MSL Chicago

Layoffs and downsizing are a general sign of the times—there aren’t many industries (if any) that haven’t felt the effects of the recession. One industry that has had its share of challenges is print media. During the last two years, we’ve seen major outlets from the Seattle Post Intelligencer to Christian Science Monitor cut off its print versions due to lower paid advertising and decreased readership. The Midwest hasn’t been immune—last year, the Detroit Free Press/Detroit News changed its distribution model to only three days a week.

The print industry is hurting, causing many outlets to reassess its content, its readers, and in some cases, its leaders. Last week, the Chicago Reader, a pioneering alternative weekly, fired Alison True, editor and staffer since 1984, in an attempt to take the paper in a new direction. Needless to say, staffers and readers alike were stunned at the sudden departure of a talented editor and mentor.

The paper has been an influential model for alternative weeklies across the country. I’ve enjoyed the Reader since high school and I can say that while the paper has gotten thinner, the high quality literary content remained.

Letting go of talented people at print publications is becoming a common trend, but to do so just to change the direction of a print outlet seems counterintuitive to providing the best content to readers. By looking at thriving online channels or mobile applications, many publications have been able to successfully transition to an audience of Web-savvy, information hungry readers. This means more than just having a Web site—it means truly engaging readers online through surveys, citizen journalists, reader tweets, viral videos, and more.

Some may argue that the participatory model isn’t true journalism, and others may say that this is a necessary direction for print media to survive. In my opinion, it seems that embracing online communities and readers are a better alternative than letting go of great editorial content and leaders.