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May 22, 2009
Newsweek Tries to Spin Its Own Tailspin
The Obamunist propagandists at Newsweek are experts at spin. But no one can spin a 50% drop in their circulation as positive — not even editor Jon Meacham, though he's doing his farcical best:
Jon Meacham admits it is hard to explain, even to his own people, why chopping Newsweek's circulation in half is a good thing.
"It's hugely counterintuitive," the magazine's editor says. "The staff doesn't understand it."
That could be because not even the moonbats at Newsreek are too clueless to notice that their hard-left rag is going down the tubes.
Newsweek, owned by The Washington Post Co., is accelerating the process [of decline] because it is bleeding red ink, losing nearly $20 million in the first quarter. Newsweek, whose circulation was as high as 3.1 million in recent years, plans to cut that to 1.5 million by the beginning of 2010, in part by discouraging renewals. The magazine will begin charging the average subscriber about 90 cents an issue, nearly double the current rate.
"If we can't convince a million and a half people we're worth less than a dollar a week, the market will have spoken," Meacham says.
Consider me convinced; I think Newsbleak is worth much less than a dollar a week. The snootier version planned for its limited future may be worth less still.
On a tip from Refuter of Liberal Vermin. Hat tip: NewsBusters.
Posted by Van Helsing at May 22, 2009 9:59 AM
Comments
Well, if chopping the circulation in half is good, then chopping it in half again has got to be even better!
They should keep that up, chopping and making better, until only one reader remains.
I am sure the flattered subject of most of the articles will love reading about himself nonstop then...
Posted by: OriginalFrank at May 22, 2009 11:45 AM
This is like in the movie "This is Spinal Tap," when the band insists that their declining audience just means "our appeal is becoming more selective."
Posted by: V the K at May 22, 2009 12:12 PM
Newsweek, whose circulation was as high as 3.1 million in recent years, plans to cut that to 1.5 million by the beginning of 2010,
What a coup! Good luck achieving that stretch goal.
"If we can't convince a million and a half people we're worth less than a dollar a week, the market will have spoken," Meacham says.
The market has already spoken. Shouted, in fact. So forget the million and a half people. The only person they have left to convince is Obama, so he can bail them out too. Otherwise, Newsweek can continue its inexorable lumbering toward the tar pits of history.
Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 22, 2009 12:49 PM
Can we ever expect anything less from NEWSREEK?
Posted by: Spurwing Plover at May 22, 2009 2:19 PM
This will become a classic case study of the left's understanding of capitalism. Cut circulation, which will reduce advertising rates...so raise prices on a product no one wants! Brilliant!..why didn't I think of that? The executive management probably has a bonus plan based on shrinking earnings!
These idiots have no concept of "customer" because their arrogance does not permit dealing with such "trifles"
Posted by: CharlieDontSurf at May 22, 2009 5:41 PM
Don't worry, they'll find jobs for them at the Ministry of Truth.
Posted by: Judith M. at May 22, 2009 7:04 PM
Loved time and newsweek 30 years ago when we read them for free for school. Stopped buying them during the Clinton years because of the bias. Chasing away 1/2 of the market is the lousy business plan of many publications today and has lead to their demise (NYT). Conservatives read more that Libs, look at the NYT besteseller list for non-fiction political books, that's where we are now. They blamed declining readers in the 80's on TV, cable and now it's the internet, funny how they never look at themselves
Posted by: tired of liberal lies at May 22, 2009 11:45 PM
The media is too big to fail. Once the government bails them out and owns them, the Ministry of Truth will be complete.
Posted by: Mark at May 23, 2009 6:31 AM
The funny part is that Newsweek is trying to spin the decline in circulation as something they desired, the fruition of their cunning plan. Yessir, get rid of half of those pesky paying subscribers, that's our plan. Having lots of subscribers is such a pain in the ass.
Nice try, Newsweek.
Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 23, 2009 9:43 AM
Goody, imagine how much worth Newsweek will be when its circulation drops another 50%.
Posted by: Thomas Jackson at May 23, 2009 8:05 PM
"If we can't convince a million and a half people we're worth less than a dollar a week, the market will have spoken," Meacham says.
Well, Mr. Meacham, congratulations! You've already convinced millions of us that Newsweek is worth less than a dollar a week.
Much, much less than a dollar a week.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2009 6:44 AM
Alienate Conservatives at your peril oh liberal media.
Posted by: grayjohn at May 24, 2009 8:53 AM
