Replies

No, your instinct was correct. The TP is still a profitable paper, with a substantial community presence. It's a mystery why Newhouse is doing this, unless it's some weird sort of strategic planning maneuver. The TP is not a great paper, but not quite terrible either. Mostly weak on the hard news and editorial page, but quite good on sports and community features. Politically it's moderately liberal. It has supported both Democrat and Republican candidates. The web site is clunky and dumb. The web page of the (locally owned) Baton Rouge Advocate is much more intelligently done, with the look & feel and interface of a traditional broadsheet paper. If the Advocate decides to launch a NOLA edition, I think Mrs Romulus and I will give it a try. It's sad and a bit shaming that the Picayune's proud name will be lost this way.

If things keep going in this direction for the Picayune, its name may end up in smaller print below that of the Advocate, just like when the former absorbed the New Orleans States Item in the 1980s.

I agree - it would be good to see the Advocate expand into that market. It's still a locally-owned paper, an increasingly rare thing.