Dallas PBS station to acquire Denton (Texas) Record-Chronicle

As a DRC alumnus, I'm a little torn about the move (but thrilled to see it discussed on SJ).

When I was there roughly a decade ago, things weren't great but the paper still had its historic downtown office space that seemingly didn't cost a ton. Then they moved to the outskirts of town. Then they laid off a ton of folks and now just print once a week, I believe. Hopefully the KERA acquisition injects a lot of cash and helps the DRC capitalize on the exploding population in the area. Honestly, someone could easily buy it and make it extremely profitable.

 

Non-profit journalism may be a great way forward, especially in smaller markets.

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-ta...laying-a-growing-role-in-statehouse-coverage/

Texas Tribune seems a pretty good example of success.

The Texas Tribune

 

also,

 

Has this model ever really worked for anyone? Papers in big metros are clearly able to be somewhat profitable. The fact the CST can't is really on them as much as anything.

 

It's probably also down to the fact that WBEZ can do it and views it as part of its mission to do it. As for papers in big metros... look at how many towns still have their second paper: a handful.

 

For a $50 donation, a Dowton Abbey mug. Fo $100, you get one hour of air time.

 

I believe eight towns have second newspapers.

Boston
New York
Washington
Detroit
Chicago
Trenton, New Jersey
York, Pennsylvania
Crawfordsville, Indiana

I think the Philadelphia Daily News is still printed but the editorial content is entirely from a single newsroom shared by the Inquirer so I count it as one paper.

Do two or more papers exist in the eight towns I mentioned? Gannett owns both York papers so if they both have survived any recent cost cutting initiatives? Are there other markets out there I missed?

 

Pittsburgh