June 22, 2009

Courant's woes

The Hartford Courant is dumping its redesigned front page in favor, probably, of one that looks more like the old version.
But its problems aren't merely cosmetic. If the paper wants people to think of it like they used to, it needs more news. Hire back all those fired reporters, editors, photographers and others who were so integral to the creation of a great Connecticut daily.
As it is, the Courant may still be the best paper in the state -- though it's arguable nowadays -- but every day it serves in part to remind us of how far it's fallen.
Sometimes, it seems like the forgotten stepchild of Channel 61, which is simply an awful fate for a newspaper that commanded so much respect only a few years ago.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Courant is as thin as the Press now. Sad for both papers and readers.

Steve Collins said...

It's not quite as thin as the Press, but considering that its circulation is way higher, it ought to be!

Anonymous said...

What is the Bristol Press' now around 8000 ?

Anonymous said...

Steve, can you expand on the following? Thanks.

"Sometimes, it seems like the forgotten stepchild of Channel 61, which is simply an awful fate for a newspaper that commanded so much respect only a few years ago."

Anonymous said...

You are right about this fact. Sometimes I think the Courant is just a printed version of Channel 61.

"Sometimes, it seems like the forgotten stepchild of Channel 61, which is simply an awful fate for a newspaper that commanded so much respect only a few years ago."

In terms of layout, the new design was awful because it made the paper harder to read. You couldn't find what you were looking for. I'm sure the layout artists were thrilled but they forgot about the customers

Even look at the memo they're running now about the poll -- they talk about their arrogance when they made the change -- "We figured no one liked change" -- so we basically ignored your feedback

Anonymous said...

Steve, your right. HIRE EM' BACK!! Without reporters on the street the courant is doomed.

Anonymous said...

Courant sucks more than ever and the new website is atrocious. How long can they prolong its inevitable death?