Little Rock publisher: I won't cut printed stock listings

TALKING BIZ NEWS EXCLUSIVE

The publisher and owner of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette said Monday that the paper has no plans to cut its printed stock listings, despite the fact that virtually every metro newspaper in the country has done so and put stock listings online.

“Maybe some day,” said Walter E. Hussman Jr., speaking to an “Economics Reporting” class at the University of North Carolina. “But given the current economy, I don’t want to do anything to make someone cancel their subscription.”

Hussman also said there were no plans to cut the printed stock listings at the Chattanooga Times Free Press, which he also owns.

“There are still people who don’t go online every day,” said Hussman. “There are still people who want to get their stocks in the daily paper. In some markets, the printed stocks still have an avid interest.”

Hussman noted that the Little Rock paper publishes more stock listings daily than The Wall Street Journal, which he lauded during his talk for its increased coverage and its charging for access to its online content. The Little Rock paper also charges for content access online.

“I subscribe to the printed edition of The Journal, and I subscibe to the online edition,” said Hussman. “The Journal is one of the few papers that has improved its coverage and expanded its coverage.”

DISCLOSURE: I hold the Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Scholar in business journalism position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It was funded by Hussman Jr. to honor his father.