TRIB-ulation

Well they finally admitted it.  Tribune Editor Jim Ripley is seeking feedback on the Tribune's new format and had this admission.

... "If it ain't broke...," they say.  The problem is the business model is broke. The newspaper industry has fallen on financial hard times.

For the last few years I've been pointing out that the newspaper industry's fundamental business model was no longer viable.  Events of the last few weeks made the proposition so obvious that the papers themselves are no longer denying it. 

I focus so much on the Republic that I haven't taken the time to point out that we are witnessing the complete collapse of the Tribune and the Star as well.

One of the comments on the "Retribution" post below indicated that the Tribune laid eight people off yesterday.  (The post was anonymous, but remember that I get to see the underlying IP address and source email, so I can verify that the comment was credible.)  (The number has since been updated to 23.  That plus the numbers from earlier this year takes the total number of layoffs to 42 and the wage freeze that was implemented in January has been extended.)

I don't have much glee over the demise of the Tribune.  In fact I'm saddened.  The Republic needs the competition and the Governor needs the occasional scrutiny. 

I'm sure that Le Templar will be commenting soon.  Coming in like Glenn Campbell at the end of True Grit.  "I ain't dead yet."  And I hope he's right, and even if he's not, it doesn't necessarily signal the end.  After all, the Tucson Citizen has lingered in a persistent vegetative state for years.

As for the Daily Star, things look really bad.  I reported last month that the Star's owner, Lee Enterprises, has written off half of the Star's value since acquiring it a few years ago. 

Now, Lee Enterprises' stock is in free fall.  The stock is down 76% year to date, 50% in the last month and 12% yesterday alone.

I've trumpeted the industry's collapse for several years, however, this last month has the look of a tipping point; the business model is untenable and there will be no capital infusion.  Every staff member at every major paper has his resume on a flash drive and a minimal amount of personal effects in his cubicle.

I don't know what the future business model looks like, but 2500 people sitting in cubicles in the middle of downtown isn't it. 

My guess is that the future business model will be lean with an emphasis on freelance journalists and stringers.  The major papers will be written by hundreds of people, not thousands and the mid size papers will be written by dozens not hundreds. 

The reporter of the future will look like Howie Fischer--self employed, entrepreneurial, an expert in a single field, working without corporate benefits or a corporate retirement.

Ultimately, I knew that it would end this way.  After the Apocalypse, when the seven seals have been broken and the last Mainstream Media trumpet has sounded, there will exist a vast desolate wasteland and the only surviving creatures will be cockroaches, Howie...and, of course, Cher. 

Comments

[SonoranSam]

On behalf of we cockroaches, I must take umbrage at being compared to Howie Fischer.

[Bill]

Esppresso Pundit is a joy to read. This is such an awesome turn of phrase:

"Ultimately, I knew that it would end this way. After the Apocalypse, when the seven seals have been broken and the last Mainstream Media trumpet has sounded, there will exist a vast desolate wasteland and the only surviving creatures will be cockroaches, Howie...and, of course, Cher."

[Update]

At 4 p.m. yesterday the Tribune publisher Julie Moreno announced that yesterday's layoff total was actually 23.

This is also the third round of layoffs since February.

This is awful and tragic. I truly hope something changes soon to prevent any more people from losing their jobs.

[ron]

My AZ Republic seems to get smaller every day.

[nick]

Howie is more interesting than the repugnant!

[Le Templar]

I don't want to disappoint Greg, so I'll weigh in to say that, unfortunately, everything mentioned here is accurate as far as I know. There's no denying the bad financial picture for media companies (most of which include both print and television).
Greg is also right in that I'm not giving up. And I hope the other journalists at the Tribune (many of whom are certainly better than me) don't either.

[EXTERMINATOR]

If the cockroaches will be among the last survivors then the Trib. actually has a chance.

The Mesa office is completely infested with cockroaches! They are frequently found in the reporter's desks, in the bathrooms and the kitchen. It is so bad employees actually created and signed a petition to have the building sprayed. When Jim Ripley saw the petition he called a meeting with everyone who signed it and yelled at them for being ungrateful. Seriously!!

Now that the Trib. has laid off most of their maintenance crew, the cockroaches will likely overrun the place completely. They already outnumber the dwindling reporting staff!

[ron]

I wouldn't want to be looking for a job in this economy....

[Name:]

I am not looking to pick a fight but Howie is a great political reporter, tolerates zero spin or BS, and still manages to sell stories to newspapers.

[bella]

*agrees with Le Templar*
When I worked there, the roaches were EVERYWHERE. Not to mention the black beetle bugs that used to FALL FROM THE CEILING. That whole building is infested.

As a side note.. It was told to me that the layoff actually was 28 people. (which may have included other offices).. so that makes like what? 20 people left? (joking)

[New Times rocks!!]

Jim Ripley always has been a spineless, insufferable bore, parroting whatever catch phrases and buzz words he thought would win the approval of his bosses.
His only discernible ability has been a penchant for survival. Somehow he has lasted as managing editor or executive editor with three different owners.
Why did he get so mad about the employee petition to rid the Tribune building of cockroaches? He was standing up for his compatriots.