home > Jackblog > ladd

“USA Today: Mississippi Edition”? The ‘Nuclear Option’?

Things are so bad in the Gannett world (including layoffs nationwide, and 5 percent of The Clarion-Ledger staff, and dropping revenue and see-saw stock prices) that rumors are flying about what the company might try to do to save itself. Over on the very-active Gannett Blog, a tipster says that Gannett papers may "go nuclear"—in this case, apparently meaning to fold the local editions and become different editions of the national USA Today.

Gannett blogger Jim Hopkins writes:

" ... I got an e-mail from a former colleague detailing the "tip/rumor/street talk" that flew around one state last Friday where Gannett now does business.

Here's the gist of my tipster's note: "Gannett is considering dropping daily production of 10-12 of its U.S. papers, and folding a local news section or sections into USA Today, which the company would attempt to circulate to local readers as the primary daily newspaper."

What's more, my tipster says, employees at one newspaper in particular have "heard that their paper is one of the 10-12 on the list." I'm not going to identify that paper. But assuming this tip is good, I'm hoping those employees step forward here with more details.

 
posted by DonnaLadd on 08/22/08 at 11:55 AM. [printer version]    Share |

COMMENTS

which the company would attempt to circulate to local readers as the primary daily newspaper."

What's really wacky is that Gannett might, just might entertain the notion that that would work. Will they ever understand that they committed suicide by taking their eye off the news ball and hiring so many people who don't know how to inspire, motivate and lead high-quality news operations?

I really, really wish they would now try to pass off USA Today as a "local" paper. That would (almost?) be worse than what they've already been trying to pass off as a "local" newspaper in Mississippi. I guess you could argue that it would be more honest. But it wouldn't save them.

posted by DonnaLadd on 08/22/08 at 12:13 PM

Any thoughts on making JFP a daily? With delivery in my driveway every morning? Please say you will...

posted by Rico on 08/22/08 at 12:35 PM

Rico...aren't you up in the 'burbs? ;-)

posted by Todd Stauffer on 08/22/08 at 03:08 PM

Rico...the JFP is a daily...online. I really think the printed newspaper is on the way out. We have a really good free paper in Nashville that used to print daily. It also has a really cool web page. However, a few months back it made the decision to only print a Monday and Friday edition and to focus more on the web site. These days, that's where most people get their news.

posted by James Hester on 08/22/08 at 03:20 PM

Yeah I know; and I am doing more reading on the computer these days too.

But I like walking out on the driveway every morning in my bathrobe to get my paper. It's so.... suburban!

posted by Rico on 08/22/08 at 03:32 PM

I like having the paper delivered—or used to, back before the "local" daily option was The Clarion-Ledger. I hate somebody having the gall to throw a paper in my yard that I don't want, though. That's like getting ads on my cell phone.

However, the model is changing fast. Our model (which introduced blogging and user-generated content to the market in 2002) has the Ledger dancing on one foot because it is more the wave of the future than a newspaper thrown in your yard that is dated by the time it hits the ground.

So, yes, we are a daily online—and will become more so, even as we continue to give readers other useful and local Web and print products (like Jackpedia.com, Lounge List, jfpevents.com, Boom Jackson and others to be announced. ;-) And all the while, we will not desert our core compentency: solid, indepth reporting.

That is, please think of us as your local daily. As we continue to grow and our resources allow, we will do more coverage than ever online daily. And thank you for all your support in helping us get to this point. The future is bright. ;-)

posted by DonnaLadd on 08/22/08 at 03:39 PM

Page 1 of 1 pages

You are not logged in. To post a comment, you must be a registered user and logged in. Click here to register or click here to log in.

Log in to JFP using Facebook

:: recentcomments

Feb 10, 2012 | 02:12 PM
Holland's Gulf of America Bill Sweeping the Nation
DonnaLadd: Thanks, Maddow, for the credit and the link love for this post: on.msnbc.com/yflZ4j
Feb 09, 2012 | 09:50 PM
Biz Roundup: Welcoming New Businesses to Town
redlion: Interesting story. I actually patronized one of Scott's stores during a recent six week stay in the DC area. Still have a re-useable shopping bag from there. Had ...
Feb 09, 2012 | 04:55 PM
[Outlaw] A More Perfect Union
thabian: Loved this column not only for the very important subject matter, but because it contained a truly entertaining voice. I wanted to read more!!!!
Feb 09, 2012 | 04:35 PM
Holland's Gulf of America Bill Sweeping the Nation
DonnaLadd: Let's not forget when Rep. Holland tried to ban abortion back in 2006. Many of us weren't laughing about that stunt. Here's a 2010 report on him and a ...
Feb 09, 2012 | 04:15 PM
Holland's Gulf of America Bill Sweeping the Nation
Jason Meeks: brief mention of it in video :) by Colbert (via Twitter trending) http://tpmmuckraker. talkingpointsmemo.com/201 2/02/mississippi_rep_want ...
Feb 09, 2012 | 04:01 PM
Holland's Gulf of America Bill Sweeping the Nation
DonnaLadd: Oh, and I love it when Mississippi punks the nation.
Feb 09, 2012 | 03:57 PM
Holland's Gulf of America Bill Sweeping the Nation
DonnaLadd: I'm surprised anyone took it seriously. We heard about it earlier the week, and it seemed obvious before it was Holland. But we all deal with him. I'll ...
Feb 09, 2012 | 03:40 PM
Holland's Gulf of America Bill Sweeping the Nation
Lori G: I thought it was genius when I saw it. Of course, I knew the Colbert joke. I think that is the problem. In this state, there just aren't enough people that ...
Feb 09, 2012 | 03:20 PM
Holland's Gulf of America Bill Sweeping the Nation
DonnaLadd: I can totally see Holland on Colbert, both pretending to be conservatives! Ha!
Feb 09, 2012 | 03:16 PM
Fight the Power
rlnave: Attorney General Jim Hood was worried for nothing. Even though he was at the Supreme Court making arguments in the ongoing pardon case this morning, I'm hearing that Jackson Democratic Rep. ...
Feb 09, 2012 | 03:16 PM
Holland's Gulf of America Bill Sweeping the Nation
Lori G: This is an old Colbert joke! I wish someone would send this to Colbert. I swear, I think he'd cover it.
Feb 09, 2012 | 03:02 PM
[Editor's Note] Aloha, Jackson
DonnaLadd: By the way, I looked up an image of the patch our captain friend gave us. Apparently, he is with the 25th Infantry Division; read more here.
Feb 09, 2012 | 01:23 PM
Biz Roundup: Welcoming New Businesses to Town
DonnaLadd: Case in point from the Christian Science Monitor: Whole Foods Killing off Small Natural Food Stores: After years of delivering organic produce to health-food ...
Feb 09, 2012 | 01:19 PM
Biz Roundup: Welcoming New Businesses to Town
DonnaLadd: This is a mixed blessing. They sell cool stuff, but they could shut McDade's and Rainbow down if we're not all careful about where we spend all our food money. ...
Feb 09, 2012 | 01:08 PM
[Outlaw] A More Perfect Union
DonnaLadd: Amazing column.

100 recent comments »

 


click to view "flip" version of this week's print issue

 

Guests online: 218
Logged-in members: 1
Anonymous members: 0
Elapsed time: 0.5476
The most number of visitors ever was 1661 at once on 02/10/2012
currently online: Paraderipver

 

© Jackson Free Press, Inc. - portions of code by CC with EE. User agreement and privacy statement.
phone: 601-362-6121 (ext 11 sales, ext 16 editorial, ext 17 publisher)
fax: 601-510-9019 * P.O. Box 5067 * Jackson, MS * 39296