That sparked a new stampede toward conversions as publishers were reminded anew that the savings in newsprint, the second-highest newspaper expense behind labor, can reach the tens of millions at individual properties. The Newspaper Association of America estimates that about 300 U.S. papers have now made the change. At a seminar on this topic at the America East Trade Show in Hershey, Pa., in April, more than 75 percent of the 125 people in attendance said their newspapers were making changes. So, American editors, who have weathered false crises from Kouhotek to the swine flu, from Halley s Comet to Y2K, are suddenly faced with a disruption very real and very much on their short-term agenda. It s happened very quickly, says Howard Tyner, editor of the Chicago Tribune, which will make the conversion next year.
Editors have a lot to deal with here.
It affects the entire news report. Says Kathy Silverberg of the TimesDaily in Florence, Ala., The newsroom needs to take the lead because it is an opportunity for us to look at how we can do our jobs better, that is produce an even better news report in a reduced space. The decision to convert to the 50-inch web is not fundamentally a newsroom decision, says Brian Stallcop, editor of the Sun of Bremerton, Wash., which made the change earlier this year. It s a financial decision. Presumably the editor will be at the table when the decision is made.