[Rhodes22-list] Newspapers - Brad

[Brad Haslett]

Slim,

Here's a link to the investments that Avista Capital (buyer of the Strib)
owns.  Quite an interesting collection including oil, pharms, and MGM among
other things.

http://www.avistacap.com/avista_investments.pdf

My guess is that they plan to put lipstick on the pig and take it to
market.  Most newspapers in every market are in trouble because there are
fewer subscribers and quite frankly, as a media buy, they are no longer that
good of a deal for advertisers.  Some are charging for online access to get
the full paper.  I pay about $85 a year for online access to the Wall Street
Journal.  Not only can I read it from anywhere or at any time (don't have to
wait for delivery) but I can also search the archives.  Besides, it saves a
lot of trees.  If the old line newspapers are to survive, they'll have to
duplicate that business model in some fashion.  It is sad to see old
institutions like the Strib (NY Times next) hit the ash heap of history but
that's bidness.  I'm sure the last buggy whip manufacturer in business
before the automobile took over made a damn fine product.

Brad


On 1/19/07, Slim <stevenalm at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Brad,
>
> I try the Strib online when I'm on the raod but it has its problems.  For
> example, I was going to send you the link to Garrison Keilor's recent
> column
> on the vanishing newspaper but the online Strib doesn't publish GK.  Why
> do
> you suppose?
>
> Slim
>
> On 1/18/07 5:08 PM, "Brad Haslett" <flybrad at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Slim,
> >
> > I read the STRIB online like everyone else.  Kerston wouldn't last a day
> in
> > this town.  We have Wendy Thomas, the exact political opposite of
> Katherine
> > but the same role.  I'm batting a 1000 against Wendy so far, two for
> two.
> > This is sad to watch.  You can get better news analysis on the blogs but
> you
> > have to sift through the shit.  Come to think of it, not that much
> different
> > than reading the newspaper.  The 'ole grey lady', otherwise known as the
> New
> > York Times, has the cross-hairs on her as well.  We'll be left with
> Gannett,
> > AP, and Rueters.  None of them are very impressive.  You are correct,
> the
> > visual of you on the throne with a laptop is not  pretty.  Please don't
> put
> > a webcam on the computer!
> >
> > Brad
> >
> >
> > On 1/18/07, Slim <stevenalm at comcast.net> wrote:
> >>
> >> Brad,
> >>
> >> My favorite local rag, The Star Tribune AND the St. Paul Pioneer Press
> are
> >> both going down in flames.  The Strib was just sold in a rushed deal
> the
> >> day
> >> after Christmas to pay for MaClatchy's CEO, Gary Pruitt's capitol gains
> >> taxes.  After only a few weeks now both papers are shadows of their
> former
> >> selves with newsmen running for the door like lemmings.  Now would be a
> >> good
> >> time to try to lure your favorite Strib columnist, Katherine Kerston to
> >> Memphis.  (The only good news.)
> >>
> >> Papers across the country are losing readership because more are
> getting
> >> their news on the web.  Or is it more are on the web because papers are
> >> providing less?  Note: Minneapolis is the most web-connected city in
> the
> >> US
> >> per capita.  I won't read 32 pages online but I will in print.  A lot
> of
> >> folks read themselves to sleep at night.  I read myself awake and that
> >> coffee and paper thing has been a mainstay for ever.
> >>
> >> Sadly, I no longer feel I'm getting my money's worth from the Strib and
> >> I'm
> >> canceling my subscription after...well, after a lifetime since my
> parents
> >> always got the paper and so have I as an adult received the paper at my
> >> doorstep every day.  Now what am I going to do?  How am I supposed to
> get
> >> out of bed with nothing to read with my coffee?  How am I supposed to
> take
> >> a
> >> dump without the sports page?  Imagine me sitting there on the throne
> with
> >> my laptop.  No, don't.  Sorry for that visual.  These are life-long
> habits
> >> and I bummed.
> >>
> >> Slim
> >>
> >> __________________________________________________
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