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Herald Story On Sex Ads In The Boston Phoenix Drums Up Debate Around The Alt-Weekly's Legacy

09:52

Callum Borchers
Eve Zuckoff

May 07, 2019

The Boston Phoenix, which recently reinvented itself as a glossy magazine, will close. Here's the last print issue, which hit newsstands Thursday. (Abby Elizabeth Conway/WBUR) — The Boston Phoenix, which recently reinvented itself as a glossy magazine, will close. Here's the last print issue. (Abby Elizabeth Conway/WBUR)

A recent column in the Boston Herald has reignited a controversy over the business model of the Boston Phoenix.

While the paper had a reputation for great journalism, it was also known for its notorious back page ads, offering "ultimate massage" or "oriental style body rub" and escort services.

The ads came with provocative pictures and descriptions like "nice young girl from Hong Kong."

The Phoenix's archive is now held by Northeastern University and the Herald is raising the question: How should the university and the community think about the Phoenix's legacy? And how much of that legacy is the paper's back page?

Guest

John Carroll, WBUR senior news analyst and blogger at It's Good to Live in a Two-Daily Town. He tweets @john_r_carroll.

This segment aired on May 7, 2019.