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Tucson Citizen closing up shop

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by Diabeetus, Mar 16, 2009.

  1. SF_Express

    SF_Express Active Member

    That's been a really interesting -- and I mean in an awful way -- part of this whole process at several places now, Seattle, the Rocky being other examples.

    I wonder -- is the tradeoff of at least continuing to work and make money worth all the extra stress you're living under while knowing the hammer will probably drop soon but not knowing when?

    Not expecting an answer. It's just a terrible situation in either case.
     
  2. Fredrick

    Fredrick Well-Known Member

    A modified website focusing on opinion only? OK business experts? Why is Gannett doing this? What do they get out of putting out some crap web page? Some kind of benefit??
     
  3. Cadet

    Cadet Guest

    The Arizona Attorney General has asked for a court injunction to keep the Citizen publishing. Seems there was an interested buyer, but Gannett dismissed them and proceeded on plan to essentially kill the paper. AG wants to investigate.

    http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/breakingnews/116679.php

    Also, the main homepage has gone to a "final edition" skin. Seems they've been preparing for this day.
     
  4. tenacious_g

    tenacious_g Member


    This injunction boils down to the allegation Gannett (owner of the Citizen) conspired with Lee (owner of the larger daily in Tucson, the Arizona Daily Star) to make sure there wasn't a viable competitor to the Star in Tucson as Gannett now shares 50 percent of the Star's profits. The Newspaper Preservation Act requires a good faith effort to be made when selling the paper (especially when Gannett has benefited for decades from antitrust exemptions as part of the JOA).

    There were potential buyers in negotiations to buy the Citizen, even if they had shady business backgrounds. The contention is Gannett never seriously considered any offer.

    Ultimately, this isn't about keeping the paper open, just trying to see if Gannett violated laws to get into its current position of partnering with Lee to share profits from the Daily Star in what has just become a competition-free, one-newspaper town.
     
  5. pseudo

    pseudo Well-Known Member

    From the op-ed:
    Well played.
     
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