Comments on: Can’t see the forest for the dead trees http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/17/cant-see-the-forest-for-the-dead-trees/ by Jeff Jarvis Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:30:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Gutenberg http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/17/cant-see-the-forest-for-the-dead-trees/#comment-39962 Gutenberg Thu, 20 Apr 2006 15:55:32 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/17/cant-see-the-forest-for-the-dead-trees/#comment-39962 Um, newsprint costs money. I'm guessing the Strib spends about $60 million or so a year on paper. If they are able to decrease their pressruns by 1%, that's a flat savings of $600,000 per year in materials. Total savings greater, since they would likely be incremental savings in manufacturing and handling waste, tiny reductions in labor to distribute the papers, etc. Call me crazy, but these are easy cuts to make -- or they can lay off 7 or 8 complaining Strib staffers, if that's a better way to save $600K. Um, newsprint costs money. I’m guessing the Strib spends about $60 million or so a year on paper. If they are able to decrease their pressruns by 1%, that’s a flat savings of $600,000 per year in materials. Total savings greater, since they would likely be incremental savings in manufacturing and handling waste, tiny reductions in labor to distribute the papers, etc. Call me crazy, but these are easy cuts to make — or they can lay off 7 or 8 complaining Strib staffers, if that’s a better way to save $600K.

]]> By: Francis http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/17/cant-see-the-forest-for-the-dead-trees/#comment-39598 Francis Tue, 18 Apr 2006 18:38:39 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/17/cant-see-the-forest-for-the-dead-trees/#comment-39598 One thing you missed from the article: <blockquote>"We were looking for ways to save money that do not impact our product or our customers," said Mr. Taylor, adding that the personal copies totaled more than 4,000 on weekdays and 5,000 on Sunday. He said that the cost savings for the paper, which has a daily circulation of 379,713 and 666,683 on Sunday, was "significant."</blockquote> 4000 free papers and 5000 on Sunday!!! unless the Strib has a newsroom staff that is considerably larger than I would have imagined it looks like the journalists were reading multiple copies of the paper. I find it hard to believe unless there was a scam going on somehwere because at 50c/copy that adds up to a lot of potential lost revenue - I calculate it at over 3/4 of a million dollars. Oh and I wonder what it does to the ABC circulation figures .... One thing you missed from the article:

“We were looking for ways to save money that do not impact our product or our customers,” said Mr. Taylor, adding that the personal copies totaled more than 4,000 on weekdays and 5,000 on Sunday. He said that the cost savings for the paper, which has a daily circulation of 379,713 and 666,683 on Sunday, was “significant.”

4000 free papers and 5000 on Sunday!!! unless the Strib has a newsroom staff that is considerably larger than I would have imagined it looks like the journalists were reading multiple copies of the paper. I find it hard to believe unless there was a scam going on somehwere because at 50c/copy that adds up to a lot of potential lost revenue – I calculate it at over 3/4 of a million dollars. Oh and I wonder what it does to the ABC circulation figures ….

]]> By: PapaScott » Blog Archive » Steal Your Own Paper http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/17/cant-see-the-forest-for-the-dead-trees/#comment-39544 PapaScott » Blog Archive » Steal Your Own Paper Tue, 18 Apr 2006 15:38:28 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/17/cant-see-the-forest-for-the-dead-trees/#comment-39544 [...] One of the perks was being able to read the final edition of the next morning’s paper as it literally rolled off the presses. No more, I guess. Jeff Jarvis mentions that the StarTribune no longer provides free newspapers to its newsroom, instead setting up vending boxes throughout the office. However, the revenue was somewhat less than expected. The circulation manager sent a memo: During the first week that the additional on-site racks were in service, 43 percent of the Star Tribunes removed from those racks were not paid for. For the second week the rate was 41 percent. This is called ‘pilferage’ in our business; but put more plainly, it is theft, pure and simple. [...] [...] One of the perks was being able to read the final edition of the next morning’s paper as it literally rolled off the presses. No more, I guess. Jeff Jarvis mentions that the StarTribune no longer provides free newspapers to its newsroom, instead setting up vending boxes throughout the office. However, the revenue was somewhat less than expected. The circulation manager sent a memo: During the first week that the additional on-site racks were in service, 43 percent of the Star Tribunes removed from those racks were not paid for. For the second week the rate was 41 percent. This is called ‘pilferage’ in our business; but put more plainly, it is theft, pure and simple. [...]

]]> By: David Mastio http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/17/cant-see-the-forest-for-the-dead-trees/#comment-39295 David Mastio Mon, 17 Apr 2006 20:38:26 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/17/cant-see-the-forest-for-the-dead-trees/#comment-39295 In the 80s when I was a burger king burger boy making $3.35, then the minimum wage, we did not get a free lunch in the middle of our shifts. We got some kind of a discount, maybe 50%. In the 80s when I was a burger king burger boy making $3.35, then the minimum wage, we did not get a free lunch in the middle of our shifts. We got some kind of a discount, maybe 50%.

]]> By: jr http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/17/cant-see-the-forest-for-the-dead-trees/#comment-39284 jr Mon, 17 Apr 2006 19:36:48 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/17/cant-see-the-forest-for-the-dead-trees/#comment-39284 Even the minimum wage hourlies at McDonalds get a free meal don't they? Even the minimum wage hourlies at McDonalds get a free meal don’t they?

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