http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2008/10/east_valley_tribune_layoff_lis.php

Except the vast majority of the people responsible for all those things are now gone.

Tribune is copying a formula local Independent papers established more than 15 years ago. It may be due to Renie Scibona, one of the wisest managers in newspapers, and now at Ahwatukee Foothills News (my boss at Independent).

Unfortunately in this age of Internet, the formula no longer works for the Independent group either. Their free papers are 1/3 house ads.

Newspapers need to rethink its industry. Like I was taught in my business studies, the problem with stage coach companies was they thought of themselves as stage coach companies, not in the travel business.

So, (PAY ATTENTION REPUBLIC), are newspapers in the communications business or newspaper business? Gannett is suffering. Freedom newspapers are dead nationwide. What defines communications in the 21st Century? Television and radio are still the leaders. Rearing its head is local volunteering to build a brand.

As I write this, I’ve been EXCLUSIVELY on the Internet from 7 a.m. through noon. Right now listening to Internet radio that only offers ads on its site, not on the air like Yahoo music does. Yahoo has the better business model and staying power.

There’s an old saying, if you don’t know history, you’re bound to repeat it. The public did not know they were in a depression until 1932, nearly three years after the nation went into its 2nd depression (first one was 1880s – see about history). When will U.S. businesses wake up?

The good news is about 85% of the nation is employed. You don’t hear that from the media. If it bleeds, it leads.

I’ve been getting one of the Republic’s new magazines in the mail, a crossover from the print vehicle. Last week I got an email (with multiple typos and grammatical errors) telling me the magazine was no longer free and they want $10 to continue the subscription. The publication is dominated by ads and product placements, with little editorial value or substance. There’s no reason to pay for what’s essentially advertising in a new format when better and more custom content is available free online.

Meanwhile, national publications that want to drive traffic to their websites are mailing offers with deeply discounted subscription fees for their print vehicles that almost make them free.

As Dan said, who knows?

Professionally, I don’t work with the Tribune or Republic that much in my work with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Personally, I live in Mesa, and very rarely read the Tribune or check their website. How they now compete against azcentral.com/AZ Republic website is not something I can picture happening without something incredible happening. And 142 jobs gone – my heart goes out to those people.