Jonathan Stark

In the wake of massive layoffs at the recently sold San Diego Union Tribune, Joe Gandelman, Editor-In-Chief of The Moderate Voice has written a piece on the future of newspapers. It came to my attention via Google Alerts because Joe reprinted a comment I had made earlier for another online publication.

I still stand by my quote, but it’s a little depressing considering that the new management at the Union Tribune did the exact opposite of what I recommended. Not that I think the Union Tribune knows me from a hole in the wall – it’s just disheartening when you see management engaging in behavior that seems destructive.

I just don’t see layoffs as best way to reduce expenses at a newspaper when the lion’s share of the overhead is going to purchasing and moving massive amounts of paper around. Ditch the physical paper, invest in your writers, and focus on local content. Would this be a radical shift? Of course. But so is laying off 192 people. The difference is that the former is constructive, the latter destructive. But what do I know… does this make sense to anyone else or am I smoking the drapes again?