Mercury News editor Dave Butler sent employees a memo updating them about the paper’s budget situation. Management is “crunching numbers” to avoid newsroom staff reductions, although he “can make no promises.” (They’ve already gone through three rounds of layoffs and buyouts in less than 2 years.)
He’s asking “all reporters and editors to demonstrate their outstanding writing and reporting skills by cramming the same information – or what’s essential for the story — in less space,” in order to cut newshole as they face a 15%-plus increase in the price of newsprint for the next year.
So… the Merc, as well as other Media News Group papers are “exploring” a way to “produce “Quick Read” Monday and Tuesday newspapers,” wrote Butler in the memo. “As you all know, we’ve been moving down this path for some months and would likely continue to do so, particularly tightening up Monday.”
They’re not the only ones going down this path. Tribune is considering shrinking the number of pages in its publications as well.