master of horror and fantasy known for such novels as Carrie and The Shining.

"Many of (the writers) depend on those reviews to buy bread and milk," he added.

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More than 8,000 fans retweeted the message.

In response, the paper challenged King to help raise the funds needed to pay for the reviews — which cost "thousands" of "freelance dollars," according to executive editor Cliff Schechtman.

"If you can get 100 of your followers to buy digital subscriptions to the @PressHerald, we will reinstate the local book reviews immediately," tweeted the newspaper, which employs some 70 journalists but has fewer than 10,000 digital subscribers.

By Monday, that goal had been met: Schechtman told AFP almost 250 people had signed up, paying $15 for 12 weeks.

"Thanks to everybody who subscribed to the Press-Herald. You saved the day. There are countries where the arts are considered vital. Too bad this isn't one of them," said King.

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"The financial pressures are no less, the industry is being hit by tremendous changes and pressures that are very difficult — but in this case it was a good end to this story," Schechtman said.