Brian Gongol: August 2008 Archives
The Des Moines Register is laying off a dozen staff members and reducing its Washington bureau. The long-time farm editor is going, too. The Register was once a prominent newspaper, owned by the Cowles family and operated profitably for generations under their private control. When the paper was sold to Gannett in 1985, it had more Pulitzer Prizes in its name than any newspaper but the New York Times.
Unfortunately, it would seem that Gannett doesn't really know how to operate in a competitive environment. Newspapers long had a tendency towards natural monopoly on local advertising, since the first press run is the only one that costs (that is, all the hard work is in gathering the news...not in printing additional copies of the same paper). But the Internet is clobbering any newspaper that doesn't bring something extra to the table. The news itself is no longer unique; it's how that news is delivered that will determine whether a newspaper, website, or other medium will succeed.
And getting rid of a whole bunch of senior writers hardly seems like the right answer.
Unfortunately, it would seem that Gannett doesn't really know how to operate in a competitive environment. Newspapers long had a tendency towards natural monopoly on local advertising, since the first press run is the only one that costs (that is, all the hard work is in gathering the news...not in printing additional copies of the same paper). But the Internet is clobbering any newspaper that doesn't bring something extra to the table. The news itself is no longer unique; it's how that news is delivered that will determine whether a newspaper, website, or other medium will succeed.
And getting rid of a whole bunch of senior writers hardly seems like the right answer.
Everyone's talking about back-to-school time for the kids, but there are some opportunities in the Des Moines area for those who have already made their way through high school and college. Here are some quick reference links:
- Des Moines Public Schools Community Education will be issuing its course list on August 26th, with classes beginning in late September.
- West Des Moines Community Education hasn't indicated when it's putting its fall course schedule out yet, but that will probably happen shortly.
- Ankeny Community Education has already listed its courses, though the website is tricky to navigate.
- DMACC has fall courses in a number of locations, most starting next Monday
- Drake, obviously, has a lot of courses available, as does Grand View
