Is The Washington Times' Continued Operation In Jeopardy? (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Talking Points Memo ^ | November 11, 2009 | Ben Frumin

[abb]

As much as it pains me to report it, the same phenomenon that is affecting the liberal newspapers appears to be having the same effect on the few relatively conservative newspapers in the country. It is a technology issue more than political persuasion that is causing ink-on-paper to fade.

But to be intellectually consistent, I must post this bad news.

[abb]

ping

[abb]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/1109/Security_amped_up_at_WashTimes.html
Security amped up at WashTimes

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/homepage/20091111_Phila__Newspapers_creditors_seek_to_halt_auction.html
Phila. Newspapers creditors seek to halt auction

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/11/source-wash-times-managing-editor-tears-up-when-asked-about-missing-exec-ed.php
Source: Wash Times Managing Editor Tears Up When Asked About Missing Exec Ed

[Moose4]

True, but also note the source—TPM is notoriously liberal. I’m not saying the article is factually inaccurate, but Talking Points Memo is definitely going to gloat over the Washington Times’ difficulties and ignore or play down similar, far worse situations at liberal-slanted papers.

You’re right, though. Dead-tree newspapers are slowly dying no matter what, but the liberal bias and arrogance of so many will cause them to die faster.

}:-)4

[boomop1]

The Nations real Newspaper.

[max americana]

That’s why it’s called America’s newspaper. The Wa ComPost isn’t doing any better either and on the brink of bankruptcy as well.

[abb]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091111/ap_on_en_tv/us_tv_cnn_s_contradictions_4
CNN finding that prime-time success is elusive

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004041770
McClatchy Opens the Door to Charging for Content

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/11/11/2009-11-11_leno_looks_limp_letterman_gets_lotta_love_in_poll.html
Jay Leno looks limp, viewers unfazed by David Letterman’s sex scandal: poll

http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/hollywood-reporter-sold-whos-whos-finkelstein-9945
Hollywood Reporter Set to be Sold to ‘Who’s Who’s’ Finkelstein

[HokieMom]

Leadership changes at The Times: Daily operations being assessed

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/nov/10/leadership-shake-up-at-times/

[abb]

IIRC the Washington Times has never made any money and was always subsidized by the Moon Church.

And the Washington Post Company (WPO) now is only making money from the Kaplan division. They too, will have some hard decisions to make.

http://www.washpostco.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=62487&p=irol-landing

[abb]

What this all shows is all these “news” distributors (newspapers, magazines, radio, tv, etc) never were in the “news” business.

They were always in the advertising business and the “news” was something to put in between the ads.

[STONEWALLS]

“And the Washington Post Company (WPO) now is only making money from the Kaplan division.”

....the Kaplan aquisition was their saving grace...there’s no end of parents who will shell out to improve their child’s test scores....I know, I was one....and it put my daughter’s LSAT at 95 percentile and early admission.

[Gorzaloon]

But one of the three executives fired on Sunday -- chairman Dong Moon Joo -- was apparently the one responsible for securing those additonal investments.

Wow, this time it really IS the Joo's fault.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Love the WATIMES, but it has always been the Moonies semi-hobby, for which I thank them.

[abb]

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091111/BLOGS10/911119995
Kimball’s not happy with state loan for recovering newspaper

http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/davidwestphal/200911/1795/
No revenue model for news? Labor steps up

http://www.businessinsider.com/horrified-businessweek-staffers-being-asked-to-write-for-bloomberg-newswire-2009-11
Bloomberg Can Cut BusinessWeek Staff And Not Pay Severance

[LibLieSlayer]

Written by a group to the left of acorn.

LLS

[abb]

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3937
Public Media and the Decommodification of News
News behind pay walls is no help to democracy

[dangus]

Washington Times Bucks National Trend; Circulation Increases
     Daily circulation is up 3% in last six months;
Sunday circulation is up 15% from small base.
Washington Post circulation drops 8% in 6 months.
New conservative paper Washington Examiner
Bursts on to scene successfully.
     Times' troubles only have to do with Moon's
Times and Post aren't in direct competition.
personal finances since most Times readers also
read post.

[kidd]

I’m not so sure.

The Wall Street Journal just recently took the spot as the country’s #1 paper. Articles are sometimes left of center, but generally fair. But the editorial section is very conservative.

IBD circulation is increasing. Very conservative paper.

[ExNewsExSpook]

Don’t worry...if Moon decides to get out of the newspaper business, Mr. Murdoch wouldn’t mind having a paper in D.C., and News Corp has the deepest pockets in the media world. The other option would be for Philip Anschutz, the owner of the Washington Examiner, to buy the Times and fold it into his operation.

As a property of either News Corp or Mr. Anschutz’s Clarity Media, the Times would actually have better long-term prospects than the Post. The WaPo can’t survive forever on its Kaplan revenues.

[abb]

Whoever buys it must figure out how to increase advertising, bottom line.