A reader says The Times in Shreveport, La., started talking about trying a three-section paper, instead of the usual four sections, a week or so ago. That was well before News Department chief Phil Currie began soliciting such ideas this week."The paper actually printed three sections instead of four on Monday, prompting 15 to 20 customer calls about the 'missing' section,'' my reader told me in an e-mail. "Honestly, the four sections seems overkill, anyway. The editorial page morphed into several pages of opinion, blogpinions, etc., a year or two ago during one of the seemingly endless redesigns, taking up valuable newshole. Our top editor got the Currie call Wednesday or Thursday, but no word on any decisions or cuts."
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How are you preparing for the 10% cut? Post replies in the comments section, below. E-mail gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.[Image: today's front page, Newseum]
We went down to two sections about a year or so ago for our Monday and Tuesday editions. We have our A section and business rolled into one and then our sports and features section into another. Haven't heard too much negative reaction from the community on it, other than people commenting on how thin it is.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wonder about doing away with the sections in general and just having one 30-page paper, or whatever it would be. I know some people just like certain sections, but by consolidating all of them, you might attract readers to stories that they otherwise would not read or even see.
Depending on your press type and configuration you may have no choice but to print two or more sections. Any paper that prints in the collect mode for page and color capacity can only produce even number sectioned papers.. 2,4,6,8,10,12. Depending on the number of former boards and units.
ReplyDelete11:55. You almost sound like a PD, but I know that can't be the case, because Gannett fired them all.
ReplyDeleteThanks, 11:55 p.m.; you must have been reading my mind. I didn't know a paper could publish odd-numbered sections; rather, I assumed those going to a three-section configuration meant three sections with editorial, and a fourth with just classifieds. But, then, there are fewer classifieds left, so . . .
ReplyDelete