Those at the Providence and Portland branches of the Phoenix should not be making long-term plans for their publications: They'll probably get the axe in a week or two.
Not necessarily. The Boston Phoenix's cost structure was dependent on national advertisers and the market for that just has totally dried up.
Portland/Providence Phoenix are small enough that their cost structure is dependent on LOCAL advertisers and supposedly those are still doing okay. Not great, but okay.
I agree that ALL newspapers are staring hard into a black financial abyss but I'm told the Portland/Providence operations won't be terribly affected by Boston's demise.
Well, they'll be AFFECTED...they're losing a major source of content; I heard the Providence outlet was hiring four reporters to help pick up the slack. If so, great for them!