July 29, 2005

(Updated) 'Tribune' Spins Itself Off Its Axis

Time To Start Placing Your Bets

Note: This post has been updated. Any and all updates appear at the end of the original post.

Last week, bits of the local blogosphere were all atwitter about more layoffs at the Portland Tribune, the latest in an ongoing string of news about the paper's seeming slow demise.

This past Tuesday, the paper announced the first ramification: Business stories would no longer have their own section but somehow just be folded into regular coverage in the main section.

In today's edition, the paper's president spins himself silly, describing the paper's future as a "bright" one.

"A week ago, the Tribune made some changes in staffing that critics have claimed are a sign of weakness or impending doom," writes Steve Clark. "They could not be more wrong."

Yeah, okay.

Is it time to start the Portland Tribune dead pool yet?

July 30th, 2005 Update

Random question: Anyone know if, somewhere lurking in the nether regions of Portland media, there are person or persons who, if the Tribune did not exist, would try to take its place? If the paper folds, are we just plain short on outlet, or is there someone out there waiting in the wings to fill a potential void?

Posted at 01:27 PM | PermalinkComments (2) | TrackBacks (1)
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Comments (2)

  1. Betsy on 30 Jul 2005

    I've answered your question in a long-winded fashion over here
    on PDX MetBlogs.

    But I'll also add a bit here as well:

    * I think advertisers can find other vehicles that'll reach their target audience.
    * From an editorial standpoint alone, I don't see the need for more A&E-type coverage or yet another gardening column. Portland's saturated already - especially when you consider online resources.
    * The Trib's sports section does provide decent prep coverage - but someone else will fill that gap if they fail.
    * I'd miss the local news focus - especially Jim Redden.

  2. toonprivate on 30 Jul 2005

    If rationality rules, I think we'd be down an outlet. Pamplin has spent gobs of money on the Trib. Without going into its weaknesses, missed opportunities, strategic errors and management problems, still it was a reasonable effort. It would take another hobbyist, like Pamplin, to front the money and sustain the losses, and they are considerable. New news gathering operations will probably have to be net-based non-profits.

Trackbacks (1)

  1. Tribune changes, part two on 30 Jul 2005

    There's still plenty of buzz around town about the Trib's recent changes - and no one seems to be buying the valiant effort at a rosy picture that publisher Steve Clark's trying to spin around town. PDX Media Watcher wonders...