Ripley's Believe it or Not.

Over a month ago, I broke the story that the Tribune was going to be distributed for free.  There was a lot of skepticism about that post, but I had confidence in my original sources. 

I'm sure that you are aware that Tribune Editor Jim Ripley recently announced that versions of the Tribune would indeed be distributed for free.  Here's how the Tribune explains the change. 

I think it's a bold move, and I wish the Tribune luck in its new strategy.  But I have a couple questions about the implementation.

For example, I dropped my daughter off at her soccer game on Saturday and once she was safely with the team, I went to "park the car" by which I mean "quickly go to Starbucks and race back before the game starts."  That's when I saw an interesting sight and decided to take this picture.

The rack on the left provided Saturday's Tribune for free and the rack on the right provided Saturday's Tribune for 50 cents.  I examined the situation for a minute or so, used my extensive analytical skills and decided to take...the free one.  My guess is that I'm not the only one who made this choice.  It's going to be interesting to see how the part-free, part-subscription model works.  I assume that the red rack will stay so that the Sunday Tribune can still be sold for $1.75.

Later that night, I got  this email.

Greg,

Weirdest thing. It’s like Early Edition. I’ve already received the Sunday Scottsdale Tribune, but not much later than 10:30 p.m. on Saturday night. Another weird thing – it only has the Travel section (Section G) and the ads, Parade magazine, (maybe the comics, but it always takes a while to find them. Will they deliver the rest of the news tomorrow? Is that very efficient, delivering twice for one day’s paper? I guess I’ll see in the morning what’s up.

I received this follow up on Sunday morning. 

Greg,

I did get the rest of the paper this morning, and no the comics weren’t there last night, they came this morning. What do you make of this weird delivery scheme? I don’t know if everyone else with Trib delivery got it this way, but if it continues, they’ll be making eight deliveries a week instead of only seven.

I don't know about you, but I'm extremely curious to see how this experiment works.  (By the way we won the game 4-0, but the restrooms were closed for construction, so I was cursing that Vente French Roast by halftime.)

Comments

[TEY]

Al Gore just called. He wants the Trib to reduce its carbon footprint and stop giving away poor Brazilian trees that gave their lives for that free newspaper.

[Jay]

What do your Tribune spies have to say about this?

[Julie]

They're using the right bait to keep people paying - the comics.

I was going to cancel my subscription this year, but it was during the time they were giving away the Superman comics and my 10-year-old son would have had a heart attack.

By they way - he wrote a great thank you letter to the paper for the comics and never heard back from them - it wouldn't have killed them...

[Mesa Econoguy]

Greg, you, above all people, must realize their folly.

Print media are dead. Partly because of advertising revenue dearth, but mostly due to abject journalistic stupidity (redundant), i.e. “get out of my market, because you suck” rules.

I don’t wish them luck at all. I wish them oblivion.

Start reporting facts, stop editorializing on the front page, start hiring (economically) educated staff, and quit throwing your trash on my driveway, you moron Ripley.