Deseret News to cut 35 staff positions; revamp operations (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Salt Lake Tribune ^ | June 5, 2008 | Paul Beebe and Christopher Smart

[Zakeet]

In the wake of falling subscriptions and advertising revenue, the Deseret News is shedding 35 staffers by mid-July.

"There is no question it is a huge punch in the gut to everyone's morale," said Editor Joe Cannon on Thursday afternoon following a staff meeting.

The newspaper, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will rethink its operation from top to bottom, Cannon said.

"We will become more local, more online, and more Mormon," he said.

The paper's revenues declined 32 percent since January, according to the Deseret News, as advertisers sought out other media, including the Internet.

In the coming weeks the Deseret News will implement a new model that can succeed in an era where online news readership is increasing while that of traditional newspapers is in a downward trend, Cannon said.

"You cannot cut your way to success," he said. "You have to have a sustainable revenue model going forward."

In April, the Audit Bureau of Circulations said the average number of Deseret News papers distributed fell 1.6 percent, to 73,817, in the six months ending in March. Sunday circulation was down 3.2 percent, to 77,488.

[Zakeet]

We will become more local, more online, and more Mormon

[colorcountry]

Shoot seven, how is your job?

Or do you work for the Herald?

[greyfoxx39]

Ping

[Utah Binger]

So the church news becomes a daily? The only thing they need to ad then is the obituary page.

When we left California 10 years ago, we stopped taking a paper. Don’t miss it at all. For all intents, FR and a few other sites bring better and more objective information more quickly. My home town paper, the Ogden Standard Examiner is available online for me to read the obituaries every day.

But of course we must hear the old refrain of how some people read four or five papers daily. As the old women in Orderville say, “Very Braggety”

[colorcountry]

“Very Braggety”

LOL....I love it!

[Elsie]

In the wake of falling subscriptions and advertising revenue, the Deseret News is shedding 35 staffers by mid-July.

One would think that with 12,000,000 - nay - 13 MILLION members, the CHURCH would be GOBBLING up the positive slanted LDS 'news'papers output!

[Milhous]

Perhaps a bit of blowback to the Deseret News for its Cannon shilling.

Allow me to share a photo from a recent visit to the beautiful state of Utah.

[colorcountry]

Where were you? That picture could have been taken almost anyplace in Utah.

[colorcountry]

Where were you? That picture could have been taken almost anyplace in Utah.

[Milhous]

In the cedar woods outside of Enoch.

[colorcountry]

Ah the Cedar City area. Of all the things to photograph in Utah, especially in that area, you chose a sage covered ravine?

I hope you had fun.

[Milhous]

The mountains missing from my cedar tree photo make my need vastly improved skills at capturing wide open beauty painfully obvious. LOL.

[Milhous]

What comes from hastily trying to turn a gun shoot into a photo shoot. LOL.

[colorcountry]

It looks like home sweet home to me. I grew up just over the other side of the Pausaguant Plateau (or on top of the plateau).

It is hard to believe they call a place with an elevation of 11,000 ft a plateau.

[Elsie]

WHY do you TEASE me so??

[Elsie]

elk?

[Elsie]

It is hard to believe they call a place with an elevation of 11,000 ft a plateau Well...
...if it's FLAT on top....

[colorcountry]

Welllll, it isn't exactly flat on top.

<

But the top is flatter than the sides, that's for sure.

[deport]

The church has plenty of money, a few dollars here and there and they’ll keep a float.

[Utah Girl]

I read the Deseret News online. Sometimes I’ll read the Salt Lake Tribune online. It is the wave of the future. I just refuse to subscribe to the Deseret News just so I can get the Church News. I have offered to pay the price of a subscription and get the Church News online and don’t have them deliver a physical newspaper to my house. No go....

And I was wondering just how long it would take Joe Cannon to run the paper into the ground. I’m not a fan of his...

[Utah Girl]

Beautiful picture. I’d go camping this weekend, except I’m stuck in Texas for the next week. I miss the mountains. I just love flying into SLC and seeing the mountains.

[colorcountry]

Are you in Texas for work? Lots of people like Texas too, but I prefer the mountains as well.

It’s been a cold and soggy June in Utah thus far. Once it heats up, it will probably be comfortable only in the Mountains.

[Milhous]

clay pigeons

[VOA]

"We will become more local, more online, and more Mormon," he said.

In a world where photographers/florists/etc. can be compelled
by threat of lawsuit to be support-workers for gay marriages...
The Deseret News may be find that becoming a "more Mormon"
entity is not an option.

[Utah Binger]

Sorry boys and girls, but I have to look at this every single day of my life.

