Mike Reed Sets Goals for New Gannett

All this explains why newspapers are dying. The people subscribing are to old and set in their ways to change. As they die off the print edition will die.

 

The Monroe (Mich.) News, which is owned by Gannett, had an announcement on its website about dropping the Saturday print edition. Considering that its sports coverage is almost all preps, that's not good. The paper already was hobbling along, and traditionally does not have print editions on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Also, yesterday's Detroit Free Press print edition had a copy of Parade magazine, which had a cover story on Betty White's 100th birthday, even though she'd been dead for 17 days. There was a nice two-page layout, and it jumped to a third page. I know that Gannett doesn't own Parade, but still ...

Last year, I got digital subscriptions to both Detroit dailies. The only print edition of either paper that I buy is the Sunday Free Press, and that's mostly so I can give the coupons to my daughter. I've already read the important stories online.

 

What kind of print deadlines does Monroe have?

Our local Gannett paper has something like 5 pm (maybe earlier) print deadlines, so no Friday night prep sports have made it into Saturday print for years.

The announcement of killing Saturday print here was met with a collective yawn.

 

Not sure on the deadlines. I don't see the print edition since I live a few miles outside its coverage area.

 

How many editorial staff remain at Monroe? Four or so? I have been wondering how many staff Gannett has left in places like Monroe or Bloomington, Indiana.

And I assume that Monroe is printed int the same plant as the Detroit paper. If the biggest paper printed at the plant stops printing on Saturday Gannett is not going to bring people in to print the smaller papers in the group.

 

There is zero chance that the Monroe paper was still getting football scores in Saturday papers. At least the last two years, maybe more depending on how long they've been owned by Gannett.

 

How embarrassing. Legal ad revenue has always been important to supporting journalism, and more so now because retail ad revenue continues to tank. https://newjerseyglobe.com/media/te...rd-failed-to-publish-legal-ads-they-paid-for/

 

There is really no reason for the legal ads to be published in a daily newspaper as required by New Jersey law. They can be posted on-line and be seen by a larger audience.

But politicians still want the local papers endorsement so the requirement remains.

 

The NJ Press Association fought tooth and nail against legislation to end print legal ads during Gov Christie's administration. You are trying to drive newspapers out of business, the NJPA cried. As to newspaper endorsements, New Gannett canned editorial page editors at its NJ papers. Endorsements for State Legislative seats are things of the past.

 

Not only that, but the rate for legal ads is usually far more than what other advertisers are charged. So local courts and governments that have to publish legal notices are getting royally ripped off for something almost no one sees.

 

Ever pay for an obit? I wish I got paid per column inch the way newpapers charge per column inch. Hell, I'd take half.

 

Me too.