The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) has one of US’ largest online operations among regional newspapers. As part of a plan to refocus on digital, the AJC will cut its circulation area in dozens of counties, spend $30 million on a printing plant, and $12 million on a new computer system.

From April 1 on, the AJC will no longer be available in Alabama, South Carolina and Florida. It will only distribute print in 66 counties (73 counties total) in Georgia, compared to the 145 counties it used to serve in that state alone.

AJC’s newsroom will be reorganized into four units, representative of digital operations’ increasing importance. Two units will focus on news gathering, while the other two will be devoted to print and digital.

"It puts print and digital on equal footing," said AJC Editor Julia Wallace.

$12 million will be spent on a computer system just for classified advertising.

Many staffers will be moved or retrained from print operations to digital ones, but there will also be many job cuts (especially in the circulation department). Wallace said none of the newsroom layoffs would be involuntary though.

Media group Cox Enterprises owns AJC.

"Cox remains very committed and very optimistic about the future of its newspapers," said Jay Smith, president of Cox Newspapers. "I can't think of a better way to say, 'Hey, we believe.'"

The AJC will offer 80 buyouts for its newsroom employees.

For more details on the full range of the AJC’s reorganization, click below.

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution