We already know that the print industry in the US is having a bit of a struggle to come up with a new business model. But the latest news from one of California’s largest newspapers, the Santa Ana-based Orange County Register, is quite unusual in itself — a request to the staff to help with newspaper distribution.
“The entire company — all departments, including our newsroom — has been asked to help during what has clearly been a difficult situation,” editor Rob Curley said in an email to Reuters. “It’s strictly voluntary.”
The editorial staff received an email asking to help distribute copies on Sundays and the Thanksgiving holiday on November 27 as the company has been facing distribution problems since early October. The publisher had discontinued the services of the original distributor at the time.
In exchange for helping out, reporters and other editorial staff will receive gift certificates worth $150 (Dh551). The idea is that each employee agreeing to participate can distribute between 500 and 600 copies.
The Register had a distribution contract with the Los Angeles Times, but was warned in September that it owed about $2.5 million and would have 30 days to pay. Freedom Communications, which publishes the newspaper, decided to find a new distributor because the Times refused to ensure that it would not interrupt delivery. The Times filed a lawsuit against the Register alleging breach of contract.
Freedom Communications recovered out of a bankruptcy in 2010 and two years later was bought by businessman Aaron Kushner, who invested millions in the Register, allowing the expansion of writing and bringing new life to the publication. Recently dozens of reporters and editors were fired in recent months, including visual journalist Charles Apple, editor and designer of the Daily Focus page and blogger about visual journalism.
