Cleveland's two alternative weeklies are now one

http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/06/scene_free_times_to_merge_into.html

This is either the third or fourth time the Free Times or its predecessors have gone under in the last 20 years. I don't think they have another comeback in them. They'll be missed, but IMHO mostly for memories of their golden days, not for their current work.

 

Re: Cleveland's two weeklies are now one

Much better details here:

http://crainscleveland.com/article/20080620/FREE/357156980/1099&Profile=1099

 

Re: Cleveland's two weeklies are now one

So, is The Plain Dealer scared shitless?

 

Only if Ace goes to work there

 

Not by them!

I changed the thread headline because those actually aren't Cleveland's two weekly papers. There is also The Sun newspaper chain which publishes about 34 different weeklies devoted to the many suburbs around here. The PD might have feared them at one time, because Newhouse bought up The Sun and now it is basically a sister newspaper.

 

Just talked to a buddy employed by one of the papers. Not sure if it is wishful thinking, denial, or what, but he says he is EXCITED about the prospects of the merger because he thinks it will mean more money to do some of the projects he couldn't do at the smaller paper. Even though he has to totally reinterview for his job and who knows if he'll keep it.

I say good luck to him. Don't think many would share that attitude.