Thursday, January 24, 2008

Globe layoffs: fact or fantasy?

According to Metro Boston, the Globe is in for some truly nasty attrition--"hundreds of layoffs" is the phrase that caught my eye--as well as a per-copy price hike from 50 to 75 cents.

But is it true? Here's the response that a Globe spokesman provided to DQM:

Metro Boston’s front page story today claiming that the Boston Globe is planning "hundreds of layoffs" is factually incorrect. There are no plans for a staff reduction of the size cited in the Metro. As we have said many times in the past, we are always looking for operational efficiencies and will make staff reductions in accordance with those efforts when and if appropriate.

The Metro also erred in reporting the extent of a proposed price increase for the daily newspaper. The newsstand price of individual copies of the Globe will increase from 50 cents to 75 cents on Feb. 4. Contrary to the Metro report, the increase affects only newspapers sold in the Greater Boston area. The daily Globe is already priced at 75 cents at locations beyond 30 miles of the city. The price increase does not affect home delivery copies of the paper.

Obviously, this raises a couple questions. Like: if there are no plans for "hundreds" of layoffs, are there plans for any? And: if so, how many? (It also raises the question of why people would pay an extra quarter for the Globe when they can read it for free online, but that's another story.)

One more thing: since the New York Times Co. owns both the Globe and a 49 percent stake in Metro Boston, it might seem odd that the two publications have had some difficulty reporting on developments at their corporate siblings. But look on the bright side: that's also a reassuring sign of aggressive intra-Times Co. reporting.

1/24/2008 6:32:40 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [5] |

Thursday, January 24, 2008 8:26:35 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

I think Ben Bradlee would call that a non-denial denial.

I think the Metro should run a correction saying they meant to say "scores" of layoffs and see if they deny that.

upside potential

Friday, January 25, 2008 1:02:37 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

The Globe already costs 75 cents for home delivered copies, at least for people who pay full price. Last time I checked, they would continue cutting the price to "introductory levels" for anyone who mentioned they might cancel. But for people who don't continually call, they are charged $7.75 a week, which works out to 75 cents a day, $3.25 for Sundays, for home delivery. One of the most expensive home-delivered newspapers in the country.

Mark

Friday, January 25, 2008 5:36:46 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

So Mark, what your saying is that for the same price that a consumer can buy the Globe at the store ($.75 eff. feb 4th) you can have it served to you at your door daily for no additional charge. Some guy from the Globe gets up at 3am, uses his own car and gas, and you wake up and Bingo, the Globe is here. Sounds like a great deal to me !!!

bill

Friday, January 25, 2008 10:22:39 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Yes Bill, but then you're tempted to read it.

Aging Cynic

Saturday, January 26, 2008 6:38:16 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

If the Globe raises the cost of delivered copies, on top of all the things they have done to cheapen (they call it improvements for readers) the product they provide for readers, they had better plan on losing a subscriber. There have been many things, including combining Sidekick and Calendar, no Boston Magazine on several Sundays with the excuse that they have produced a larger 'special issue' on other Sundays, and cheaper fluff pages made up of low cost syndicated material, that they claim are part of making a 'more exciting paper' for their readers. They are sounding like the MBTA, when faced with mounting deficits due to falling ridership, raised prices to make up for that deficit, not recognizing that those very raises created the falling ridership. Well, the Globe may very well see raising prices to offset falling readership cause a steeper falloff in readers, and round and round we go.

acf

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