In a move I expect to see repeated across the U.S. community newspaper division's print titles, The Tennessean at Nashville told readers on Friday:
"Beginning next week, The Tennessean will no longer publish Williamson A.M. on Mondays and Tuesdays. The Williamson news normally found in the section will continue to be published online at Tennessean.com/Williamson. In addition, we will begin publishing a daily (M-F) email newsletter providing a synopsis of Williamson news with links to more information online."
Counter intuitively, the paper also says it's taking a whack at an area that's growing: "As Williamson continues to grow in population and as a center of business, what happens here is of growing interest to those outside the county. The main sections within The Tennessean give us the opportunity to share that news with a wider audience."
Earlier: Elsewhere in the World of Less is More, reducing the size of the Tennessean's newsroom "will deepen the paper's legacy of public service journalism."
"Beginning next week, The Tennessean will no longer publish Williamson A.M. on Mondays and Tuesdays. The Williamson news normally found in the section will continue to be published online at Tennessean.com/Williamson. In addition, we will begin publishing a daily (M-F) email newsletter providing a synopsis of Williamson news with links to more information online."
Counter intuitively, the paper also says it's taking a whack at an area that's growing: "As Williamson continues to grow in population and as a center of business, what happens here is of growing interest to those outside the county. The main sections within The Tennessean give us the opportunity to share that news with a wider audience."
Earlier: Elsewhere in the World of Less is More, reducing the size of the Tennessean's newsroom "will deepen the paper's legacy of public service journalism."
Hmm moving to a digital format rather than paper, yea I can see why you'd criticize that. Who in their right mind would ever want to provide information in the format they so obviously prefer? bad leadership once again
ReplyDeleteConsidering that the average reader of a newspaper is like what, 50 some odd years old, they may not be all that digital saavy. It's just too soon to kill the printed product. It's time to start thinking about the consumer and not the corporate bonuses.
ReplyDelete9:36 AM said: "Considering that the average reader of a newspaper is like what, 50 some odd years old, they may not be all that digital savvy."
ReplyDeleteDunno about that! I'm in my 50's and haven't bought a newspaper since buying a PC back in the mid 90s and discovering the internet!
Agreed 10:18, adults in their 50's and 60's have some of the higher rates on online news consumption. They don't spend quite as much time online as younger consumers but when they do go online, news is a major component of what they view.
ReplyDeleteAren't print newsletters sort of passe. The old newsletters that used to cover Congress like CQ which did quite well in circulation amongst lobbyists and interest groups have now all gone to the Internet because they give more information quicker that way. CQ made a mint and was sold a couple of years ago to the Economist. Perhaps that's the long-term idea here.
ReplyDeleteBy all means 6:32 AM let's give readers yet another reason to stop paying for a subscription by encouraging them to go online for free for content they once paid for.
ReplyDeleteGannett: It's (Content) is All Within Reach...for Free. Brilliant.
From 10:18 AM to 11:04 AM
ReplyDeleteAgreed! Plus, by reading the news online, one can increase the font sizes when the need arises! Ya can't beat that! It will win over small print and messy ink every time!
A lot of people in their 50s are on the Internet. Remember, the Internet is not new. It's been in the mainstream since 1995 and when those 50-somethings were in their late 30s and early 40s. It's those 60 and up that still cling to the newspaper.
ReplyDelete2:38 .... add non delivery to those print issues. The method currently employed is sketchy at best and pissing subscribers off when they can't get any response (or satisfaction) to non delivery issues. The industry is still trying to fit a square object through a hole that was rounded out and streamlined years ago. They keep hacking away on it, but all they are doing is making smaller squares .... none of them are coming up with "round" solutions. Online is easier. Unfortunately ... Gannett's Web solutions are not!
ReplyDelete1:18 Hell, I can beat that. I go back to 1981 and and a Radio Shack TRS-80 that I used to write programs for and blog on BBS over a 300 baud modem connected by a 30-foot wire to the family phone. Haven't bought a paper since then, either.
ReplyDelete2:31 AM - You're right!
ReplyDeleteThis myth about the 50 and over not being computer and/or digital literate is all that it is - a myth! What's sad are those perpetrating that myth were running around in diapers or teenyboppers back in the 80s While us now in our 50s were working on/working with computers and the technology!