[Utah Girl]

Yeah, I’m on a business trip for 2 weeks. It’s hot down here. I’ve heard it’s been weird weather in Utah.

[Milhous]

That’s it! You actually portray what my own lame photos fail to capture.

[sevenbak]

My job is fine, thanks. I don't work in print media, I work in TV.

The whole newspaper industry is going down in flames fast, no one is immune, and those that survive will be either converged with other media outlets, and or totally electronic within a few years. Unfortunately, people aren't reading papers anymore, they are getting their news via electronic outlets, internet and TV. The in-depth stuff is going the way of the dodo.

The Editor of the DNews is not LDS, and was brought in a few years ago. Despite everything he's done, it hasn't been enough. Same as most other major papers.

[sevenbak]

Cool. I have a Brother in law that lives in Enoch, and other family in Cedar. Next time your in the Enoch area, be sure to go north a few miles and see the Parowan Gap, it’s a must see, and so close. It’s a crossroads location for native americans traveling through there over centuries, and is crammed full of all sorts of Petroglyphs, pictographs and rock art. I’ll be spending a week in the area this month, so will likely take my kids again if I get a chance.

[sevenbak]

Very nice!

OK, here's mine. This is only a animated gif, and the gif quality can't do it justice, but this is video I shot a few years ago from New Harmony looking east towards the Northwest part of Zions Canyon.

[Elsie]

The second picture did not come out.

Is that a sign in the lower left of the first picture?

[Elsie]

clay pigeons

KILLER!!

They ARE endangered; don't you know!

They seem so lifeless until that last flying moment...

[Elsie]

Ever just wanna walk over there and climb them hills?

[Elsie]

It’s more fun discussing rocks and stuff instead of this religion all the time!

[colorcountry]

No, that’s some kind of electrical pole or something. There is one on the very top too.

That’s weird, the picture was there yesterday.
(Right click then paste into browser.)

[colorcountry]

Nice picture. I guess you didn’t want to mention it’s name, ...Kolob Canyon?

[Utah Binger]

Ever just wanna walk over there and climb them hills?

Been there, done that! There are actually slot canyons at the base. One can drive an atv to the base of the cliffs. Old Sorensen owns the land, but takes me in on his four wheeler. Course he has his rifle at ready for rattlers and other varmints. Most of the slots are very well kept secrets as the land is private. Local scouts and church groups go up there for picnics. On the top of the plateau, one of our friends owns all the acreage. He has built a solar home up on top.

[Utah Binger]

We call that the magic moment. Quite a powerful experience. Locals take it all for granted.

[Utah Binger]

And then Colleen Howe shows up last night with this painting she did last fall. It's brutal, I tell you having to put up with this...but somebody has to do it.

[colorcountry]

Is jealously a bad thing?

[sevenbak]

Apparently not for some.

[sevenbak]

Give it a rest. It’s part of Zion Park, and there is a non-native who brought all this up. You certainly do have a one track mind.

[sevenbak]

Yep, a most appropriate phrase!

[Utah Binger]

Jealousy? Come thee down here my dear and I will give thee forgiveness for thy sin with a small morsel of local cuisine. In the name of Maynard Dixon and his Thunderbird holy spirits, amen!

Coq au vin avec pommes de terre rouge, ce soir!

[colorcountry]

No seven, it was a joke. Why are you so sensitive about it. I just wondered why you didn't identify the place, that's all.

Kolob Canyon, part of Zion National Park.

[sevenbak]

It would be like me saying “Here's a cool pic of the Court of the Patriarchs, and another of Weeping Rock.”

Zion National Park is known worldwide. The numerous canyon names throughout the park are not. Calm down.

[sevenbak]

I meant to respond to this. It's gorgeous. You can tell her that.

I can think of few places that are as magnificent and diverse in outdoor splendor as the state of Utah. I've had the opportunity a few times to fly low in a chopper over the Green River and Colorado River drainage systems, down through Moab and across to your neck of the woods near Kanab. There is so much we miss just driving down the highway.

There is no place like Utah on earth. Most of us locals don't even appreciate what we have.

[Elsie]

There is no place like Utah on earth.

AMEN!!

(Why am I here in Indiana, suffering the heat and humidity; when I could be THERE, suffering the heat and NO humidity!?)

[Utah Binger]

Why, we even have high speed internet. And the weather? Check this out

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Lots of people like Texas too, but I prefer the mountains as well

They've got mountains in West Texas, last time I drove through. Not so high as Utah, of course. On the other hand I live in Florida, so I have low standards when it comes to mountains.