They’re cutting down the delivery zone in Oregon, something I could see eventually happening in the Carolinas if revenue continues to shrink.
The Miami Herald has drawn the interest of a real estate mogul and a federally-subsidized sugar magnate. Can’t wait to hear how “corporate greed” is responsible for this turn of events.
And over in Tampa, they are whining that The Tallahassee Democrat and the St. Pete Times are spreading the “persistent rumor” that the print paper is going poof after Tampa hosts the Super Bowl, leaving a Web-only presence. This Newspaper Is Fighting Back is the hysterical hed on the publisher’s and president’s column on the subject. Against what?
Here’s what the Tampa Tribune’s top-dog said last week, according to Graphic Arts Online a trade pub:
Media General, owner of the San Jose Mercury News, is consolidating printing plants among its 30 newspapers and sold its one-third interest in SP Newsprint. Marshall Morton, CEO, told investment analysts last week, “Total operating costs in 2008 will be down 7% ….Our goal is to reduce costs an additional 2% percent in 2009.” Media General pared back capital spending to $34 million in 2008, and for 2009 is budgeting $30 million. It is centralizing advertising and production, reducing printing facilities from 25 to 11. Eight printing sites were merged over the last three years.
The company also owns seven papers in North Carolina, including ops in Concord, Statesville, and Hickory.
Does it sound like the company is still looking to cut costs? Has it shuttered printing operations in the recent past? Might it continue to look for print savings? Is Florida an intensively competitive, yet very depressed, market? Like it or not, that is a recipe for negative rumors to flourish.
