KBIA Local
(2008-09-10)
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The Missourian Publishing Association Board met yesterday to consider various options. The Missourian has been losing money for years and is on track to lose more than a million dollars for the second consecutive year. The group talked about several options, but one of the recurring ideas was partnering with another newspaper.
The Columbia Tribune expressed an interest early on in working something out with the Missourian and has been involved in informal talks with the paper but last week the company that owns the Jefferson City News Tribune announced it would also like to talk about entering into some sort of business agreement with the Missourian.
The Missourian Publishing Association was originally expected to make a decision about the paper's future at yesterday's meeting however, since the News Tribune is now expressing an interest, the board is sending out a request for proposals. Missourian General manager Dan Potter says it's important that the paper look for the best financial option.
Maybe we issue an RFP and either we reject all the bids or nobody bids on it- I don't think that would happen- but, if that came back in that way we have to have some back-up plans so I think we'll be looking at, well, what if the Missourian itself changed distribution patterns and more in capus mail and different places.
Potter says if the paper targeted its distribution on the college campuses and downtown area it would considerably lower The Missourian's expenses
Esther Thorson is the Associate Dean of the University of Missouri Grad Studies and Research in the School of Journalism. Thorson is concerned that if an RFP is sent out and papers begin bidding to enter into an agreement with The Missourian that The Tribune may lose interest .because it'll get too costly. She adds that it's important in all this discussion that the mission of the paper does not get lost .
I think we're on the right track in thinking about ways to reduce the deficit, while maintaining the quality of our newsroom, it's terrific learning environment for our students, but putting our whole situation onto a firmer financial footing.
Thorson says papers across the country are struggling so if the MU school of journalism can come up with a solution for the Missourian - it could serve as a nationwide model
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