'Are Newspapers Dying?' Thread

[The Baron]

Circulation Is Still Declining

[Travis Herrick (Modular Mod)]

It sure seems that way: Chicago Sun-Times lays off photography staff

[ClarkKent_DC]

Travis Herrick (Modular Mod) said:

It sure seems that way: Chicago Sun-Times lays off photography staff

Jim Romenesko reports that Sun-Times subscribers who cancel their subscriptions in protest over this move are being told the photographers weren't fired; their contract status was changed from staff to freelance. ("What the Sun-Times Tells Readers Who Cancel Their Subscriptions")

Y'know, the though occurs to me that Stan Lee was further ahead of the curve than he knew when he made Peter Parker a freelance photographer for the Daily Bugle -- someone who was always underpaid, who got no benefits, no Social Security, no pension and no respect.                

[Emerkeith Davyjack]

...Think they might've been thinking " Roger was keeping us alive , and apres Eb. , le de-..." ??!!?!?!!!!

ClarkKent_DC said:

Travis Herrick (Modular Mod) said:

It sure seems that way: Chicago Sun-Times lays off photography staff

Jim Romenesko reports that Sun-Times subscribers who cancel their subscriptions in protest over this move are being told the photographers weren't fired; their contract status was changed from staff to freelance. ("What the Sun-Times Tells Readers Who Cancel Their Subscriptions")

Y'know, the though occurs to me that Stan Lee was further ahead of the curve than he knew when he made Peter Parker a freelance photographer for the Daily Bugle -- someone who was always underpaid, who got no benefits, no Social Security, no pension and no respect.                

[Travis Herrick (Modular Mod)]

The subscribers should tell them the same thing about their subscriptions. They will get their news "freelance"

ClarkKent_DC said:

Travis Herrick (Modular Mod) said:

It sure seems that way: Chicago Sun-Times lays off photography staff

Jim Romenesko reports that Sun-Times subscribers who cancel their subscriptions in protest over this move are being told the photographers weren't fired; their contract status was changed from staff to freelance. ("What the Sun-Times Tells Readers Who Cancel Their Subscriptions")

Y'know, the though occurs to me that Stan Lee was further ahead of the curve than he knew when he made Peter Parker a freelance photographer for the Daily Bugle -- someone who was always underpaid, who got no benefits, no Social Security, no pension and no respect.                

[Emerkeith Davyjack]

...I have never worked on a newspaper , and at 53 yrs old and no J-school degree , it is I believe fairly safe to say never will :-( ? - but , my late parents both did !

  So , I'll join in !!!!!!!!!

  Hey , for styles/" branding " , what about the habit , certainly of most " older " newspapers , to have front-page logos in the old " respectable " , " Greek-Roman lettering " , type of , um , writing ?????????

  Like , out here the two market leaders , the San Francisco Chronicle , and the San Jose Mercury News , both still geek the Greek on their paper front pages - but not on their Web sites , I do believe !!!!!!!!!

  " Consultant " type o' question - IS this turning off " the younger generation " ?????????

[ClarkKent_DC]

Already, we see consequences from the Chicago Sun-Times' decision to eliminate its photography staff ... 

The other day, there was a grand opening of a Chick-fil-A. The first 100 people in line get free meals for a year. 

Now, with a story about people waiting in line for such a prize, wouldn't it be a good idea to have a photo of same? Well, you got one if you read the Chicago Tribune -- and the photo was taken by a former Sun-Times photographer, to boot.

But what did you see in the Sun-Times? Look here.

[Kirk G]

I thought you were going to tell us that the photo had a line-up of former Sun-Times photographers desperate for free food since their income was cut! LOL!

[ClarkKent_DC]

We failed to note big changes in the newspaper industry this month. First, the New York Times Co. unloaded the Boston Globe (and some sister properties). And a week later, The Washington Post Co. decided the only way the Washington Post newspaper could survive was if it was no longer part of the Washington Post Co., and sold the newspaper -- and some sister newspaper properties -- to Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com.

By "unloaded," I mean the Globe sold for a mere $70 million (that's "million" with an "M") although the Times Company bought it for $1.1 billion (that's "BILLION" with a "B") back in 1993. 

That's right -- the New York Times Co. sold the Globe for 93.6% LESS than what it paid. 

On the other hand, Jeff Bezos -- and to be clear, it was Jeff Bezos personally, and not the Amazon.com company -- paid about $250 million for the Washington Post.

[The Baron]

Yeah, I'll be curious to see how the Globe covers the Red Sox in the future.

[ClarkKent_DC]

I doubt the Boston Globe's coverage of the Red Sox will change in any way. Things usually don't work like that, unless the new owner comes in telling the world he's going to turn things upside down ... like Sam Zell and the Chicago Tribune.

On the other hand, Rupert Murdoch swore up, down and sideways he wasn't going to change a thing at The Wall Street Journal, but c'mon -- you don't pay three times the asking rate just to leave things alone.

[The Baron]

Well, I was joking because John Henry, who bought the Globe, is one of the principal owners of the Red Sox.

[Doctor Hmmm?]

Plus, he's a steel drivin' man (Lord Lord).