The closure of Phoenix magazine spawns a sense of despair

Sir, – Reading about the closure of Phoenix magazine (“ Phoenix magazine closing down after more than 40 years on news-stands ,” June 16th), I can’t help but feel a sense of despair, not only for all news publications that compete daily against the digital world, but for each and every human-led occupation that is under constant threat. I am a lady of many hats, and deliberately designed myself to be a “Jack of all trades”, ensuring I could put my hand to anything and make a few bob. But over the last number of years, me, my age, and, more importantly, my lack of digital skills have resulted in me, and all my qualifications, being surplus to requirements. Being shrewd, I regularly research “learning new skills” or “retraining”, but I’m always too late as technology, such as AI advancement, has usually snapped up my new career long before it even started. I must admit, I am exhausted trying to move quicker than a system that never eats or sleeps, nor dreams. But I still have hope, because if all else fails I can always rely on my trusty Tony Dixon tin whistle. One may laugh, but many moons ago I cleared more than €80 in two hours playing the Rattling Bog badly, on repeat, during a wind-swept afternoon in Dungarvan, Co Waterford. Busking is without a doubt an incredibly difficult way to earn a living, and not something I would want to do full-time, but I am fast running out of options as my dream of having a career as a writer just partially jumped out of the window having read this article. Let us see what the future holds, and not just for me, but for each and every one of us. PS: if the tax man is reading this, I lied about the 80 quid, I’m an honest woman and would never dream of making a dishonest day’s pay. – Yours, etc, Sarah Roberts, Youghal, Co Cork. Sir, – I am sad to see the Phoenix shutter its doors after all this time. Another member of our small Irish media ecosystem closing is unwelcome news, especially one as plucky and as sharp as the Phoenix. No doubt its fortnightly publication was the source of much dread for many an inhabitant of Leinster House. – Yours, etc, Stéphane de Bairéid Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.