Categories: OLD Media Moves

Where did my business section go?

Louis Hau of Forbes writes Wednesday about the cuts — including the cutting of standalone business sections — made by daily newspapers to remain profitable.

Hau writes, “But it’s probably the least worst option for newspapers facing severe cost-cutting pressures, says Todd Brownrout, a former advertising executive at The Los Angeles Times and other newspapers, who is now chief marketing officer of 2AdPro, a provider of outsourced advertising design and management services.

“Brownrout estimates a typical newspaper generates about 35% of its advertising revenue from classified ads and about 15% to 20% from inserts. The main A-section of the paper generates most of the rest, perhaps about two-thirds, while features, business and sports sections account for the remainder.

“‘I don’t think there’s a single publisher who thinks, ‘My readers aren’t interested,’ or ‘I don’t have a commitment,’ or “It’s not valuable,” Brownrout says of the elimination of separate business and features sections. ‘But you end up in a situation where your hands are tied. The market is sending a message that newspapers have to bring their cost base down.’

“Rivals are taking advantage. Weekly business newspapers in Los Angeles, Denver, Phoenix and Dallas have notched modest circulation gains during the last two years even as the daily newspapers in those same markets have lost readers, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations.”

Read more here.

Recent Posts

Indianapolis Biz Journal seeks a news editor

The Indianapolis Business Journal is looking for our next news editor, a role that focuses…

13 hours ago

Axios hires Berkowitz as ME for media and markets coverage

Axios has chosen Ben Berkowitz to be its next managing editor of business and markets.…

18 hours ago

Business Insider hires Ortega as director of newsroom operations

Business Insider editor in chief Jamie Heller sent out the following on Monday: I'm thrilled…

18 hours ago

Rest of World promotes Chandran to deputy editor

Rest of World editor in chief Anup Kaphle sent out the following on Monday: We are excited…

19 hours ago

FT hires Venugopal as India newsletter editor

The Financial Times has hired Veena Venugopal as its India newsletter editor. She has been working at…

19 hours ago

FT taps Parkin to be Middle East and Africa news editor

Benjamin Parkin has been named Middle East and Africa news editor at the Financial Times, based…

22 hours ago