by Steve Myers Published May 25, 2012 7:12 am Starting this fall, New Orleans will become the largest U.S. city to go without a daily newspaper, but it won’t be the first. That distinction is held by Ann Arbor, Mich. In 2009, Advance Publications stopped printing the paper all but two days a week, cut the staff and started focusing on its website. The company expanded the model at several more newspapers in Michigan earlier this year. The question — in New Orleans, as well as in Birmingham, Mobile and Huntsville, Ala., where Advance is doing the same thing — is whether Ann Arbor is the model that Advance should follow. How has the online-only approach fared in Ann Arbor? And does that say anything ... Continue reading →
by Steve Myers Published May 24, 2012 8:48 am There’s no shortage of stories tracking which candidate is ahead in the fundraising race, but reporters must remember the other side of the equation: who’s donating and why. “Learning how people and companies are influencing public policy — often without the awareness of the public at large — is a key skill for any watchdog reporter,” said Bill Allison, editorial director for the Sunlight Foundation. ”By following the money, reporters can make these connections and better inform the public about work being done, purportedly, on their behalf.” There are other ways to influence public policy besides writing a check. People serve on key governmental advisory committees, lobby and work through third-party groups. Today at 1 p.m. ... Continue reading →
by Steve Myers Published May 24, 2012 9:41 am A memo from Times-Picayune publisher Ashton Phelps confirms that the newspaper will cease daily publication, moving to three days a week: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The memo also confirms staff cuts, though it doesn’t say how large they will be. Press reports have necessitated our giving you this news now. We realize it will make people anxious, but we do not know enough today to be able to announce how the changes will affect individual employees. We will move as quickly as possible in the coming weeks to make that determination and to inform each of you personally. The memo from Phelps: To all employees: We wanted to make you aware of a news story that ... Continue reading →
by Steve Myers Published May 24, 2012 9:41 am A memo from Times-Picayune publisher Ashton Phelps confirms that the newspaper will cease daily publication, moving to three days a week: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The memo also confirms staff cuts, though it doesn’t say how large they will be. Press reports have necessitated our giving you this news now. We realize it will make people anxious, but we do not know enough today to be able to announce how the changes will affect individual employees. We will move as quickly as possible in the coming weeks to make that determination and to inform each of you personally. The memo from Phelps: To all employees: We wanted to make you aware of a news story that ... Continue reading →
