The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., continues to have significant press breakdowns. In a two-paragraph note this morning, the paper told subscribers in Jefferson County -- its main market -- that unspecified press problems meant county subscribers would not get today's edition delivered until this afternoon. The C-J did not say how many copies were delayed.
"A free electronic replica of the newspaper is available at courier-journal.com/special,'' the note says. "The press problem did not affect the newspaper's content on the Web at courier journal.com. The Courier-Journal apologizes for this interruption in service and the inconvenience to its customers."
Today's delay follows a major press failure May 2, the day after the Kentucky Derby -- the paper's highest circulation day. The C-J turned to Gannett's Indianapolis Star to print that Sunday's paper and the next one, Monday. The paper continued to have printing problems in the week that followed. The press is only six years old.
This morning's delay also comes as the paper asks some readers to take an online shopping survey, in return for a chance at winning a $500 American Express gift card. The C-J just sent me an e-mail promoting the survey.
Friday, May 21, 2010
6 comments:
Jim says: "Proceed with caution; this is a free-for-all comment zone. I try to correct or clarify incorrect information. But I can't catch everything. Please keep your posts focused on Gannett and media-related subjects. Note that I occasionally review comments in advance, to reject inappropriate ones. And I ignore hostile posters, and recommend you do, too."
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Newspapers have been hit so hard that I hate to say that I like to see things like this happening, but I kind of do.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've read, the press problems in Louisville are directly related to cuts and maintenance negligence that was ordered by management in order to reduce costs. Only when things like this happen will corporate be forced to understand that there's a benefit to doing business the "right" way and not just squeezing profit out of the papers.
The sad fact, is that management will never understand how much something like this hurts financially. Louisville may lose readers that will never come back or only come back after years of absence. And that makes advertising space less valuable.
They also have the advertising make-goods to think about. I'd be pissed if I advertised in a paper that didn't make it to households until the afternoon.
I *believe* that by making the free electronic version of the paper available online, the full "on the books" circulation number can still be counted regardless of whether or not the papers were printed/delivered.
ReplyDeleteAny Circ experts care to confirm or correct me?
4:30 PM is right -- press problems are connected to staff cuts and to reduction in press maintenance. HOWEVER, there were problems with the press from the beginning -- it's a lemon -- past management stopped pushing for fixes from the company that built and decided to just live with the problem. Those folks left, and many of the cuts came under the new regime, which perhaps didn't fully appreciate the problem. At any rate, these failures were predictable and, if the money was available and if corporate would apply leverage to the press builder, they could be prevented. Doubt that will happen.
ReplyDeleteGannett has no leverage with the press builder. Gannett is not interested in buying any more presses.
ReplyDeleteAnother pinky ring in the making!
ReplyDeleteAnyone want to outsource Louisville's printing?
ReplyDelete