The Falls

Back around the turn of the century, some 160 people worked in the newsroom at The Spokesman-Review, give or take. These days, we’re down to around 137, and falling.

Also back around 2000, some 126,000 people subscribed to the paper. That’s slipped below 95,000 today.

It’s enough to make you wonder if there’s a connection.

The latest report from the media ICU was the news Monday that the S-R will lay off or otherwise reduce its staff by 10-15 journalists, and 40 people companywide. The newsroom budget will be cut by about 11 percent.

This is just the latest example of the industry’s waltz down the mortuary stairs: 1) Newspapers lose readers and advertisers. 2) Newspapers eliminate reporters, photographers and editors. 3) Newspapers lose more readers and advertisers.

There’s more to it, of course. And things have been worse at other papers. But overall, the owners of newspapers have treated them like sinking ships. Instead of patching the leaks, they’re rushing to unload the treasure.

We’ll miss this business when it’s gone. But we won’t be all that surprised.