Somewhat OT: Times Co. threatens to shutter Boston Globe.

[Doug Drown]

I think you're probably right, Dave, but there's one caveat that needs to be 
considered.  The majority of newspaper readers are of boomer age or 
older --- and I know many "elders", including some my age (57), who don't 
own a computer and don't want one.  Online newspapers will doubtless attract 
some people who haven't been regular readers of printed papers, but in the 
process of this conversion the newspaper industry may lose a lot of readers 
as well --- possibly its core group.  I wonder.

-Doug



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Tomm" <nostaticatall@charter.net>
To: "Kevin Vahey" <kvahey@comcast.net>
Cc: <boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 04, 2009 9:23 AM
Subject: Re: Somewhat OT: Times Co. threatens to shutter Boston Globe.


>I think that the ultimate endgame will be the print editions of both 
>papers eventually being phased out and going to an online only  model. 
>The Times would rather do this gradually than abruptly, like  the 
>Post-Intellegencer did in Seattle.  By cutting more jobs and  restructuring 
>some contracts, they can run a leaner print edition,  with the paper 
>getting thinner and thinner over time, and cheaper to  produce.  At the 
>same time they'll aggressively promote the online  version, and try to 
>convert as many readers as they can to the web,  then quietly discontinue 
>print.  This would be preferable to having to  pull the plug right away, 
>and dealing with the major PR hit that would  come along with that 
>decision.  It also buys some time in hopes that  the Herald makes this move 
>first....
>
> Right now the two big categories at print, automotive and retail, are 
> really hurting which is not helping matters.  If print was to go away,  I 
> would think most of that money would go to television, not radio.
>
> -Dave Tomm
>
>
> On Apr 3, 2009, at 10:49 PM, Kevin Vahey wrote:
>
>> If the Globe is losing close to 90 million a year they going to need
>> more than help from the unions.
>>
>> Times endgame may be to close Boston and then tell Times workers "see
>> we are not bluffing"
>>
>>
>>
>> On 4/3/09, Sean Smyth <ssmyth@psualum.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> I know it doesn't directly relate to radio, but it does relate to  media 
>>> in
>>> the market: The New York Times Co. says if unions don't cooperate  with
>>> concessions, The Boston Globe will shut down.
>>>
>>> http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2009/04/times_co_threat.html
>>>
>>> This may not happen, since the unions seem willing to save jobs at  this
>>> point.
>>>
>>> If it did, how do you think advertising in the radio/TV market  would be
>>> affected? Would local newscasts gather from an influx of ad  dollars? 
>>> IMHO,
>>> no.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>