Comments on: New York Times Buyout Package Discloses Insider Secrets http://www.mediaite.com/print/new-york-times-buyout-package-discloses-insider-secrets/ Mediaite Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:31:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=2012.06 By: b.j. http://www.mediaite.com/print/new-york-times-buyout-package-discloses-insider-secrets/#comment-8115 b.j. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:29:34 +0000 http://www.mediaite.com/?p=39615#comment-8115 I don't really read the city sections of the paper, since I don't live there and don't have much use for it, but I thought the same thing. It is still a force in the city, but more so, I imagine, because the city itself is a news force, and the paper itself is arguably the most powerful in the country. I just can't imagine why the paper needs so many reporters for that section. Why not ship them off to other bureaus and try to do what they are doing with San Fransisco, which is retain a loyal readership, possibly juice the numbers in a small way, and then grab some local advertising in cities like Los Angeles and wherever else the paper has an office? I know the San Fransisco strategy was supposed to me more the exception than the rule, but it seems like half the staff could be bought out and most of the remaining staff dispersed to both help the financial situation and retain talent. Or why not try to spin off the city section into a free newspaper? If it's composed the right way--a strong, quick focus on sports and stuff for the guys to read on the subway, for instance--and if the numbers work out, so that local advertising, perhaps different for each borough, it could essentially subsidize the main paper. Plus, there's no reason why these people couldn't still contribute to the Sunday Magazine or something. I don’t really read the city sections of the paper, since I don’t live there and don’t have much use for it, but I thought the same thing. It is still a force in the city, but more so, I imagine, because the city itself is a news force, and the paper itself is arguably the most powerful in the country. I just can’t imagine why the paper needs so many reporters for that section. Why not ship them off to other bureaus and try to do what they are doing with San Fransisco, which is retain a loyal readership, possibly juice the numbers in a small way, and then grab some local advertising in cities like Los Angeles and wherever else the paper has an office? I know the San Fransisco strategy was supposed to me more the exception than the rule, but it seems like half the staff could be bought out and most of the remaining staff dispersed to both help the financial situation and retain talent.

Or why not try to spin off the city section into a free newspaper? If it’s composed the right way–a strong, quick focus on sports and stuff for the guys to read on the subway, for instance–and if the numbers work out, so that local advertising, perhaps different for each borough, it could essentially subsidize the main paper. Plus, there’s no reason why these people couldn’t still contribute to the Sunday Magazine or something.

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