Hire, fire or sign: how to survive the media crisis

Posted by Bhamini .N on January 23, 2009 at 12:02 PM

The media industry is nothing if not dynamic. During tough times such as these, newspapers don't seem to be focusing on content and editorial quality as much as trying to secure their finances. Deleting sections and cutting paper widths are going hand in hand with the layoffs that the media industry is facing. Amidst all the chaos, here's how three different newspapers have reacted differently :

On January 21st, pegasusnews.com reported that the Dallas Morning News is hiring celebrated food critic Leslie Brenner as its new restaurant critic and dining editor. The paper, owned by the A H Belo Corporation, is said to have a circulation of half a million subscribers and does not seem to be particularly affected by the economic crisis. They have stayed on top of things by making strategic changes to their free paper Quick back in September and launching 47 hyperlocal websites in early January.

The Hartford Courant, on the other hand, fired its last major sports beat writer. Jeff Otterbein, sports editor, said he "just doesn't have a beat writer to cover it anymore". He explained they will cover a few games, but "not all of them".

While some hire and others fire, there are those who are 'trying' to make either happen. A 'Save the Book World Petition' has been drawn up and is now inviting signatures to save the Book World section of the Washington Post. Politico.com reported in early January how talk to shelve the section was going on in the Posts' offices, as a cost-saving measure. Contributers and readers are now signing a petition to the editors of WaPo to preserve the section.

Innovation, adapting to new media and a few clever moves could turn out to be the saving grace for the print media around the world. For now, it just goes to show that it may take more than quick decisions to save a life. Or in this case, a newspaper.

Sources: pegasusnews.com, editor&publisher.com, book critics.org, politico.com