Hard figures on newspaper declines

Circulation figures don't tell the whole story, because in large measure the biggest problem for newspapers is not lost subscribers but lost advertisers.

This report indicated that year-over-year newsprint production is down more than 27%. This is significant because it reflects not just circulation declines, but less advertising as well. Papers are getting smaller.

First Amendment not always a help in a globalized world

New York writer sued for defamation in Brazil over stuff he wrote in the USA.

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004016119

More Courant follies

Read all about it

Newspaper in Boca Raton folds print edition

Editor & Publisher reports that the Boca Raton News, founded in 1955, is discontinuing its print edition due to the high cost of printing and distribution.

Courant is effectively and officially a rag, now

It's very sad to see a Pulitzer-prize winning, two-century old newspaper turn into a dish rag, but the firing of the paper's consumer reporter for being an effective consumer reporter means that this has come to pass.

Details here

The bottom line is that after several days the newspaper has not credibly refuted the columnists charges, leading any neutral observer to conclude that the charge is essentially and substantially true.

Placing a marketing person in charge of the newsroom is a blunder of the first order. Sad.

Disturbing charges at The Courant

The Courant's long-time consumer affairs reporter claims he was fired for a negative column about a major advertiser.

Editor & Publisher reports it here

This is, of course, disturbing on many levels, but one factor that's relevant to the future of newspapers is the kind of damage this sort of thing can do to a brand. Brand and reputation are among the most valuable assets of newspapers and tossing it away to placate an advertiser seems very short sighted, to say the least.

Still dropping

Slump still stinging.

Wall Street Journal reports:

A.H. Belo Corp.'s (AHC) second-quarter loss widened as the media company's advertising revenue fell 30% amid a prolonged slump and a movement of readers to the Internet.

Healthy sense of self -- or arrogance?

Interesting discussion about journalists, news and newspapers that debates the assumption that news needs journalists.

http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/07/04/journalistic-narcissism/

It's getting tough for weekly papers too. Bay State Banner suspends publication

Boston's community newspaper for people of color suspended publication Tuesday, laying off all 12 employees.

http://www.necn.com/Boston/Business/2009/07/07/Bay-State-Banner-suspends/1246984268.html

Sometimes they just disappear

When the big dailies go under, there's usually at least some warning, but smaller papers can simply disappear. Here's a broadcast media web site's notice that a small newspaper serving five Texas towns simply stopped publishing.

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/tv/stories/wfaa090703_ac_newspapers.5ffe9e5.html

Official game of the Washington Post

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/washington-post-sells-access-obama-ot

Washington Post scandal

This is a huge scandal.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/24441.html

The single most important asset old style newspapers have going for them is their credibility. If they lose that, then they have no chance competing against TMZ or other newer media.

This appalling story is incredibly damaging to the credibility of the Post and raises questions about other leading newspapers, too. How much does this sort of thing happen, anyway? I've never heard of anything like this at a state-level newspaper, but one wonders if the rules that apply out here in the provinces apply at the Imperial Seat.