USA Today plans to cut 130 jobs in 'radical overhaul'

The United States second largest newspaper is planning a 'radical' overhaul in which, the Associated Press reports, about 130 jobs are expected to be cut. The newswire reports that the paper, which is owned by print giant Gannett, is planning to trim down its print division and focus more on digital endeavors.

The layoffs will result in around 9% of the company's 1500 employees. The publisher of the paper, who spoked with AP, said that he was not aware as to where the layoffs will occur.

USA Today is just one of many major US newspapers which have been dramatically altered financially in the last few years, as the internet and other ways of receiving news brush of the crumbs of 'old world' print media. However, the publisher of the USA Today remains positive and upbeat about its prospects.

"This is pretty radical," he said of the overhaul. "This gets us ready for our next quarter century."


"We'll focus less on print ... and more on producing content for all platforms (Web, mobile, iPad and other digital formats)," according to a slide show presented Thursday to USA Today's staff. The AP obtained copy of the presentation. [Via AP]

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Ol' Rupe wants White House to pay up on Wall Street Journal coverage

Rupert Murdoch's newly acquired Wall Street Journal may offer the world's greatest coverage of the banana museum industry, but nobody would think of paying $600,000 for such timely information.

That won't stop Murdoch, who has just jacked up the price his company is charging the White House to clip news from the paper, Politico reports.

It's unclear how Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation - WSJ's parent company - arrived at the figure of $600,000.

"But copyright laws," reports Politico, "would prevent the news-clipping service from widely disseminating Wall Street Journal articles without the parent company''s permission. [Politico]

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News Corporation buys an e-reader manufacturer

Could this be the future of the newspaper? Rupert Murdoch has said before that the newspaper of the future will be electronic and will also update every hour or so.

Is this the first step to the realization of his vision?

Perhaps, for today News Corporation has purchased a fledgling young startup, named Skiff, that makes e-readers designed specifically for the newspaper market.
[See a Guardian article on the sale]

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