By: E&P Staff The News-Gazette in Champaign, Ill., will drop out of the dwindling ranks of all-day papers as it moves to a morning-only publication cycle beginning June 1, its editor and publisher announced Friday.
According to the 2008 Editor & Publisher International Year Book, there are just 10 all-day papers that publish both morning and afternoon editions, including the 41,938-circulation News-Gazette.
The Gazette is largely an afternoon paper, with the morning edition delivered in its home county and offered for single-copy sales in Champaign and other nearby towns. It is a morning-only paper on Saturdays and Sundays.
Publisher John R. Foreman said the paper had been talking about going to morning-only for more than two decades, but it lacked the capacity because it printed the downstate Illinois edition of the Chicago Tribune. The Trib eliminated that edition in early 2008.
Going to one publication cycle will save about 1% of total operating costs, Foreman said.
The News-Gazette is now delivered by about 300 youth carriers and 200 adult carriers, according to Director of Circulation Pete Jones.
"We anticipate some of the youth carriers won't want to deliver in the morning," Foreman said, noting that carriers will be encouraged to complete home deliveries by 6 a.m. "But some will want to do so, and the News-Gazette will be glad to retain them. We won't throw anyone out - just change their working hours."
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