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Sam Zell Has a Plan

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by Michael_ Gee, Jun 5, 2008.

  1. STLIrish

    STLIrish Active Member

    Ha!
     
  2. FuturaBold

    FuturaBold Member

    I just find myself constantly amazed at the number of newspaper execs who think that the declining quality of the product (through cuts and cuts in news hole, staff, and other "innovations" etc.) will actually increase readership.

    Yes, it may save your bottom line in the short-term (which those investors mentioned in paragraph one love), but what happens long-term when folks jump ship on you because the product isn't worth it any more? If you're used to a 12-page sports section daily and suddenly you're getting six or eight, but still paying the same amount or more for your paper, eventually you're going to cut loose and go elsewhere...

    It's like McDonald's saying, we'll you don't get fries with your value meals any more -- those cost extra. And you have to bring your own cups for drinks And we're going to charge you more overall for the meal, and we're going to cut our help staff in half so there are fewer folks cooking and waiting on you. But this is innovative and we think you'll really like it, so come on in!
     
  3. FuturaBold

    FuturaBold Member

     
  4. Baron Scicluna

    Baron Scicluna Well-Known Member

    And then giving their hamburger recipe away for free on the Internet, and wondering why no one's going in their restaurant anymore.
     
  5. Clerk Typist

    Clerk Typist Guest

    Ding, ding, ding!! We have a winner here.
     
  6. forever_town

    forever_town Well-Known Member

    Unlikely. The first few thousand canceled subscriptions will make them cut back even more on editorial positions and pat themselves on the back once again about their "innovation."
     
  7. SixToe

    SixToe Well-Known Member

    Morons.

    Unmitigated, fucking morons.

    "Here's your Daily Bugle newsletter. Sure, it's smaller. But we only will raise the price by 10 cents."
     
  8. STLIrish

    STLIrish Active Member

    They don't really think it'll increase readership. They're not stupid. The main reason they do it is to cut costs/increase profits, which is their priority. It's just, um, impolitic, for them to say that.
    Long-term concerns like quality journalism and the paper's brand are secondary to most of these people.
     
  9. SixToe

    SixToe Well-Known Member

    Ding. Ding. Ding. Winner.
     
  10. forever_town

    forever_town Well-Known Member

     
  11. zebracoy

    zebracoy Guest

    BASTARD
     
  12. SockPuppet

    SockPuppet Active Member

    Quantity not quality.
    The business models being used by most newspapers would bankrupt a fourth grader's lemonade stand.
    The bottom line for most of us: We're fucking screwed.
     
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