The Reader's News Digest

Editor & Publisher 'Inquirer' To Introduce New 'Express' Edition, Other Changes, in Philly reports:

The Philadelphia Inquirer plans to unveil a new ”express” section in early February to attract busy readers, one of several strategies to boost readership that also include a sponsored TV guide and new Web sites for local car and real estate listings.

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To appeal to busy readers who don’t have time to read the whole paper, the Inquirer will unveil a special section sponsored by Commerce Bank featuring news and editorial page summaries.

Two weeks ago, Comcast Corp. began sponsoring the TV guide, Tierney said. The listings now include programs found in Comcast’s video-on-demand service.

The company also introduced Web sites featuring local apartment, auto and real estate listings, such as Phillycars.com, PhillyForRent.com and PhillyForSale.com. Having separate Web sites allows users to access them directly rather than having to go through the main site, Philly.com.

What is missing from all this re-tooling of the Philadelphia newspapers by the ad agency & PR King Brian Tierney? Try NEWS.

So now there's going to be even less news between the ads than there's been since Tierney took over. See The Good News & Bad News. Now for the stupid people who can't read a whole news article and are still paying for the paper, there is going to be a Reader's Digest version of the "news"? And what makes this different from the Metro that does the same thing and is free? Got me, except I still get the paper & am wondering why more & more.

Of course, since the layoffs and departure of reporters and other newsroom staff continues, see Another One Bites the Dust, the main news "source" for the Express Edition will no doubt be the Associated Press pieces picked up from the wires, rather than the paper's own staff.

The latest casualties are John Grogan and Tom Ferrick. Blogger Philadelphia Will Do broke the news yesterday, 'Inquirer' Columnists To Retire, Write About Puppydogs, pointing to Grogan's last column, Coming home - and moving on. He also announced, via Poynter:

Romenesko e-mailed Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Tom Ferrick after getting a report that Friday is his last day at the paper. His reply: "It's true. I am leaving. After 30 years, I have achieved escape velocity. I am taking early retirement to -- what's that phrase they always use? -- pursue other interests. But, I do have a contract to do columns in connection with the mayor's race for at least 6 months, so my name and face will be appearing in the paper for a while, to the delight of some readers and the dismay of others."

I feel like I'm watching an elderly uncle slowly die.

Tags: News & Media, Philadelphia, Philly