La Socialista: Going Down Like A Led Zeppelin
After multiple rounds of layoffs and the shame of relinquishing its title as the largest newspaper in the Palmetto State, things aren’t getting any better for The (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper – a.k.a. La Socialista.
According to figures released last week by the Audit Bureau of Circulations – and reported by McClatchy Watch – subscriptions at The State have dropped from 96,759 back on March 31 of this year to 83,923 at the end of September, a whopping 13.6% decline.
Think about that for a second … that’s 12,836 subscriptions gone – in just six months.
La Socialista posted the largest percentage decrease of any McClatchy-owned paper in South Carolina, although the Beaufort Gazette, Rock Hill Herald and The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News also showed double-digit percentage declines.
Nationwide, the average circulation drop over the last six months was 10.6%.
Also, the Wall Street Journal overtook USA Today as the largest newspaper in America.
Comments
By Ynot on November 2nd, 2009 at 6:59 am
Today’s paper has two whoppin sections. Nothing has been written in house. Little SC news. The State doesn’t cover the news so why call it a ” newspaper”?
By Liberty For Me on November 2nd, 2009 at 8:28 am
It is poorly laid out,contribute little local stories…has a horrible sports section and overall it is just boring…that pretty much sizes up failure.Oh and the dumb idea of chargeing more to make more is a big contributor .Drop the price in half.come up with some advertizing ideas why dont you.The money is in the classifieds
By Soft Sigh From Hell on November 2nd, 2009 at 8:33 am
The midlands area pretty much has to have some sort of newspaper, for local news if nothing else. It will be interesting to see what that turns out to be in say five years or so. The niche of a statewide newspaper could be filled by a SC edition of the Charlotte Observer if necessary I suppose.
By Paper's suffering for a long, long time on November 2nd, 2009 at 10:51 am
Two things happened recently to me, that showed, newspaper just are not read regularly anymore. My son’s picture was on the front page of our local paper and I was quoted in the article. Only one person mentioned to me seeing the article. Ten years ago I would have received several phone calls and people at church and work would’ve said something.
Then a week ago, the local paper did an article about my business in general and my company in particular. It was very negative. It didn’t effect my business at all. I wouldn’t have known about the article if the reported hadn’t called to get a comment. That was the only reason I picked up a copy of the paper that day.
By Richard on November 2nd, 2009 at 11:16 am
If it was true journalism I would be renewing my subscription. There is such bias and a slant on truths that it is no longer worthy.Very poor professionalism, with the exception being sports.
By Workin' Tommy C on November 2nd, 2009 at 11:46 am
Okay, I’ll admit it:
Now I AM the one rubbing his hands in glee like a Dickensian antagonist.
=:>)
Someone I know just got laid off from her Der Staat paper route. She wasn’t surprised at all however since I had been warning her for months what was coming.
By Let 'em all go down on November 2nd, 2009 at 12:41 pm
I hope they all fail. They need to. Everything a paper is suppose to be is no longer found anywhere.
By Gillon on November 2nd, 2009 at 1:28 pm
The answer to the declining circulation is so simple that I’m surprised that Fits didn’t hit upon it immediately. The simple truth is that with “all those students trapped in failing schools,” South Carolinians are beginning to lack the necessary reading skills to comprehend, and judging by the recent spate of Republican officeholders that they have elected to office, they also lack the desire.
By Dismayed on November 2nd, 2009 at 1:47 pm
What will replace newspapers like The State? Certainly not blogs like this one, so heavily biased that it is downright funny, which (aside from the gossip) is why I read it. Imagine FITS covering a decision to call a snow day for schools: “Richland County District One RINO official calls snow day, school vouchers needed so students won’t be exposed to this socialist wastefulness. Is this RINO using frozen precipitation to distract everyone from his secret love life at Riverbanks Zoo?”
By K Trane on November 2nd, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Liberal newspapers in a conservative state = failure.
By baked on November 2nd, 2009 at 2:47 pm
local radio is just a few steps behind newspapers on the road to the labrea tar pits.
By Darkseid616 on November 2nd, 2009 at 4:39 pm
The State isn’t the only paper dying a slow death, the (Florence) Morning News has also seen a reduction in subscriptions and rack sales. They have even cut the overall size of the paper to save costs. Other papers in this state have cut out printing papers on traditionally slow news days (Monday). As for the advertising; the classified just don’t cut it. Whether our local paper or the state there really are none now. Will we see the end of local newspapers, I doubt it but we could see consolidation,reduction of frequency,or maybe even some communities could lose their hometown paper. Despite what we may think of our assorted local papers across SC it would be a sad day to see them close but then again nothing lasts forever…
By Local Radio Doing Better than Paper on November 2nd, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Local radio’s revenue is still doing well. It will be awhile before radio goes that way of print.
By mark g on November 2nd, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Their editorial page aside, I do consider The State required reading.
I think local journalism is essential to the health of the community. I hope they can bounce back. It is critical that real journalists– working a beat, building contacts, tracking down leads– hold those in power accountable. (Blogging is fine, but it’s not the same.)
They are not perfect, but I think our community would be far better off with a robust State newspaper. I hate to think what the state will be like if there’s no one to keep tabs on those clowns in the State House.
By James the Foot Soldier on November 2nd, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Any conservative buying The State or The USA Today might as well just write a check to the Democrat National Committee.
The gig is up.
Buy a Wall Street Journal and get your local news via the internets.
p.s…same goes for a conservative buying a Government Motors or Chyrsler product – you might as well just write a check to the Democrat National Committee.
By EM on November 2nd, 2009 at 11:02 pm
I would like an paper, with stories that are local. Local Government, crime reports, weddings, deaths, entertainment and military stuff and sports. High school sports and politics. So Neighbors and Free Times and the debutante paper need to get together and try a weekly…
By Jeffy01 on November 3rd, 2009 at 12:40 pm
What you mean Ron Morris and Warren Bolton are pulling in the readers?! I pick up my copy everyday to hear about Boltons Sunday School class. Riveting stuff! (I just read BIN news for my info)
By Soft Sigh From Hell on November 3rd, 2009 at 10:07 pm
“I would like an paper, with stories that are local. Local Government, crime reports, weddings, deaths, entertainment and military stuff and sports. High school sports and politics.”
That would be pretty ironic. That would be The Columbia Record, the old afternoon paper.