San Francisco's Main Newspaper, the Chronicle, May Shut

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters

San Francisco's main newspaper, the Chronicle, may shut

By Robert MacMillan and Janet Kornblum – 36 mins ago

NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – San Francisco may lose its main newspaper, the San Francisco Chronicle, as owner Hearst Corp cuts a "significant" number of jobs and decides whether to shut or sell the money-losing daily. The privately held New York-based publisher already is considering shutting a second West Coast paper, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, in the face of a devastating decline in advertising revenue and big losses.

Founded shortly after Gold Rush fever hit California in the mid-19th century, the Chronicle has long been an essential part of daily life for many Bay Area residents, even as it sometimes disappointed or outraged them. But the Chronicle lost more than $50 million last year and this year's losses to date are worse, Hearst said on its website on Tuesday. It said the paper has lost "major" amounts of money since 2001, a year after Hearst bought the paper.

"Survival is the outcome we all want to achieve. But without the specific changes we are seeking across the entire Chronicle organization, we will have no choice but to quickly seek a buyer for the Chronicle or, should a buyer not be found, to shut the newspaper down," said Hearst Corp Chief Executive Frank Bennack Jr. More than 100 employees gathered in a conference room to hear the news from Editor Ward Bushee and Publisher Frank Vega after receiving a message about a mandatory staff meeting. "Some people were crying at the meeting," said Rachel Gordon, 47, a transportation reporter at the paper. "But people are trying to get the newspaper out for tomorrow."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090225/bs_nm/us_hearst_sanfranciscochron

[bleever]

1. Nooooo!

I read it all the way through. I know people who work there.

Print matters!

[Gregorian]

2. My first reaction too. Nooooo!

That was Art Hoppe's playground. Oh dear.

[jaundicedi]

3. I just heard the ghost

of Herb Caen moaning. I have sat through a lot of bad films with their critic. I grew up on Herb Caen and Art Hoppe. It ain't RIGHT!

[davidinalameda]

4. wouldn't be surprised if this happens

it's being reported on SFGate.com-the paper's website, which is another reason why the paper is doing so poorly

why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free

[sansf]

5. Local news disappearing

This is my first post. I live in S.F. I hate to see this happen. I hate more job loss. But the Chron of today isn't a very good paper. Herb Caen and Art Hoppe were of another world now gone. The shame is that newspapers have given up on quality local reporting. Despite my criticisms, reading the chron on a morning commute will be missed by many.

[comtec]

8. The problem is ownership

when they changed owners in the 90's it all went to hell iirc.
The sooner it's back in BAY AREA owned hands the better!
I can believe these assholes would rathe4r close it then sell it to an actual progressive or local!
Maybe KGO has interest in a hands-off ownership in a newspaper that can serve the community? :)

We need the Chron and we need it to be owned buy people who actually give a damn about the bay area!

oh well, my two cents :( I'd hate to see it go away on so many levels.

What has happened to my beloved California, Bay area, since I let? =[

[EFerrari]

10. Welcome to DU, neighbor.

:hi:

[AsahinaKimi]

6. Some where...

Herb Caen just rolled over in his Grave.


sansf!! As a fellow San Francisco Neighbor!! Welcome to DU!!

[NBachers]

7. I worked there for several years

I was a Teamster who enthusiastically participated in their last strike back in 1994. I'm still proud to have my picket sign, and plan to be buried with it. As the paper has thinned down and adopted "improved" formats, it has become a shell of its former self. I'm still buying it when I go out for breakfast or lunch. Whatever you feel about the Chronicle, it's a big part of San Francisco history, and life in this city will never be the same without it.

“A free press is like a free life—it's always in danger.” - Humphrey Bogart, Deadline - USA 1952



Welcome to You, SanSF!

[EFerrari]

9. The Chronicle sponsored Comedy Day for many years.

It fell apart somehow and that's a shame because we used to get both good local but also national acts to come in and work for fun.