Celebrating its 100th birthday this month and next, is the most prominent newspaper to date to take the online plunge. But, like some of the others that have quit daily print publication t
his year, it has special circumstances that would not apply to the typical metro daily. In the Monitor's case, those circumstance include a modest circulation -- about 50,000 -- combined with national distribution.Also, it is owned by the Church of Christ, Scientist, which has been willing to underwrite operating shortfalls though the years but not the big losses that come in the current deteriorating print climate.
Both the print and Web versions of the Monitor are light on advertising. So unlike most dailies, it will save substantially on printing, paper and distribution without an enormous sacrifice of premium-priced print advertising revenue.
Editor & Publisher reported that the Monitor expects to save $4 million in the first year, but will lose about $5 million in revenue.
1 comment:
While I was not a reader of the CSM, I must admit that I read most newspapers online myself. Sign of the times... Yet, I find it sad that the glory days of the printed newspaper are clearly history - some of the biggest dailies are struggling seriously. Soon we will carry out 'Kindle' to the coffeehouse. Not quite the same...
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