By: Joe Strupp It didn?t take The Tampa Tribune long to rethink its recent redesign that included a cutback to one news section.
After revealing it received thousands of complaints when the new look debuted on Oct. 6, the paper reports today it will reverse to a two-section news report on Monday.
Perhaps editors had not yet read the current cover story in E&P, "Boomers or Bust," which focuses on the very real risk that newspapers, in their frantic re-designing and page-cutting and (some say) chase for younger readers, may lose their most loyal readers -- the over-50 crowd.
"On Monday, we asked you to tell us what you thought about the Tribune's redesign. Boy, did you take us up on that invitation," Editor Janet Coats admitted in a note to readers Friday. "We've heard from thousands of you, on the phone and through e-mail. We've listened carefully to what you've told us, and we're responding."
She adds that: "Today's paper begins the transition. You'll find local, business, national and international news and the editorials in the first section. Sports appears in its own section. Comics, puzzles, horoscopes and obituaries are in the Classifieds section.
"With Monday's paper, we'll complete the switch. The first section will remain a news section. It will contain local, national and international news and the editorials. The obituaries will move to this section. The second section will contain sports and business news. Comics, puzzles, horoscopes and Dear Abby remain in the Classifieds."
But, making the best of such attention, Coats says, "You've made one thing very clear this week: The Tribune is part of your household. Your devotion to this newspaper is powerful. We respect that, and we're humbled by it."
The Tampa reversal follows word from The Staten Island Advance that its decision to drop the Sunday TV Book last weekend had prompted at least 1,500 complaints and the possible return of the tab insert.
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