'Plain Dealer,' N.Y. 'Daily News' Hit Back on 'Death Rattle' Claims

By: E&P Staff The Publisher of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland is shooting back at one observer who says the paper is on its deathbed.

The Plain Dealer was on a top 10 list list of newspapers facing failure from 24/7 Wall Street that was featured on Time's Web site. The author, Douglas A. McIntyre, claims that because the Plain Dealer's parent Advance threatened to close the Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J., the Cleveland paper would be next. "The Plain Dealer will be shut or go digital next year," the article said.

Plain Dealer Publisher Terrance Egger told his paper the allegation was "baseless."

"People put this out there and associate Time Magazine with it," Egger told the Plain Dealer, adding that Advance remains committed to producing the Plain Dealer in both print and online.

Egger also said the Plain Dealer made money in 2008.

Executives with New York's Daily News, which was also on the list, hit back on the claims too calling them irresponsible and unfounded, reports Matthew Flamm with Crain's New York Business.