Preventing the death of a newspaper

Carl, if you are allowed, write a column before the football explaining the situation to your readers. Explain that the newspaper is being printed earlier and sometimes, what they want won't be there anymore. But push the website on them as an alternative.
Might head off a few phone calls.

 

My advice on football friday's is cut the stories to 6-8 inches and have your reporters file from the game site with no quotes. I mean yeah that sucks, but at least you can get a gamer in and run the boxscore back the following day. If it's a big game have a high school kid run quotes up to your reporter right after the game. Of course laying out all these game stories in a matter of say 20 minutes or less will be lots of fun for you. The web is also a fantastic idea for longer stories with quotes and a box.

 

In Northern California, a circulation mucky-muck asked the editor for earlier deadlines figuring that a lot of people would want to read the paper the next day and if they started earlier, they could print more copies.... of course the day was ELECTION DAY and he wanted a 9 p.m. deadline...polls close at 8 p.m.

 

Is this a JRP newspaper by any chance?

 

No - but lets just say the thought made a lot of people ANGry.

 

Carl: When you talk to athletic directors you should persuade them into having a game of the week on Saturdays (since there are no games on Saturday in your area). You should get them all in one room to talk about this one.
The games would probably have to be prearranged before the season began. And you'd also have to consider the availability of referees to staff the game. But this could be cool if it takes off as
"Small-town rag game of the week."
Maybe even double cover it to make up for your crappy Friday night coverage.

 

Give your people what they want. If they want to put the paper to bed at 10:30 p.m., put it to bed at 10:30 p.m.
In the meantime, look for employment elsewhere.
Don't start bitching or moaning. You need to work. Do what you have to do to survive.