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Report: More troubles at the SJ-R

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Illinois

Kate Schott, State Journal-Register editorial page editor turned interim editor after her predecessor was walked out of the building and a successor had second thoughts about accepting the job, has left the newspaper. Informed sources say she’s gone to work at the University of Illinois Springfield in the campus advancement office, which concerns itself with alumni affairs and raising money. […]

It’s unclear just who’s running the SJ-R since Schott departed this week. At last check, there is no editor, interim or otherwise, listed on the opinion page masthead where folks in charge are listed.

The SJ-R’s “contact page” lists only one editor, an “Illinois Editor” based at the Peoria paper.

And it may get worse. Read the rest of the piece.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 10:10 am

Comments

I saw a statistic on advertising dollars for the last 10 years. In 2010, newspapers, TV, Magazines and Radio accounted for 91% of total advertising spend. In 2020, it is projected that those 4 media will account for only 43%. During that time period, newspapers went from 34.9% of advertising dollars to 5.6%. That’s incredible.

The newspaper business, today, is like the proverbial “catching a falling knife”.

Comment by Downstate Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 10:31 am
Politico has an interesting article on the topic of the gutting of local papers:
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2019/11/26/journalism-you-should-cancel-newspaper-073850

Comment by LakeCo Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 10:38 am
Doesn’t seem that long ago the Sunday edition of the Southern Illinoisan was two inches thick. Now, it’s a joke.
Times change, but sometimes that’s little solace.

Comment by efudd Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 10:39 am
I picked up a copy of the SJ-R the other day as I was waiting at the library. I was shocked at how thin it had gotten, like a victim of anorexia. The classified section which used to be a huge section of the paper was only about two pages of a six page newspaper.

Comment by A Jack Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 10:53 am
I missed the fact the editor they hired in September turned the job down a few weeks later.

Comment by Bertrum Cates Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 10:57 am
The SJ-R, the Trib, and others are all going to be on the chopping block without drastic change. Bernie Sanders is the only presidential candidate offering a plan that can stop the end of journalism in America: https://newrepublic.com/article/154872/bernie-sanders-plan-save-journalism

Comment by Quibbler Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 10:59 am
Tribune last week- now the SJR-

when will the turmoil hit the sun times?, NO DOUBT, that it is coming

Comment by it doesnt stop Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 10:59 am
===when will the turmoil hit the sun times?, NO DOUBT, that it is coming ===

Why? They have local owners who aren’t burdened by billions of dollars in debt who actually care about the paper.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 11:14 am
This is so sad. I am sorry to see the paper in our state’s capitol being intentionally gutted in this way.

Comment by pawn Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 11:18 am
Might just be me, but I feel the Sun-Times has greatly improved over the past few years under its current ownership. The bread and butter of newspaper should be state/local news. Nobody is going to subscribe to the SJ-R or any other paper to just read news provided by a wire service. People can get national news anywhere and it is most accessible online.

Local papers provide a vital resource for communities, that have unfortunately been gutted by many soulless companies.

Comment by Yup Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 11:20 am
are you saying that all other media owners, did NOT care or do NOT care?

the sun times investors are exclusive in caring?

if history shows us anything, things change! just look at the circulation of the sun times compared to 5 years ago

Comment by it doesnt stop Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 11:28 am
===the sun times investors are exclusive in caring?===

Nope. Don’t argue like a child. But the industry is chock full of corporate overlords that do not care one whit about producing news content.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 11:32 am
stating facts is arguing like a child?

Comment by it doesnt stop Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 12:16 pm
“Bernie Sanders is the only presidential candidate offering a plan that can stop the end of journalism in America:….”

The only way Bernie Sanders can “stop the end of [print] journalism…” is to shut down the internet.

Comment by CapnCrunch Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 3:48 pm