Erie Times-News to outsource printing
Erie-Meadville: It was announced earlier on www.goerie.com that the printing of the Erie Times-News will be outsourced by the 3rd quarter of 2011. It is not clear who will take over printing the daily newspaper as of yet but this move will put 40 people on the unemployment line. The Union representing the workers was not happy as this news occured on the day negotiations for a new contract were to take place. The Times Publishing Company is stating that aging equipment (up to 40 years old) is the reason why the ETN is looking at outsourcing the publication. With the Internet becoming becoming an alternative source for newspapers to utilize, it really does not make sense for a publisher to invest in new printing equipment. No doubt, newspapers will become a thing of the past in a few years. A few have already closed shop or went exclusively online.Readers’ Forum
Of course, it doesn’t help that the Times-News is one of the most bigoted supply-side outfits this side of the Scaife papers.
Rick - March 10, 2011 at 11:32 pm
First of all, in the interest of full disclosure, I write for one of those allegedly “bigoted supply-side” Scaife papers. Second, allow me to disagree with the notion that newspapers will “become a thing of the past in a few years.” I think newspapers able to cope with changes in technology will continue to operate, with some even being able to thrive. Any medium able to serve an audience and net revenue can take advantage of modern technology. I do scratch my head at how the Erie paper will be able to outsource its print shop (I think, for instance, the Scaife papers’ Newsworks are a bit too far south for the Erie market). All in all, however, I believe the print medium can continue in various forms. The eulogy for the newspaper wasn’t needed in the 1930s despite the rise of radio, nor in the 1960s though television did replace the extra editions. I do not see a need for it in the 2010s or 2020s either.
Pat Cloonan (URL) - March 14, 2011 at 5:52 pm
I hope you’re right, Pat. The newspaper will need to adapt to compete in today’s world with the Internet and apps for Smartphones. I just hope that other newspapers do not go down the same route and shut down printing presses. I have heard that Warren, Ohio may be where the Erie papers are going to be published. I wasn’t trying to be negative about the newspaper industry in paper form, just the trend that leans towards paperless newspapers someday. Being enviromentally friendly could be another factor towards going paperless. Time will tell as I hope the newspaper can withstand both changes and challenges facing the industry like never before.
Tom Lavery (URL) - March 14, 2011 at 7:21 pm
I enjoy this site a lot for what it offers, but take major exception to how this post was written. Most specifically, the final two lines: “No doubt, newspapers will become a thing of the past in a few years. A few have already closed shop or went exclusively online.” There are how many newspapers in this country? Thousands and thousands from national papers to regional papers to small town community papers and so many more types of newspapers each with a certain niche or audience. To say that newspapers will die in a “few” years is quite an inappropriate and inaccurate statement. I’m deeply saddened that this site would allow such an assumption. Let’s look into facts and figures before throwing out comments such as this.
Bobby - March 17, 2011 at 7:42 pm
I gather you work for a newspaper or you do not like my opinion on this topic. If the traditional newspaper stays intact for 20 years, that will be an accomplishment in the world of instant information. Who’s to say when more printing presses become too costly to fix like the ones in Erie that this will not happen in more towns with publishers who will no longer be able to afford to print a newspaper in house & have to outsource until printing a paper becomes a thing of the past. Nobody thought analog TV would go away either, but it’s gone other than some low powered stations that will also have to convert eventually. Look at the USPS losing business to the internet where you can pay bills and send e-mail instantly instead of buying a stamp & writting a letter. Soon, there will be only 5 days of mail service because of technology. The world is changing and all forms of media including newspapers must adapt to changes like I told Pat in my previous post.
Tom Lavery (URL) - March 17, 2011 at 10:18 pm
To this day, I still believe in newspapers and wish younger people would take the time to read them. Therein lies one of the problems: Younger people refuse to take the time needed to read and digest the information that newspapers have done such a great job of imparting over the years.
In the case of ETN, it doesn’t help that papers of its ilk use their political and parochial biases to determine everything from content to who they hire. I remain convinced I was not hired by ETN because the sports editor hated Pittsburgh teams (especially the Steelers) so bad that he wanted nothing to do with a sports reporter who might have proven a greater asset than any of those who had a Cleveland oritentation.
It’s sad that anyone might feel that way away the hiring process, but you know what they say about perception.
Former newspaper guy - March 17, 2011 at 10:44 pm
No offense, but what does any of this have to do with Pittsburgh television & radio?
a reader - March 18, 2011 at 02:07 am
PBRTV is a blog that covers other areas like Youngstown & Erie as was the intent by creators of this site. It gives a well rounded view of media in different areas. Other blogs like Ohio Media Watch does the same thing in different areas in Ohio.
Tom Lavery (URL) - March 18, 2011 at 6:28 pm
It also is duly noted that a lot of radio and some TV floats in from the hinterlands to the Pittsburgh market. If you scan in and around Pittsburgh you often will get Youngstown, Wheeling, Morgantown and Johnstown radio stations. I appreciate Tom’s perspective about an area that includes a bunch of stations readily heard down this way.
Pat Cloonan (URL) - March 21, 2011 at 1:09 pm
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