Monday, August 25, 2008

Clarion-Ledger: It's NOT the economy, stupid.

Clarion-Ledger Executive Editor Ronnie Agnew finally mentioned the fact the Gannett newspaper laid off several employees. (This news was reported by WLBT and The Jackson Free Press.):
"I love the profession that I have chosen, even as I know that it is in perhaps its most transformative phase. Layoffs abound, including here at The Clarion-Ledger, where a souring economy forced us to say goodbye to 20 wonderful people. As much as I would wish it, I'm not sure that the transformation is complete. The economy is still too rattled.
It may be weeks or months away, but the day is coming when the economy will work its way out of its funk and newspapers will once again put to rest the idle talk about their demise. We perform a public service that cannot be duplicated. The public has an expectation that we will be there for them. And we will
."

Effective leaders take responsibility when problems inevitably occur. Unfortunately for the employees and readers of The Clarion-Ledger, Mr. Agnew has chosen to abdicate his and instead blame the economy. His weak excuses are symptomatic of bad management, which rarely involves critical self-examination. Contrary to Obama's wishes, there will always be a business cycle and effective leaders know how to deal with it.

The management of The Clarion-Ledger violated several fundamental principles of business as they became a fount of red ink for Gannett. It's no secret the public is getting more of its news from the internet. The Clarion-Ledger, as did other newspapers, committed suicide when it decided to offer their entire online content FOR FREE.

What other business survives by offering a better version of its product FOR FREE to compete with its weaker version for sale? On the newspaper's website, one can read stories, view .pdf files of court documents, photo galleries on ONE story, video coverage, and comments by readers. If I buy the print edition, I am buying a newspaper with almost none of these features. Why should I pay for an inferior product when there is a better free version? What ivory-tower idiot ever thought of that scheme? Yet Mr. Agnew chooses to blame a "rattled" economy for their problems.

The Clarion-Ledger should instead move to a subscription-based online model as newspapers in Little Rock and Lake Charles have done. Charge $5-7 a month or $50 a year for online subscriptions. Follow the lead of The Wall Street Journal and offer some free content but place all the bells and whistles on the subscription side. A reader wants access to photo galleries, .pdf files, and the other media toys, make him pay if he wants to play. As Blackberries and I-phones become more advanced, people will read the news more and more on these devices. Why should it be free when the newspaper is spending money creating a mobile-based edition for their convenience? While some people will shriek over their perceived right to enjoy free newspapers online, such a strategy will probably stop the bleeding now taking place in two areas: a website that is costly to run and a declining print-subscription base.

The Clarion-Ledger also misses other opportunities because of its poor business model. The CL should allow its sportswriters to offer personal blogs with real inside "scoop" on the college football teams they cover. College football fanatics will spend a great deal of money on Rivals, Scout, and team websites. The newspaper gets NONE of that huge stream of revenue. The beat writers for each time could be true revenue generators for The Clarion-Ledger, if Gannett would allow it (and heaven forbid they should actually allow the reporter to make, gasp, MONEY, as a percentage of Ole Miss or USM blog subscriptions sold. Give the beat reporter a financial incentive to grow his personal Ole Miss blog and provide better coverage than Rivals and the message boards.) Each beat writer for a college team should be allowed to operate a blog that requires its own subscription. Offer it at the same time as a single subscription or as part of a higher-priced overall package. Guess what Ronnie? Sports nuts are no different than hunting nuts: regardless of how badly the economy is, they will STILL spend money.

An improved business model however does not hide an inferior product. The repeated and frequent errors in coverage, basic rules of grammar, and other areas have been pointed out by this blog, The Jackson Free Press, and other media sources. The Heather Spencer story showed how stories are constantly rotated among reporters (FIVE different reporters covered that story). Thus the story does not receive good coverage as the reporter fails to acquire true subject matter knowledge, as the story is constantly handed off to someone else who must start from scratch. The editorial page, instead of leading and offering true, informed opinion, follows a model of giving more room to reader feedback. Only one national column is offered per day, placing the newspaper on the level of those in Vicksburg, Hattiesburg, and other burgs. The ad rates are very expensive, driving away potential customers. Restaurant reviews are written by the restaurant owners as critical words are rarely offered. If the Clarion-Ledger is to survive, it must quit looking at the economy and instead start looking in the mirror.

It's sad to see many good employees at The Clarion-Ledger lose their jobs. As someone who has worked for large corporations, I can imagine the tension existing among the remaining employees. Unfortunately, Mr. Agnew's blaming the economy will only ensure more of the same will continue. Someone should remind the ostriches that crabs, notsolutions, are found in the sand.

Related story: http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?s=8800961

2 comments:

A. Boyd Campbell, II said...

I'm wondering if the decisions you mention are made at the Jackson level or at Gannett corporate offices.

So far, the only people who have figured out a really stable and profitable online news strategy have been the internet pure-plays like c-net.com

Kingfish said...

WSJ makes money on their site. SO much that Murdoch was going to take it free until he saw the financials and realized what he had. In fact, he is about to raise the price of an annual subscription.

Lake Charles Press has been doing it for awhile now. If it was more profitable to be free and supported by advertising, they would've done it.

However, my idea about selling single subscriptions for each Ole Miss or MSU beat writer blogs would sell. Those fools will buy almost anything relating to their teams.



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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