Buffalo News in financial trouble

[dave mcbride]

1 hour ago, Da webster guy said:

Print newspapers aren't dying because of high operating costs.  Declining revenues in print and classified ads are killing them.  Buffet said he thinks only the NY Times and Wall Street Journal will survive in the long run.    And unfortunately Jerry Sullivan still remains alive, like an old scarred cockroach. 

The Washington Post will survive. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/washington-post-still-plays-catch-gaining-times-n833236

[BillsFan4]

Quote

Social. Less than a quarter of digital readers come in through the home screen. If you want people to see your story, build a large social following.

Interaction. One of the keys to a strong social following? Interact with users. We can’t just be a megaphone.

 

Ah, I get it now. That is why guys like Mike Harrington are so thin skinned & argumentative with everyone on twitter. He is "interacting" with users.... lol. 

 

[DrDawkinstein]

2008 called, and wanted its thread title back.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

In unrelated news, courier pigeon farms haven’t seen the same Great Depression bounce back as the other sectors.

 

Still looking for answers  

[BillsFan4]

Just now, Ifartalot said:

It is sad,  but the BN is getting their comeuppance partly due to the hard leans of so many of their reporters.

 

With constant Trump bashing by Zremski, Turner & Zyglis, and Sullivan, Gleason & Harrington tearing down the Pegulas, many cancelled their subscription. 

I have zero issue with Zremski. I actually think he's quite good.

 

But Bucky + Sully + Harrington drive me mad. They just seem way too jaded by all the years of losing. 

[LabattBlue]

1 minute ago, BillsFan4 said:

I have zero issue with Zremski. I actually think he's quite good.

 

But Bucky + Sully + Harrington drive me mad. They just seem way too jaded by all the years of losing. 

You mean like 95% of Sabres and Bills fans have been over that same time period?

[BillsFan4]

Just now, LabattBlue said:

You mean like 95% of Sabres and Bills fans have been over that same time period?

Lol. Pretty much. 

 

 

[Lurker]

1 hour ago, ddaryl said:

 

 

if they fire Bucky and Jerry and replace them with some balanced reporters without an ax to constantly grind I wil buy a subscription

 

I told others recently that the BN was hurting they didn't believe it to be true, but there entire online model screams money issues

 

I hate both guys but one clarification.  They're columnists, not reporters.    Their job is to stir the pot, attract eyeballs (which they do, much like the hosts at 'GR) and generally get people talking about them.   

 

But like proverbial trees falling in the woods, if enough people stop reading/clicking their work product, they become boat anchors on the bottom line... 

[LabattBlue]

3 minutes ago, Lurker said:

They're columnists, not reporters.    Their job is to stir the pot, attract eyeballs (which they do, much like the hosts at 'GR) and generally get people talking about them.   

This goes over the head of so many here, that it's not even worth arguing about any more.

[Lurker]

9 minutes ago, BillsFan4 said:

I have zero issue with Zremski. I actually think he's quite good.

 

But Bucky + Sully + Harrington drive me mad. They just seem way too jaded by all the years of losing. 

 

Agreed on Zremski.   He's top notch and actually too good for the Snooze, IMO.     

 

The other guys are just playing to the 'drunks on a barstool' / lowest common denominator contingent... 

 

[zonabb]

Best! News! Ever! And I am sure they'll blame something not of their doing but in reality, people see it as a corporate profit center for a billionaire and one that only publishes fluff pieces kissing the collective azz of every politician and developer in WNY and basically tell everyone how awesome WNY is, when it's in fact dying a slow, 60+ year death. People wnt good reporting, want people in govt held accountable. Instead it's turned into Byron Brown's personal media empire. Sean McDermott has held more press conferences in his time here that Brown has in his what, 4 terms? They don't hold him to anything. Meanwhile the sports section is tougher on sports figures than the news is on any politician. Funny how that works. 

 

So today is an awesome day!!!! Love it, love it, love it.

 

I hope that paper dies off and The Public fills the void and grows.

[Lurker]

2 minutes ago, zonabb said:

basically tell everyone how awesome WNY is, when it's in fact dying a slow, 60+ year death.

 

You must be fun at parties.    That is, if anyone would invite you to one...

[ndirish1978]

Kind of hard to feel bad for them and their geocities online presence. I've seen more intuitive webpage designs in high school newspapers. They doggedly refuse to get rid of writers people hate and are clinging to a business model that hasn't been successful since the 80s. 

[Lurker]

13 minutes ago, ndirish1978 said:

They doggedly refuse to get rid of writers people hate 

 

The Guild (union) contract locks that in, unfortunately.    Buyouts or retirements are the only way to trim the deadwood.   I expect to see a few on the sports desk in this latest round of cost cutting...

[PromoTheRobot]

2 hours ago, ddaryl said:

 

 

if they fire Bucky and Jerry and replace them with some balanced reporters without an ax to constantly grind I wil buy a subscription

 

I told others recently that the BN was hurting they didn't believe it to be true, but there entire online model screams money issues

 

Bucky and Jerry are also my top reasons for not subscribing.

[ddaryl]

2 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

Bucky and Jerry are also my top reasons for not subscribing.

 

I agree and from what I read its a large amount of people

 

You'd think the braintrust at BN could figure out this on their own

[Saxum]

13 hours ago, napmaster said:

Well... they outlasted the Courier-Express by 36 years.

 

Yes I worked for them.

[PromoTheRobot]

1 minute ago, ddaryl said:

 

I agree and from what I read its a large amount of people

 

You'd think the braintrust at BN could figure out this on their own

I suspect those two are protected by the union.

[ddaryl]

1 minute ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I suspect those two are protected by the union.

 

 

they could re-assign them then.... didn't know there was a journalists union

[Saxum]

4 hours ago, sherpa said:

 

I think you mean Phil Ranallo.

Very funny guy. Used to write the "What's up Harry" sports column.

His bet stuff was Monday mornings after any Bills game.

Delivered that paper for three years.

 

I did basic editing ("Editing assistant") for Courier Express in early 1980's and do not recall one mark on any of his columns for editor to look at it. Excellent writer.  Met him  once but not via work but via a relative who also served.

http://www.buffalosportshallfame.com/member/phil-ranallo/

https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/featured/2015/12/28/123039/remembering-legendary-sportswriter-phil-ranallo

2 hours ago, sullim4 said:

Serious question - which of the following is a better source of Bills news: The Buffalo News or YoloInOhio and 26CornerBlitz?

 

That's your answer on why TBN is irrelevant.

 

That is hard to tell; Buffalo News does not hide sources via redirection URLs probably getting poster kickbacks.

1 hour ago, Lurker said:

I hate both guys but one clarification.  They're columnists, not reporters.    Their job is to stir the pot, attract eyeballs (which they do, much like the hosts at 'GR) and generally get people talking about them.   

 

If they are "columnists" not reporters then Buffalo Bills can deny them access to press briefings without consequence and should but I am sure they wear the "reporter hat" when they claim press access.

17 minutes ago, ddaryl said:

they could re-assign them then.... didn't know there was a journalists union

 

There are no openings in garbage reporting but since they are columnists the News could replace Ann Landers, etc with them and save money.