More format changes at Sunday Tribune

uvox

No surprise if you've been following the threads here. Alas, I can't see how this staves off the inevitable.

'Sunday Tribune' turns page with new-look tabloid format



http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2010/0819/1224277150586.html

The Tribune isn’t the only Sunday newspaper to take a circulation hit due to the recession. ABC data shows that overall Sunday newspaper sales have declined by 5 per cent in the past year. But with a 17 per cent circulation decline, the Tribune is the worst performer in the sector, and now an attempt is being made to stop the rot.

mike65

Indeed, I dunno how it struggles on. Back to the Future regarding the format.

uvox

Check out those figures.

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056004886

Ouch!

jdivision

shouldn't the question be how the SBP lost so much circulation and added so many readers with a TV and radio spend like they have?

jmcc

jdivision wrote: »

shouldn't the question be how the SBP lost so much circulation and added so many readers with a TV and radio spend like they have?

Perhaps it could be related to the economy. An economic downturn might mean that fewer business people are employed and as a result,
SBP sales fall.

Regards...jmcc

uvox

That's possible. Good question though. They could have purchased the air time ages ago too. To be honest, I cringe when I hear the contrived self-importance and pomposity of the ads - usually pushing supplements which have, er, more more ads. Then you read the content...

And the dramatic classical music - never been changed once.

You have to wonder how much of that newspaper buying was really in the Latte unlimited category of the celtic tiger of yore. "Ah sure, I might as well buy 3 papers with the coffee instead of one." Now they just buy the one they really wanted or gives best entertainment: The Sunday World...:)

I wonder how many people buy just one paper these days as opposed to several even a year ago?

Still, layoffs and reformat on the way there too.

mike65

I have long since stopped buying papers, bad I know but they are so 20th century esp as the web versions are no longer a second rate substitute for the "real thing"

jmcc

uvox wrote: »

You have to wonder how much of that newspaper buying was really in the Latte unlimited category of the celtic tiger of yore. "Ah sure, I might as well buy 3 papers with the coffee instead of one." Now they just buy the one they really wanted or gives best entertainment: The Sunday World...:)

There's probably an element of that in the SBP's readership. It's much like the people who "read" the Financial Times and are seen with it in public. However the SBP has a core business readership that would probably be quite loyal readers. The Trib has a major problem in that it only has a few good journalists but a lot of wafflers (same problem as the Irish Times). It tried to become an "issues" newspaper with some of those those asylum seeker articles but if screwed up majorly in gauging public perception. All the niches now seem to be occupied and the once decent business section of the Tribune has been overtaken by the better funded Sunday Times and the SBP. Sometimes the Trib reads like a poorly constructed student newspaper but it does get the odd good story. I wouldn't like to give odds on it surviving the year. I wonder if it is really a woman's newspaper in terms of content?

Regards...jmcc

uvox

I just grabbed a copy (of the Tribune) on the way home. The Callely story is now just mildly interesting - more of the same. To be honest, anyone can submit an FOI request. The stuff on Northern ireland, however, I think is their strenght, but really how long before the journalist jumps too?

A woman's paper? Hhmmm, a good deal of the filler, social, and comment is clearly written by the same woman for a start. Perhaps Michael O'Doherty will buy them out...:)

I also noted they somewhat gleefully report how there are to be four layoffs at the Sunday Times Irish office (inc. 2 journos) without covering the latest readership figures - of which their own performance would obviously be the star attraction. Acceptace would be the first stage of recovery.

They're going down.

Gekko

Off topic I know but I wonder which journalists are being given their cards at the Sunday Times.

I write for two broadsheets so am wondering if there are more pay cuts coming down the tracks in January.

uvox

Good question. The article says the journos are in the culture section. Hope it's not Liam Fay. The article also quotes Frank Fitzgibbon who says there will be no paycuts.

sataction

Hope it is Liam Fay. His last original thought was 10 years ago.

uvox

How odd, the Sunday Business Post forgot to mention the figures too.

Adrian and Jennifer will have some tweeting to do to get that one back on track. Better update the CVs, people.

Gekko

uvox wrote: »

Good question. The article says the journos are in the culture section. Hope it's not Liam Fay. The article also quotes Frank Fitzgibbon who says there will be no paycuts.

Read earlier that it's two culture journalists, one news journalist and one business journalist.

Pretty harsh.

kpbdublin

As I suggest in another thread going downmarket is a mistake for the Trib. Its strongest era was in the eighties when it was a slightly edgy Sunday version of the Irish Times. Why move to compete with Sunday Indo and Mail on Sunday, which both have big resources behind them. Upmarket is the way to go.

jdivision

kpbdublin wrote: »

As Why move to compete with Sunday Indo and Mail on Sunday, which both have big resources behind them. Upmarket is the way to go.

Out of curiosity what makes you think they are?

mike65

Anyone hear the radio promo for this weekends edition? Tabloid by format tabloid by marketing. Very tacky - worthy of the Sunday World or News of the World.