Layoffs coming today at the OC Register

Boy, I read the list of names while holding my breath. A former co-worker of mine was out of full-time work for four years before landing at the Register a while back.

For my friend to get cut against would be incredibly devastating. However, my friend has survived, at least so far.

Still, my heart goes out to those who were let go.

 

Terrible news. Very sorry to hear of it.

 

In the short term, maybe. But then more people see no reason to keep subscribing or advertising, and then it just gets worse.

 

Right.

But if you'll read back to what I was commenting on, this was supposed to be the savior solution: a deep-pocketed and committed owner who would create the content that would lead to subscribers. And it isn't.

No good answers, but losing money slowly is definitely better than losing money quickly.

 

Long Time Listener is right. You can't keep expanding and investing, only to lose an increasing amount of money.

Sadly, the Register proved with this experiment that no amount of investment will matter if advertisers and readers simply don't want the product.

 

In a related (but not surprising) development, three dozen or so gone in Riverside, too. On top of about 42 ousted only a month ago.

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-layoffs-oc-register-riverside-pressenterprise-20140116,0,7275152.story#axzz2qbmWD3ip

 

I will say this: Most of the comments on OC Weekly and other places tend to revolve around the Register's paywall. I don't mind a paywall but it seems like this one is too restrictive.

Also, $20 a month for digital seems like way too much, when you think that Gannett properties mostly charge $10 a month and Dallas does as well.

No one has really suggested such things as massive space cuts yet, so I don't know if this truly means the end of the experiment. Very sad to see longtime reporters let go, though. Been through it and it's not fun at all.

 

Layoffs stink and make me sad.

I do not think the OC would claim this experiment is over, however, though firing a new hire would seem to suggest to me something's pretty off.

 

It sounds to me like this should be a cautionary tale against firewalls.

The public will devour your coverage ... unless it's inconvenient, money-wise, for them to devour it. And then they won't.

 

It's been a few years since I've seen the Register, but to echo what someone else posted, they own preps in the OC. Only place I ever recall reading about swimming transfers. Wasn't part of their buildup adding a travelling Dodgers writer?

 

Its $2 a day - you can sign up for a day, devour whatever you want in 24 hours.

And yes, I actually go there for their prep aquatics coverage. Its really good.