Posted on 11/29/2007 6:02:56 AM PST by Milhous
New Jersey's Ocean County Observer to Covert to a Weekly Format
TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) -- The Ocean County Observer, a newspaper that traces its roots back more than 150 years, is being converted to a weekly due to declining circulation, the paper's publisher said.
Starting Jan. 10, the daily newspaper will be replaced by the weekly Toms River Observer-Reporter. The new weekly publication will focus on local schools and sports, small businesses and the Toms River-area population. The broadsheet format newspaper will be mailed to 40,000 homes.
Thomas M. Donovan, president and publisher of the Observer and the Asbury Park Press, both owned by Gannett Co. Inc., said publishing two daily newspapers in the same market became increasingly difficult given changing reader habits, advertising challenges and an increase in operating costs.
"This new initiative gives our readers and advertisers more opportunities to choose how they want to get their local news," he said in an article published Wednesday in both newspapers.
"Under the new structure, we will have strong, comprehensive local news coverage in the daily and Sunday Asbury Park Press, breaking news and other interactive features on our redesigned Web site, APP.com, and great hometown coverage in our weekly Toms River Observer-Reporter," he said.
There will be no layoffs because of the changes, Donovan said, with Observer employees being offered jobs at the new weekly, the Press, or as online staff.
Gannett has owned the Observer since 1998, just one year after it bought the Press.
I am becoming increasingly convinced that the wealthy, powerful, and somewhat archaic media conglomerates that have controlled the messaging to America for so long are beginning to crumble. As they begin to deteriorate under the weight of a more democratic media system, opportunities to infiltrate the pervasive and corrupt lies and spread truth in love are becoming abundant. As America continues to grow fatigued and sluggish from decades of the mainstream media's preaching of godlessness, bright lights are beginning to shine in the most unlikely media places. And like any small light in a pitch black room, the effect will be unmistakable. - Brian Fisher, Coral Ridge Ministries
ping
Coral Ridge is a good church. In my area. I think local weekly papers are a good idea . . . my local rag goes into the recycling bin largely untouched except for the advertisements.
Coral Ridge currently reach an audience of 3 million and plan to reach an audience of 30 million by 2012.
I think local weekly papers are a good idea . . . my local rag goes into the recycling bin largely untouched except for the advertisements.
Small newspapers could probably become gold mines if they just sent out the Wednesday advertisements and forget about fantastic Washington Post wannabe investigative journalism aspirations.
being converted to a weekly due to declining circulation,
next monthly ?
Dixie chick business model.
Thanks for the post, ping, quote, link.
Bump-to-the-truth.
The Dixie Chick Marketing Strategy continues to decimate the fishwrap industry.
Our oldest son and DIL live in a community that went to a free weekly newspaper that is mailed each Friday with a lot of ads. There is pretty good local news in the weekly fish wrap, the ads obviously pay the bills and the price is right/free.
No one in their cul de sac buys/subscribes to any newspaper.
The old cable tv system that refused to carry Fox News went belly up when home owners bought satellite tv systems. A couple of years ago, most developers in their new additions refused to put in cable. They provided deals to Dish or Direct TV. Comcast gets new customers and loses them when their price increase come after a few months.
In spite of being in liberal N California, this fast growing suburbanoplis voted for GW in 2004 in a wide % versus basically a split in the 2000 election. When the MSM loses its contact with voters and consumers, our side wins.
More pulp available to become toilet paper
Monthly? No, the local news is about a weekly thing. Every week there is enough general local interest stuff that is worth printing. City council, school board, police blotter, public notices, high school sports. Totally non partisan things that no one other than the locals care about. That’s what I see the industry becoming.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.