The Sun Makes More Cuts

In the couple years since the massive layoffs of 2009, The Baltimore Sun has seemed to be on a more positive track, adding new sections and avoiding any further staff cuts. Sadly, it seems cuts are returning to our local paper, owned by the Chicago-based Tribune Co. According to the Daily Record, management is currently negotiation with the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild to cut 20 to 25 positions, including two columnists, two critics, an editorial writer, two copy editors, two design editors and a photographer, through voluntary buyouts.

The ongoing question remains how—and if—The Sun and newspapers nationwide can continue to operate as more people get their news from computers and mobile devices and revenues dwindle. The Sun has done a decent job re-imagining their content for the web and mobile devices, but those delivery systems have yet to deliver significant revenue. Can it be long before The Sun and other papers go the way of The New York Times and require digital readers to buy subscriptions? Would people buy them if they did? And even if people did, would it supply enough revenue to re-invigorate the brand? Stay tuned...