Six newspapers in Ohio to drop their Monday print editions/NYT & ProPublica apply for Knight News Challenge $

Business Week ran a small story from the Associated Press regarding the decision by Green County Dailies to drop their Monday print edition. The publisher is quoted below for what led to the decision.

Publisher Jon Noel of the Green County Dailies told subscribers in a note published this month that the change resulted from rising costs of services, fuel and other goods.

NOTE: A correction was issued for the story – the Washington Courthouse publication is NOT one of those to drop it’s Monday print edition.

So, will we see more of these annoucements in the near future? It is likely the larger publications will wait because they can afford to, however I have to wonder what they will lose in the meantime (good staffers), while it seems the smaller, local publications will take advatage of opportunites presented online.

Another point of interest: ProPublica and NYT seek $1M to put everyone’s documents online through the Knight News Challenge. I am surprised to see such a well-known name apply for this grant. I think Press Think’s Jay Rosen is right when he says he would think NYT would be more likely to DONATE $1M to Knight, rather than apply to receive it in funding for a new project. BUT, there is also no reason why they can’t apply. Will be interesting to see if they are awarded, what the proposal becomes.