The Shop Talk panelists discuss a businessman’s decision to start a second newspaper in Long Beach, CA, at a time when the industry is struggling.
USA Today reported Aaron Kushner will begin publishing the Long Beach Register on August 19. He plans to start the paper with 20 reporters and photographers.
The paper will go head-to-head with the established Press-Telegram.
Shop Talk panelist Mike Murray said there is a lot of money in the community so it might be able to support a second newspaper. He said it will be interesting to see how this plays out in the next year or two.
Panelist Lisa Kernek the recent history of newspaper start-ups has not been good. Most generally fail after a few years.
Panelist Rich Egger pointed out it’s not the first time this year that a newspaper has moved into a market with an already established paper. The Times-Picayune of New Orleans has been challenged by The Advocate after the T-P cut staff and reduced the numbers of days it put out a print product. The Advocate hired several former T-P reporters, and the T-P eventually returned to its traditional publishing schedule.
