TWT (Washington Times) announces new structure, layoffs (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

The Washington Times ^ | December 3, 2009 | Jennifer Harper

[abb]

Acting Publisher Jonathan Slevin on Wednesday announced plans for a "new" Washington Times that will focus more narrowly on its core areas of coverage while operating with a deeply reduced work force.

"We will focus on our strengths -- exclusives, in-depth reporting, politics, enterprise stories, geostrategic and national news, plus cultural reporting based on traditional values," Mr. Slevin said at a meeting of the newspaper's editorial and support staff who were warned to expect "significant staff reductions" within 60 days.

All employees were handed letters advising them that at least 40 percent of the workforce will be laid off in the coming weeks. The cuts are necessary for the newspaper "to keep pace with the dynamically changing economics of the news business," Mr. Slevin said.

Mr. Slevin, who also serves as acting president of The Washington Times, also said the paper would shift from its current subscription-based model to a controlled circulation model where newspapers will be distributed free of charge in key locations aimed at Washington policy- and opinion-makers.

Home delivery will continue to be available at a premium price, he said. Current subscribers will be offered the electronic edition, the national weekly edition or other options.

"The new Washington Times will continue to focus on fearless reporting, crisp editorials and traditional American values," Mr. Slevin said. "We are a 21st-century media company, refocusing as a provider of insight in the nation's capital. We are reshaping operations to keep pace with the news business."

The mission of The Times, Mr. Slevin told employees, is "to provide an independent, alternative voice," delivered on the multiple platforms of the contemporary press, including digital, print and broadcast formats.

Like many news organizations, The Times is facing a challenging financial scenario.

snip

[abb]

The decline in the ink-on-paper communications system has no ideological boundaries. It is a technology thing.

[abb]

ping

[caver]

How many jobs does that count as saved or created?

[abb]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/02/AR2009120203295.html
Washington Times cuts in staff, coverage cue new era

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107104574569570797550520.html
How Google Can Help Newspapers

http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2009/12/globes_largest_2.html?s_campaign=8315
Globe’s largest union expels its president

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107104574573402099422762.html
Comcast, GE Strike Deal; Vivendi to Sell NBC Stake

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703735004574572392440509168.html
Comcast May Test New ‘Windows’ for Movies on Cable

[1776 Reborn]

“We will focus on our strengths — exclusives, in-depth reporting, politics, enterprise stories, geostrategic and national news, plus cultural reporting based on traditional values,” Mr. Slevin said at a meeting of the newspaper’s editorial and support staff”

Yeah, every paper keeps saying this, than we open the paper and it doesn’t hold our interest longer than the time it takes to turn the pages. (Usually, about 30 seconds.)

[abb]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/04/business/media/04nbc.html?hp
Comcast Gets NBC From G.E., Reshaping the TV Industry

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/business/media/03nbc.html?ref=business
In Secret Meetings, Comcast Wooed G.E. and Won NBC

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/us/politics/03radio.html?ref=business
Black Caucus Seeks to Ease Radio’s Woes

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-comcast4-2009dec04,0,7144558.story
Comcast strikes deal to buy NBC Universal from GE

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-burke3-2009dec03,0,575935.story
For Steve Burke, Comcast job is the role of his life

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik3-2009dec03,0,2652409.column
Stakes rising for cable TV firms and content providers

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/12/comcast-goes-on-offensive-in-dc-.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+newsandbuzz+(News+%26+Buzz)
Comcast goes on offensive in D.C.

[IncPen]

It defies logic that anyone interested in ‘news’ would look at something printed yesterday to determine what’s going on today.

Obits? OK.

Sales at the mall? OK.

Current weather? News? Not so much.

[abb]

http://www.gannettoid.com/index.html
Will more furloughs follow?

http://www.niemanlab.org/2009/12/on-transparency-objectivity-and-the-near-occasion-of-subjectivity/
On transparency, objectivity, and the near occasion of subjectivity

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=118420
FCC Considers Allocating TV Spectrum For Wireless Broadband

[Old Retired Army Guy]

Kind of sad. The Washington Times used to provide a good counter balance to the liberal Washington Post.

[Hulka]

The Washington (com)Post reports on this news. . .front page.

The WaPo article is sleazy in its overt gloating and constant reference to Rev Moon running the paper. . .getting the facts wrong, as per usual.

[1776 Reborn]

Yep, the paper looks more like a Cliff Note version of an old scap book than real breaking news.

[abb]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004049802
SPECIAL REPORT: Are ‘Accidental’ Newspaper Owners and Outside Financiers Up to the Task?

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/407448-Comcast_NBCU_Opposition_Lines_Up.php
Comcast-NBCU: Opposition Lines Up
Free Press, Consumer Federation of America and smaller cable operators voice concerns about deal

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/400709-FiOS_Expands_International_Fare_With_World_TV.php
FiOS Expands International Fare With World TV
Adds three channels from GlobeCast division

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/400885-CEA_CTIA_Ask_FCC_to_Reallocate_Spectrum_to_Wireless_Broadband.php
CEA, CTIA Ask FCC to Reallocate Spectrum to Wireless Broadband
Letter warns commission of “looming spectrum crisis”

[abb]

http://realclearpolitics.blogs.time.com/2009/12/02/cnn-missing-dobbs/
CNN: Missing Dobbs

http://www.buzzmachine.com/
Get off the lawn

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/dec/03/google-josh-cohen
Google’s Josh Cohen: Publishers still need us, and we give them control

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/
Comcast/GE/NBCU Transaction Details

http://www.reuters.com/article/GlobalMedia09/idUSTRE5B15PI20091203
Don’t expect same Oprah show: Discovery

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6839fb26-df8b-11de-98ca-00144feab49a.html
Google set to enter UK property market

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/12/02/time-inc-digital-magazine/
Time Inc’s “Manhattan Project” Is A Tablet Magazine

[Landru]

"The decline in the ink-on-paper communications system has no ideological boundaries. It is a technology thing."

