Some papers reduced the work force through attrition and early buyout offers. So far this year, despite the changing economy, The Sacramento Bee maintains plans for changes and improvements in the paper, including several to be initiated next week. The Bee staff was enlarged recently, primarily to deal with technology and production changes, and news space was enlarged during the past two years. No one has had to threaten to quit to make the point that Harris did. But the subject of economizing will come up again, and the lessons of the past need to be remembered.
Readers buy newspapers because they provide quality news and information, even in down cycles.
Without that information, profits do not flow. Readers are not required to agree with columnists' opinions, and should express their opinions in letters to the sports editor. Several already have done that, and I relayed all the civil messages I received. The page was plugged with a large house ad for classified advertising, and included one 10-inch notebook item. It was more helpful in the final edition.