The Sacramento News & Review and its sister paper in Chico will suspend printing operations and lay off employees next week amid the coronavirus pandemic concerns. President and CEO Jeff VonKaenel said, “The coronavirus-related shutdowns, postponements and cancellations are having a huge impact on these advertisers and our local economy.”
Many businesses have been forced to cut off ties but VonKaenel hopes that the situation is temporary. He further asked readers to support local journalism by donating online at newsreview.com/sacramento/donate.
In another case, The Signal Tribune a weekly community newspaper with a circulation of 30,000 will also cease its print edition as it deals with the chaos caused by the virus. However, the publication will still be posting news online and on digital platforms.
According to reports, the temporary suspension is expected to last until April 1.
The Tribune wrote, “Our job as a newspaper is considered essential to the community even in the event of a national disaster. However, the Signal Tribune is ultimately a small business and the impacts of the virus on society are taking a toll on our relatively small operations.”
In another latest update, the Reno News & Review, Reno’s alternative weekly newspaper will also be ceasing publication. The news was announced on the publication’s website.
“We are suspending publication indefinitely,” said editor Brad Bynum. “There is some hope for some revival before too long, but we don’t have a timeline.”
The reason for suspending printing operations was given to be the revenue model being hit by the coronavirus and eliminating all funds overnight as local advertising businesses close down. “We were not in a position to take a hit from coronavirus,” Bynum added. “We don’t have the revenue to continue. Everybody’s getting laid off and it sucks.”
Only time will tell how many more publications will similarly close down during this pandemic crisis.
