November 17, 2009 | The Biz

Southern Voice, Washington Blade cease publication

And another one bites the dust. Gay publisher  Window Media LLC, owner of the free community newspapers Washington Blade, Southern Voice, Dallas Voice, South Florida Blade and David, is closed for business.

The Washington Blade had recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. Southern Voice had been publishing for over twenty years. Its current (er, former) editor, Laura Douglas-Brown, found out about the sad news when she arrived at her office on Monday to find the locks had been changed and a note.

"It is with GREAT regret that we must inform you that effective immediately, the operations of Window Media, LLC and Unite Media, LLC have closed down," the note read. "Please return to this office on WEDNESDAY, November 18th, 2009 at 11:00 AM to collect personal belongings and to receive information on your separation stipulations" Ouch!

“It’s not just a loss for the employees, but the gay community as well," Douglas-Brown said. "[This] didn’t happen because of a lack of need for our publications. It didn’t happen because of a lack of hard dedicated work by local staff. And that’s the shame of it. ... It’s a sad tale, how it all came crashing down.”

And it isn't just the newspapers and magazines being closed; as of today most of the newspapers' websites are offline as well. This is a major blow to queer-centered journalism. A sad day, indeed.

America's biggest gay media company forced to close [PinkNews]

Window Closes: Gay Publisher Shuts Down Papers, Websites [Towleroad]