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Date Posted: 21:09:07 12/29/11 Thu
Author: Bookie Looky
Subject: Re: Bob Hoover's status
In reply to: reader 's message, "Re: Bob Hoover's status" on 07:15:11 12/29/11 Thu

It is a confusing time for newspapers, which may be an endangered species. Which appears to be why the Blocks, etc. keep flailing around with "Web products," none of which they know will succeed and which don't bring in very much cash. I guess in one of the multitudinous editorial meetings someone said let's do a specific afternoon Web product, and we own the name The Pittsburgh Press, and all the minions said whoopie ding, let's do it. But they don't offer much in that and offer less than they used to in the newspaper. Ironically, this city may be better situated to newspaper readership than others since demographically it is nearly the oldest population in the country, though the grim reaper surely cuts into more of that readership. Dozens have taken buyouts to get on with the rest of their careers or just to retire with a few extra bucks in their pockets. A good number work a day or so as stringers because the paper needs their experience and work. You have to doubt the wisdom of cutting costs and clawing to meagerly boost revenue streams at the expense of quality and quantity; you may survive but as what? Like you, reader, many may have thought you can fool some of the people some of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. I still subscribe and would like the paper to survive awhile, and it seems it will. But who knows? I guess the Blocks would unload it if they could, but seem to be stuck; anyone who wants, if anyone does, may be waiting for the price to hit bottom.

>
>I don't know why people keep buying the paper when its
>owners and managers continue to drive out their
>longtime writers. I stopped buying it more than a
>year ago. I could not in good conscience shell out
>money for a paper that won't shell out money for its
>staff writers.

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Replies:

[> [> [> [> Re: Bob Hoover's status -- reader, 17:58:48 01/01/12 Sun [1]

I think the owners have alienated former segments of the PG readership, readers like me who still find newspapers exciting but would feel disloyal by buying the paper. I don't know how the owners can continue to run that silly "One of America's Great Newspapers" subhead or banner or whatever it's called on the front page. As much as I loved the paper, it was never "great," but it has long since been gutted. It's thin, sick, and frail. Wasting money on something as fatuous as that gimmicky online Pittsburgh Press instead of rehiring some of the former staff writers was deplorable. For more than a year now, I have been giving my money to The New York Times and skimming the PG online.

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[> [> [> [> [> Re: Bob Hoover's status -- Fool Me Once, 06:18:57 01/04/12 Wed [1]

>I agree that the Pgh Press/Post Gazette whatever it's name is is not a "great " newspaper. I have been a subscriber for at least 35 years through all my moves etc. I finally (I thought ) cancelled my subscription. However, I just did not renew it, sent in no payment. But that did not stop it and it kept coming. Finally, I was called by a phone solicitor who told me I owed a balance because I had not "officially called and cancelled" my subscription. Okay so I officially cancelled it, but kept the Sunday edition coming. I had to pay for it at least 6 months. It was all just to much effort for a lousy paper. So in six months, I will call and cancel the Sunday edition too. I admit that it makes me sad to think that an old holdout like me is finished.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Bob Hoover's status -- former PG partisan, 17:44:35 01/04/12 Wed [1]

Wow, so now they are treating their readers as poorly as they have treated their staff writers. I guess it comes as no surprise, but it is sad nevertheless. The PG is moribund.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Bob Hoover's status -- Bookie Looky, 10:26:20 01/05/12 Thu [1]

Indeed. The saddest thing is there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Owners/managers comprise a lot of bad actors. Unless all that gets shook up, and professional news people with integrity are installed, this can't end well. But the movement seems to be in the wrong direction. It may well be that nothing short of new owners who bring in good people to make the operation more professional can turn this around. Doubt if that is likely. But the sliver-spoon owners don't seem to get it that in the long run, you can't get something for nothing.


>Wow, so now they are treating their readers as poorly
>as they have treated their staff writers. I guess it
>comes as no surprise, but it is sad nevertheless. The
>PG is moribund.

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[> [> [> [> [> Re: Bob Hoover's status -- Still better than the Trib, 11:04:38 01/05/12 Thu [1]

Beyond the blogs, the PG remains the city's best source for local news and opinion, for better or worse.

>I think the owners have alienated former segments of
>the PG readership, readers like me who still find
>newspapers exciting but would feel disloyal by buying
>the paper. I don't know how the owners can continue
>to run that silly "One of America's Great Newspapers"
>subhead or banner or whatever it's called on the front
>page. As much as I loved the paper, it was never
>"great," but it has long since been gutted. It's
>thin, sick, and frail. Wasting money on something as
>fatuous as that gimmicky online Pittsburgh Press
>instead of rehiring some of the former staff writers
>was deplorable. For more than a year now, I have been
>giving my money to The New York Times and skimming the
>PG online.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Bob Hoover's status -- ugh, 14:30:11 01/11/12 Wed [1]

That's true. It's still better than the Trib. That's not saying much, though.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Bob Hoover's status -- Really?, 14:47:00 01/11/12 Wed [1]

I think there are plenty of people out there that would disagree....the Trib's circulation is climbing, and not because of newspaper purchases, while the PG's is sliding.
Each has its strengths and weaknesses.

>Beyond the blogs, the PG remains the city's best
>source for local news and opinion, for better or worse.
>
>>I think the owners have alienated former segments of
>>the PG readership, readers like me who still find
>>newspapers exciting but would feel disloyal by buying
>>the paper. I don't know how the owners can continue
>>to run that silly "One of America's Great Newspapers"
>>subhead or banner or whatever it's called on the front
>>page. As much as I loved the paper, it was never
>>"great," but it has long since been gutted. It's
>>thin, sick, and frail. Wasting money on something as
>>fatuous as that gimmicky online Pittsburgh Press
>>instead of rehiring some of the former staff writers
>>was deplorable. For more than a year now, I have been
>>giving my money to The New York Times and skimming the
>>PG online.

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