US: LA Times may launch freesheet, will boost online

Posted by Jean Yves Chainon on October 1, 2007 at 12:23 PM

Last Thursday, Los Angeles Times publisher David Hiller suggested that the paper could be launching a free, tabloid-sized daily. He also mentioned plans to reinforce the La Times’ online offerings.

The Tribune Co., owner of the LA Times, also publishes a successful freesheet in Chicago, Redeye, and in New York, am New York. The new freesheet would be similar to Redeye.

The LA Times also expects to add about 100 people to its digital operations, many of which would come from the print side.

About 50 staffers have already migrated from print to online. Hiller mentioned that the LA Times will increase its video offerings. The paper ordered about 100 video cameras to equip its reporters.

Hiller emphasized the importance of online for the future of newspapers, while defending the robustness of print.

“I think there’s going to be a really excellent print newspaper for a long time to come, and we have to do more on the Internet.”

Source: Reuters (here and here)