New Metro idea for CTC

By Lou Grant | Jul 28, 12:19 PM

A note in a blog predicted that the local Chicago Tribune "Metro" section will probably go to preprint and a tabloid format. According to the blog entry, the Zell team was convinced this would preserve the zoning of the newspaper, which allows the newspaper to charge higher advertising rates, while eliminating a press and a press crew. Total savings-- $1 million a year.

So, the Chicago Tribune is going to go local, except, they're not going to put anything into it? Is that the idea? Advertisers will be the final arbiter of this argument. Readers too of course. I'll just guess here, that the new Metro section will go to press about 11 AM each day, except for the Bulldog. Press runs through the afternoon with the Tempo and then first round of shipments to agent facilities in the early afternoon. So, the news will be about a day old when readers get their hands on it, the next day.

They should take this to its natural conclusion and just regurgitate news from past Chicago Tribunes. Eliminate just about the whole newsroom. Maybe people wouldn't notice if told about some trouble in Iraq from just a few years ago. It all sounds the same, doesn't it? Even better yet, the Chicago Tribune could run its editorial endorsing Abraham Lincoln for President, and then it could do away with the editorial board? Or wait, a Lee Abrams brainstorm, why not endorse George Bush for another term? Either of them, it won't matter. Put some charts in, a map, some graphics…

Tagged: Chicago Tribune