Pretty strong evidence it'd seem so.

I'd wager there's a cultural element here, one of the facets making up the whole behind 'the' reason.

There's technology, people simply not reading much, of anything, anymore. Content. Overhead etc.

To use a smarmy term?
The perfect storm.

[Landru]

OK abb, no time to be coy. LOL
What're your thought(s) on what'll happen, if anything, at NBC/U now that Comcast has controlling interest??

[OldMissileer]

I have been a subscriber since I was stationed here in 1993.

Reading the Wash Times and drinking a cup of coffee is my morning ritual and I really like the paper.

I must say it took a turn for the mediocre when Wesley Pruden retired and the new Editor started filling space with AP and Reuters crap.

It still prints all the facts rather than printing only the convenient ones like the WaPo does.

I do not like reading news papers on line so I will have to see how this shakes out.

[abb]

What Comcast is buying (IMO), is NBC/U’s content. Old movies, old tv shows, etc. NBC as a “network” will fade away. In fact, with this purchase, you could say it is already gone. You can be sure that whatever ain’t making money will be snuffed. That’s why I still say Network News (ABCCBSNBC) is living on borrowed time. The news divisions don’t make money.

Comcast has to figure out how to make money from this content. They could try locking it up and rationing it out to viewers for a fee. But that’s problematic as file sharing can blow that out of the water. The music industry tried that and failed miserably.

I don’t have a clue as to how they’ll turn this into a money machine like it used to be when they controlled distribution. And I suspect they don’t either.

And I still maintain that the concept of TV “networks” as we have perceived them to be all our lives is kaput.

Originally it was called “chain broadcasting.”

http://www.oldandsold.com/articles09/advertising-11.shtml
Spot Versus Chain Broadcasting

[abb]

I used to like the paper version. But now I race downstairs every morning to log on to FR to see what is REALLY going on. When I hear the paper delivery boy go by on the street in the morning, I always pride myself in having read everything I need to know before he drives by.

[abb]

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/comcast-youre-in-the-news-business-now/
Comcast, You’re in the News Business Now

[Landru]

"What Comcast is buying (IMO), is NBC/U’s content. Old movies, old tv shows, etc."

Exactly what Turner did acquiring MGM.
His nets TCM, TBS, TNT had an instant film library only this takes the idea a quantum level higher what-with game shows, soaps etc.

"NBC as a 'network' will fade away. In fact, with this purchase, you could say it is already gone."

Fascinating take abb, to say the least.
I'd have thought just because the denizens occupying the executive suites changed, everything from there down would remain the same. Of course there'd be adjustment(s) en-route, but basically to the cogs there'd be no appreciable difference in day to day operations.

"You can be sure that whatever ain’t making money will be snuffed."

One of the 'adjustments' I suggested? LOL

"That’s why I still say Network News (ABCCBSNBC) is living on borrowed time. The news divisions don’t make money."

OK, how about the shouting shows, specifically NBC-U's shake-n-bake MSNBC & their entire staff?

"Comcast has to figure out how to make money from this content."

Wouldn't one have thought [that] was a forgone conclusion? What CC was bidding for, knowing they had ideas of what to do with it before bidding began? OK I may be thick, devoid of any business acumen whatsoever, but, these are corporate bigwigs with all minimally holding MBAs, too.

"They could try locking it up and rationing it out to viewers for a fee. But that’s problematic as file sharing can blow that out of the water. The music industry tried that and failed miserably."

Well then WTH would pursue something made by NBC, regardless what it is or how they had to acquire it?
Not I. LOL

"I don’t have a clue as to how they’ll turn this into a money machine like it used to be when they controlled distribution. And I suspect they don’t either."

Maybe, you're usually either correct or damned close.
That said what's to stop CC from simply returning NBC to providing enjoyable programming, selling ad time & dumping the 'attitude' that seems to have come when Immelt took the reigns? Seems to me Immelt's the problem. Get rid of Immelt & ya get rid of his influence & all those who made it possible.

In any event sure will be an interesting story to watch evolve.

"And I still maintain that the concept of TV “networks” as we have perceived them to be all our lives is kaput...Originally it was called 'chain broadcasting.'"

"Spot Versus Chain Broadcasting"

Not ashamed to admit that article kind of had my head swimming. LOL
Would've guessed the issue(s) of spot versus network settled years ago. That is one's better for one type of audience, the other for another. Apparently I guessed wrong. LOL

Then there's Clear Channel's Limbaugh Show.
I understand it's radio, but, are the two mediums that different? Point being if there's something people really want? They'll find it, make whatever adjustment(s) necessary. I feel the same holds true for television, regardless the mode of delivery. The A#1 problem is, to me, TV's all garbage; hence, the disinterest & certainly such is the case in our home.