The latest cuts in Canton at The Repository are not in staff but in the product itself. Top Repository editors have been hosting live chats on the newspaper’s Web site in response to reader reaction to a redesign of the paper which debuted on Tuesday.
Several major changes have taken place in the repackaging of the paper. Page one has now been designed in billboard fashion primarily to tease inside content. For the first two days page one had only one story on it.
The newspaper’s Living section has been eliminated and the Local section is being replaced by a new section called Your Life. The new section will be primarily one calendar page with canned material, obits, with citizen journalist copy within.
The content from the former Local section will now be rolled into the A section bumping most of the world, national and state news. The editorial page was shrunk to one page to make room for the local content.
The paper’s Web site says, In remaking The Rep, our priorities were to “keep it local” and “make it better.” I’m not sure if readers agree from comments posted to the live chat.
Comment From Valerie
The layout is too “busy” to read easily. This is why our kids are so over-stimulated in that they can’t concentrate on one thing. I’m a teacher and I didn’t order text books like this for that reason. You can’t stay focused on one topic with all the other short notes everywhere. I’m not renewing my subscription. I can find out what i want on line and not be confused with pictures and colors.
Comment From Valeta
I feel this is such a loss. There was ONE page of National and World news. How does one stay well-informed any more? The new format is basically a bulletin board.
Comment From dave s
Haven’t seen the new print version but it can’t be as bad as the new web site layout!!!
Comment From Doug
I have a question. If space and money is an issue in the newspaper then why are you guys cutting the national and international news a ton and still leaving almost a 1/2 a page to the TV listings? Your telling me your gonna cut news in a newspaper over TV listings?????
When a reader challenged the newspaper’s spin on the subject of the news hole he was not given an answer. At first they said they didn’t know the answer then said that they do know what the news hole is over a week, but that it was proprietary business info.
Circulation numbers will be the best measure of reader’s acceptance. Stay tuned.