Today I saw a news blurb about the Ann Arbor News — it appears as though management has made a decision to discontinue the publication in July of 2009. This will be a tough transition for many. I’ve always grown up with the Ann Arbor News — and remember my mother reading it daily.
Here’s an excerpt from the letter to the editor:
This is a difficult day for all of us at The Ann Arbor News. I’ve announced to my colleagues here that we will publish our last edition in July, when a new company called AnnArbor.com LLC will begin sharing local news and information with the community.
I don’t have to tell you what a special and unique place Ann Arbor is; we get to embrace and experience our community’s vibrancy daily. Our company knows that, too, and has chosen our special city to use as a laboratory to create new ways to share local news and information. Our owners have decided to continue to invest significantly in our market, and will be starting a new online media company to better service our tech-savvy readers and advertisers.
In July, AnnArbor.com will be born as an incredible community resource online, in print and around town. Like Ann Arbor, it will be a special place for everyone in the community to learn about, participate in and share everything that’s going on in our area.
– Ann Arbor News
The web edition will not be “published” until the Ann Arbor News sends out that final newspaper in July. Until then, AnnArbor.com will be a work in progress — and the company wants your input to help shape the future of the Ann Arbor “eNews.”
We need to find a sustainable business model that will best serve the needs of Ann Arbor’s uniquely tech-savvy residents and advertisers. In July, AnnArbor.com will transform into a new media resource [online, in print, and around town] where you can learn about, participate in and share everything that’s going on in the community. While The Ann Arbor News is closing, the new AnnArbor.com will produce print editions on Sundays and Thursdays of each week, with a weekly TMC (Total Market Coverage) advertising supplement.
If you have questions or concerns about this transition, I’d recommend visiting the website and reading through the FAQ. There will also be several community forums (in-person meetings) to help define the future of the new Ann Arbor newspaper.
1 comment