The paper is one of the smallest of Gannett's 82 U.S. dailies. It circulates 10,791 copies on weekdays, and 13,100 on Saturdays, according to ABC data as of March 31. It doesn't publish on Sundays, according to ABC.
The Californian is a descendent of the Salinas Index, first published March 31, 1871, and so has a storied past. John Steinbeck, a Salinas native, first was published in the Index sometime before 1920.
To this day, the Salinas Valley is deep in California's agricultural economy; it produces more than 80% of the lettuce grown in the United States. Steinbeck's ashes are buried in a Salinas cemetery.
Any switch to less than daily publishing would be a first among Gannett papers during the time I've been keeping this blog: since September 2007. It differs from a change at the Detroit Free Press in spring 2009, when that paper ended home delivery on all but three high-advertising days. The Freep continues to print a daily paper, although copies were sold only at retail.
Do you know anything more about this? Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the rail, upper right.
[Image: today's paper, Newseum]
I wonder how many Americans appreciate the role newspapers have played in nurturing great literature, and documenting societal change.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Jim. I've often remarked that there are two types of groups to whom people who believe they've been wronged invariably turn: lawyers and reporters. Is it a coincidence that both occupations regularly rank among those held in the lowest regard by Americans? Sad. The roles of both attorneys and journalists in our nation's success are greatly misunderstood and underrated.
ReplyDeleteThis is not the only newspaper under consideration for cutting days of publication. The smaller Ohio papers also are being looked at.
ReplyDeleteBiweekly means every other week. Is Salinas really going from six days a week to once every two weeks? Talk about getting routed!
ReplyDeleteThe Monterey daily and the area's TV stations will love seeing that.
Jim's site has nurtured nothing great.
ReplyDeleteThe Monterey daily is in no shape to take advantage of the windfall. Its circulation has collapsed to the 26,000 level from 36,000 three years ago. There have also been dramatic staff cutbacks, as with all papers in the region. It is a very sad newspaper.
ReplyDeleteApparently the previous 'Anonymous' can't read the latest ABC Fas-Fax. The Monterey paper's daily circulation was 29,579 in September of 2007, NOT 36.000. Like every other newspaper, staff has been reduced, but it remains a quality newspaper with a loyal following.
ReplyDelete