Sep 16, 2009

Late afternoon rumor patrol

Will the bankrupt Orange County Register sell its headquarters in Santa Ana and move into the offices that housed the bankrupt LA Times' OC edition? I don't know, but the OC Weekly had heard enough talk that it decided to write a story about the rumors.

Also, an anonymous comment on this blog said pink slips were going out at the Los Angeles Times. I haven't confirmed any layoffs, but pressman Ed Padgett says he's heard that at least four press workers at the Times OC facility have been let go.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is correct. A number in circulation as well and my guess throughout what is left of the newspaper.

Anonymous said...

Very sad day for the folks who may get let go.

For my news I Google search the city. And with breaking stuff I watch YouTube.

The local Phoenix paper is worthless. I don't see it around in print edition for much longer.

Edward Padgett said...

Unfortunately what began as a possible rumor this afternoon is becoming a fact rather quickly, as many calls are coming from different departments at the Los Angeles Times regarding individuals being let go.

Maybe it’s just a coincidence but the head of LATimes.com (Meredith Artley) also left Times Mirror Square this afternoon for CNN.

The gentleman from Scottsdale hit the nail on the head, but all newspapers could become extinct within two years. The Los Angeles Times hard copy was given two more years before folding by a former Times executive several weeks ago at a party I attended, not certain if this is on the mark, but anything is possible in today’s advertising climate.

The next few months will be filled with anxiety for employees remaining at the Los Angeles Times as the bankruptcy comes to an end.

Anonymous said...

most papers will be folding. they are dinosaurs.

Anonymous said...

newspapers are facing extinction. they will be a thing of the past soon the way railroad are. folks get off the sinking ship.

Anonymous said...

Two years? C'mon. That's not going to happen. It may look dramatically different but do you really believe that the Times will disappear?

Mike Rappaport said...

All you need to see what losing the print edition means is look at the Seattle P-I.

When the P-I went Web only, they cut editorial from 166 to 25-30. Much of their content now comes from blogs or columns written by the people they used to cover.

It may be that we will see the end of print journalism for a while, a time during which corruption will prosper.

But it will return in some form -- probably as an insurgent medium.

Anonymous said...

The P-I had a few things going against it that the Times does not face. One: a JOA designed to fail.
Two: Competition. I don't see the Times closing before any one of the LANG papers.

Anonymous said...

If your business is not making money you will close it. If that is a newspapers fate, what ever paper it might be it will close. I am convinced that a well run newspaper in a large market can still generate margins north of ten percent.

Anonymous said...

Railroads for years never figured out their sweet spot. They have for years...just take a look at their stock prices. Newspapers should be so lucky.

calwatch said...

Well, the LA Times guy asked me to take the 3 day package for 75 cents a week. I turned him down, of course, but they have been instructed to literally grovel now.

Anonymous said...

why dont they just go to free inm the zip codes they want to sell ads to?