FBLA Exclusive Interview With Paper Cut’s Creator Erica Smith

As we reported earlier, St. Louis journalist Erica Smith compiled a Google Map of all the layoffs in the newspaper industry called Paper Cuts. A code-enabled internet vigil of sorts. So we tracked her down on AIM to have a little chat with us.

FBLA: Is it depressing to compile all this info?

ES: It definitely can be. That’s kind of how it started — I kept seeing stories about layoffs across the country, so I started a list last year, then the map. February was very difficult — nearly every day I had to add something. It got to be a game — a mini-celebration on the days I didn’t have to add to the list.

FBLA: Yikes. Do you feel an obligation to continue?

ES: Kind of. More of an obligation to recognize the people who are affected.

FBLA: Do you feel like the person at the LAT that does the homicide blog? Have you seen it?

ES: I love that blog.

FBLA: {laughs audibly}

ES: Is that weird? I guess, in a way we’re both dealing with death — people vs. industry. But that blog would be much more taxing emotionally, I think. Really, that [Paper Cuts] blog took off, so to speak, because I wanted to teach myself how to script a Google Map.

FBLA: Do you have plans to do anymore maps of other things?

ES: Well, now that I know how, I’ve built maps and graphics for projects at work. I do have plans to add graphics to the Paper Cuts blog.

FBLA: We’ll let you go – we’re going to post this interview on Monday, to keep the Memorial Day joke alive.

ES: {laughter} I was getting ready to say.

FBLA: Thanks so much for your time.

ES: Sure!