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Louisville Publisher bullish on Newspapers
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The president and publisher of the Louisville Courier-Journal delivered a rousing defense of the newspaper industry
a couple of weeks ago in a speech that was just published yesterday.
Arnold Garson used facts, statistics and a few points of information we
hadn't seen before to argue that the industry's impending doom is
greatly over-exaggerated, concluding that "The Courier-Journal
will publish my obituary and yours, but not its own." The Newspaper
Association of America (NAA) should make him an industry spokesman.
The 3,400-word speech is well worth reading its own right, but here are the Cliff Notes of what Garson said:
- Yes, some newspapers have closed this year, but compared to the
carnage among auto dealers and real estate brokers, the industry looks
pretty good. Markets can adjust without collapsing.
- The Courier-Journal has cut back just like everybody else. That's part of running a sustainable business.
- The most troubled newspapers today are those covered by
now-irrelevant duopoly agreements that have kept weak competitors
afloat. "Newspapers in Joint Operating Agreements are going to
disappear," he said, adding that this consolidation process has been
going on for over a decade.
- The Courier-Journal's market penetration is up five
percent over the last two years. The company's print, online and mobile
products now reach 85% of the adults in its core market every week and
touch them an average of 5.6 times each week. By contrast, this year's
Super Bowl reached only 41.5% of the US adult population.
- One of the reasons is that the Courier-Journal has the dominant local website in its market.
- The big reason circulation is trending down? "Do Not Call. This
federal legislation enacted in 2003 shut down overnight the newspaper
industry's No. 1 subscriber acquisition tool, and the only acquisition
method that is economically efficient." Garson added that Do Not Call
legislation forced publishers to revise their business models, which
had been based on high churn and low acquisition cost, to models based
on high retention. This transition triggered circulation declines, but
the situation is stabilizing.
- Young adults do read newspapers. Garson said his printed newspaper
reaches 74 percent of the 18-34 year-olds in its market every week.
Read more...
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Gannett to cease print publication of the Tucson Citizen
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McLEAN, VA - Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) today said it will cease
print publication of the Tucson Citizen. The Citizen will continue operating
its web site, www.tucsoncitizen.com. The last print edition of the Citizen will
be published on Saturday, May 16.
"Dramatic changes in our industry combined with the difficult economy
- particularly in this region - mean it is no longer viable to produce
two daily printed newspapers in Tucson," said Bob Dickey, president of
the U.S. Community Publishing division of Gannett. "We are pleased that
the Citizen's web site will continue its role as a place for a separate
community conversation. Its staff will focus on stimulating public engagement
in local affairs. We look forward to moving in this exciting direction."
Dickey said that the parties' partnership with Lee Enterprises, Inc. in
Tucson, TNI Partners, will print a Tucson Citizen editorial in the Arizona Daily
Star weekly to expand the reach of the Citizen's voice. Lee publishes
the Arizona Daily Star.
Read more...
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Federal Judge may order Tucson Citizen to continue publishing
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It isn't over yet for the Tucson Citizen. A federal judge is expected to rule today on whether the Citizen, which formally closed down on Saturday,
must resume publication. Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard argued
that Gannett Co. and Lee Enterprises violated antitrust laws by closing
down the weaker of the two players in a joint operating agreement
between the Citizen and the Arizona Daily Star in order to wring more money out of the surviving property. A core shutdown staff of eight people remains at the Citizen, and it's unclear how many staffers could be recalled to restart the paper if the judge so orders.
Postscript: The judge ruled that ceasing publication was not a violation of the antitrust laws, so the Citizen is dead for the final time.
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Cheers,
Craig McMullin
Executive Director
AFCP
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