For about eight years I've had my name on the SPJ-L list. Back in the mid-90s the list served as a forum for advice on the craft of journalism, job opportunities and general advice.

Starting about the time of the 2000 presidential election, however, the listserv became little more than a collection of conspiracy theories, rants and anti-Bush/anti-GOP/anti-conservative diatribes.

I stayed subscribed to it for the waning number of journalism-related posts and because it provided occasional fodder for this blog.

I didn't always look at the e-mails -- I have them sorted to a separate folder -- so it wasn't until tonight that I noticed that the number of spj-l e-mails wasn't growing. The last message reads:

Dear SPJ-L subscribers:

First, thanks for all the contributions made throughout the many years SPJ-L has been available.

It is now the sentiment of the SPJ Board of directors that all lists bearing the name of SPJ be housed by SPJ and moderated. This is a time consuming endeavor.

So, until such a time as SPJ can reconstitute the list and ensure it is properly moderated, SPJ-L will be eliminated until a yet-to-be undetermined date.

Again, thanks for your contributions.

Best-

Mac McKerral
SPJ President

In other words: You wackos were going off the deep end and giving SPJ a bad name. You want to do this, then don't sully us.

Good for the SPJ -- and long overdue.