Harrisburg Patriot-News to publish three times a week

Sara Ganim tweeted that the Patriot-News is shifting to a three-day-a-week publishing schedule, a la NOLA and AMG.

https://twitter.com/sganim/status/240449547925602304
"Publisher Kirkpatrick says 'we're doing this to secure our future' @PatriotNews @pennlive"
"Kirk says this path gives us the chance to prosper. Tho, it is untested, he said. @PatriotNews @pennlive"
"Two new companies will be formed. No more divide between @PatriotNews and @pennlive 'it's not for the faint of heart' Kirk says"

 

Yikes.

 

And it's official: http://blog.pennlive.com/editors-blog/2012/08/announcing_pa_media_group.html

 

Note to Sara: Take the Pulitzer you're going to win and then get the hell out.

 

Holy smokes. That is a heaping pile of bad news there.

 

Don't quite know how it all plays out. Wish it hadn't happened, but it's the reality. They claim no editorial jobs will be lost at this point.

Just have to stay light on our feet.

 

Not that there is an ideal place for this to happen, but this really is the wrong place to try this.

I'm sure the locals up in them thare hills of Dauphin, Mifflin and Perry counties will have plenty of ability to connect to pennlive on their mobile devices.

 

No editorial jobs lost? Hope that holds up over time.

 

I have the same doubts you do.

 

And now Syracuse, another Newhouse paper, is on its way to doing this, too.

Home delivery three days a week. Smaller, cut-down paper the other four, which probably will go away eventually.

 

For what it's worth, Ganim tweeted personnel and staffing issues would be handled within the next month. I don't see how everybody stays. If the company was happy with how digital efforts had been going, there would be no need for this change. They see a need for a change in digital efforts so a change in staff is likely to accomplish those changes.

 

Thanks, amigo.