State of the Statehouse coverage

An America Journalism Review survey makes an unsurprising finding - the number of statehouse reporters is down sharply:

This winter, AJR conducted its fifth census of newspaper reporters who cover state government, its first since 2003, and found a staggering loss of reporting firepower at America's state capitols.

The tally found only 355 full-time newspaper reporters at the nation's state capitols, a 32 percent decrease from just six years ago. It discovered that 44 statehouses have fewer full-time reporters than they did six years ago. The number of full-time reporters remained the same in four states and increased modestly in two.

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In California, eight of 15 newspapers have cut back on Capitol coverage. The state, which has one of the nation's worst budget crises, had 40 full-time newspaper reporters at the statehouse in 2003. That number has fallen to 29.

Troubling numbers at Tribune Co.

Tribune Co., the parent of the Los Angeles Times, reported a $122 million loss in the third quarter, according to Mark Lacter at LA Biz Observed. The bad numbers, he adds, include a $45 million charge for severance packages and termination benefits.

Lacter notes another point of concern:

One more troubling number: Operating cash flow decreased 67 percent to $90 million from $268 million in the 2007 quarter. Maintaining adequate cash flow is especially critical for Tribune because that's what will be required to pare down debt. In some ways, the cash flow numbers are more important than the actual bottom line.