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Media News -- Print Down, Web Up, TV Next Victim?

T

Teddyo

The Business Journal had an interesting article Thursday about news Web sites and the local print media. Although it didn't really cover TV viewership, it did mention Azcentral.com which is tied to 12's Web site.
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2007/11/12/daily53.html?f=et73&ana=e_du

According to Nielson Online, Azcentral.com logged 2.12 million unique visitors last month, ranked 18th among 30 news Web sites in the U.S.. The site, however, did take the top spot for the average time spent, as viewers averaged 39 minutes a month. Pretty good.

The bad news is on the print side where the Republic is still taking hits -- daily circulation down 4% in the last 6 months again.

But that was nothing compared to the rapidly collapsing East Valley Tribune (media partner to ABC15). If you read the Tribune, you might want to keep a copy as a keepsake. Daily circulation was down 17% from 6 months ago and Sunday was down 11%.

No other conclusion other than the Web is killing print news. Is TV news next?
 
The Repulsive's problem is that it's still the Repulsive - poor editing and the suspicion that their editorial views cloud their news stories. Just like under the Pulliams, but leaning moderate-left instead of far-right. The Arizona Republic is still the worst major-metro newspaper in the country.

The Tribune's problems are even worse: Not only does the paper stink (poor layout, little real news), but their website is next to useless. It's probably too late for them unless they get an owner with a clue. Fix the website, target all of metro Phoenix, and get some reporters that are willing to take on the local politicians (something neither paper nor any of the TV stations do). Combine the Tribune with their co-owned west valley papers, move the whole operation to downtown Phoenix, and call it the Phoenix News-Tribune (combined EV Tribune & Sun City News-Sun). They might give the Repulsive a run for its money.

Despite the known problems with newspaper circulation today, metro Phoenix is still big enough to support two good daily newspapers. Right now we have two very bad daily newspapers.
 
I'm not sure that I agree with this analysis. I believe that the Republic has made alot of recent changes to try to appeal to the ".com generation". They have alot more "user friendly" news -- particularly in business news. Honestly, I am alot more concerned about where to invest my IRA than I am about the fluctuation of the price of gold last week. I can get mutual fund quote on the web, but I would like to know about Tesco's new 10K ft grocery stores that are coming to the valley soon.

As for editorials, I see a great diversity of opinions in the editorial section from liberal/progressive to centrist to decidedly conservative.
 
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