- anna griffin via twitter
- Editor Peter Bhatia meets with reporters and editors.
Joining other Advance Publications newspapers nationwide, the Oregonian announced this morning that it will be laying off staffers and reconstituting itself as a print-digital media outfit known as the Oregonian Media Group—keeping daily publication but dropping home delivery to just four days a week (with Saturday as some kind of “bonus”; you’ll only pay for three days).
The paper made it all official at 10 this morning, ending months of rumors after similar moves, often panned, in cities like New Orleans and Cleveland. (The New Orleans Times-Picayune recently restored daily print publication after first embarking on this hybrid media strategy years ago.) Current editor Peter Bhatia will remain in charge of content for the new company. Publisher N. Christian Anderson will remain president.
The number of layoffs, however, is unclear. And so is the fallout for staffers. A separate company, Advance Central Services Oregon, will take up “support” duties, like HR and circulation, for the new company and “others”—suggesting many of the cuts might come from the consolidation of “back office” functions at the downtown paper and its suburban holdings. Printing will remain in Portland. The paper says current employees are free to apply for jobs in the new companies.
Business reporter Brent Hunsberger, citing Bhatia, sent a tweet saying the news side will still have 90 or so reporters.
Severance packages will be offered, but Bhatia has given a caution.
Writer Anna Griffin has been on Twitter shedding some light on what’s been happening in the newsroom. No across-the-board pay cuts, she says, making sure to say that everyone is being “humane” about the news—despite the promise of “significant” cuts, people will know pretty soon.
The changes take effect October 1. There will also be a digital newspaper released at the unfortunately named “MyDigitalO.com.” The paper company will be actively working to do more with video and slideshows and other digital content as it devises new ad packages and prices.
A FAQ from the O is here.
16.7 MB PDF download so slow scrolling, terrible read on tablets, phones, laptops. They’ll need to learn HTML, links, etc. Sad, mostly; slow train wreck.
I haven’t bought a paper copy of Oregonian in 20+ years and studiously avoid their non-local content online; without significant editorial re-thinking this model also seems unsustainable. Journalists who set down local roots, breed kids, etc. need to learn to pee in their own backyard. I liked the obit for Michael Hastings yesterday, “he never balked at burning a bridge.”
As a person who does very little online reading, this is upsetting. I know many people who count on the Oregonian for connection to local, national, and world events who do not have a home computer to be able to read the news on. I supposed with decreased service, our rates will also increase-just like garbage service. Joy.
“MyDigitalO”?
NO, YOU GUYS, NO. YOU CANNOT NAMED YOUR PAPER AFTER FINGERBANGING, COME ON.
“If it matters to Oregonians, ah, fuck it.”
More videos and slideshows? Yup, that’ll work.
MY DIGITAL O
Or…
MOAR LIKE RETREAT PUBLICATIONS AMIRITE?
I came here to shit on “mydigitalO” so I’m happy we’re all busily doing just that.
Good thing the Oregonian’s primary purpose is still intact: Providing an online home for disgruntled Tea Partiers to jabber with each other.
Surprise! MyDigitalO redirects to goatse.
The quality of the paper itself has been in decline for years now. Some things in smaller degrees, for example losing the weekly TV guide in the Sunday edition (though I really only wanted to read Ted Mahr back then), and the comics section getting smaller, but it also seems the writing isn’t as engaging as before.
If they want to cut service, then I would expect my bill to drop a little. I was surprised by the extent of the cut – 3 days. I had expected maybe to lose a monday edition, but not 3 days.
It seems only a matter of time before I actually drop my subscription that I’ve had since I first moved here 21 years ago.
I understand that someone is going to write a history of the Oregonian newspaper. I think they are going to call it: The Story of O….
DigitialO?? Unbelievable.
In New Orleans the state paper, the Advocate, launched a New Orleans edition after the Picayune did this. All my mates at the Picayune who were any good then got hired by the Advocate and now the Picayune Media Group is a laughing stock locally amongst power brokers. On the other hand, it’s probably more profitable because good journalistic talent is expensive. Whereas 15 pages of NFL coverage is both cheap and…well…engaging. All that Lycra.