Over a week ago, the new executives of Tribune Co. made the decision to alter the size of their newspapers following "reduced advertising revenue." Timothy McNulty, Chicago Tribune Public Editor, talks about the qualities newspapers should uphold and urges readers to decide what they see as vital material.

He cites readers who have, in the past, complained about alterations in the Chicago Tribune, be it those affecting the quantity of news articles or the comics section. According to him, readers should be the ones to provide aid when it comes to downsizing decisions.

McNulty says, "This is about a troubled economy, an industry that needs to transform itself and a cultural shift in how people receive news and advertising."

According to him, news should "provide order to the day's events", "create some hierarchy of what is most important" and "provide a context for understanding it".

In commentary and editorials, he wishes to see "smart and sharp thinking about a subject" to be able to "react" and "examine" his own opinions. Features should include "reviews and criticism and real substance but also utility."

"What I enjoy most about a newspaper is learning something new every day, the serendipity of finding a story I never would have known or asked about," McNulty says.

One of the tasks of journalists today is to adapt to economic changes while keeping traditions alive. Because modifications are inevitable, not much is "sacrosanct", according to McNulty.

"There will be redesign, just as there has been several times in the past, but this will, I suspect, be much more dramatic. Physical changes will alter the look and feel of the paper," he says.

Source: www.chicagotribune.com