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Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Las Vegas Optic Cutting Back to Three Days
Associated Press
LAS VEGAS, N.M. — The Las Vegas Optic will begin publishing three days a week instead of five.
The northern New Mexico newspaper, which currently publishes Mondays through Fridays, will begin a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule by March 2, editor and publisher Tom McDonald said today.
"We're a business, and we have to deal with hard times like everyone else," he said. "We're facing the reality that, rather than maintaining our position as a weakening five-day newspaper, we're better off as a stronger three-day paper.
"Quantity does not necessarily translate to quality, and quality is something we're not willing to sacrifice."
The Optic's total paid circulation as of Oct. 1 was 4,359.
Earlier this month, the Albuquerque Journal, New Mexico's largest daily, announced staff reductions as part of a restructuring aimed at cutting costs. The Journal said fewer than 10 people were laid off in the newsroom, but did not give an exact number. In addition, the Albuquerque Publishing Company reduced staff in circulation, advertising, production and other departments. The company also announced it would stop home deliveries and rack sales in more than 30 communities around New Mexico because of the economic downturn.
Last February, Albuquerque lost its other daily newspaper, The Albuquerque Tribune, which shut down after nine decades.
And last summer, The Santa Fe New Mexican said it would eliminate 16.5 jobs, including 10 in the newsroom, because of sharply dropping advertising revenue.
McDonald said the Optic cut the equivalent of four full-time positions last year through attrition. No layoffs are scheduled, but carrier contracts likely will end as the newspaper moves to mailed deliveries, he said.
The Optic currently has 21 full- and part-time employees and contracts with more than a dozen carriers delivering to homes in San Miguel, Mora and Guadalupe counties.
The newspaper will reduce subscription rates since it won't publish as often. Those rates will be announced next month.
The Optic is owned by Landmark Community Newspapers Inc.
A year ago, parent company Landmark Communications Inc. announced it was putting its numerous holdings up for sale, but withdrew its holdings from the market last October, citing the credit crisis.
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