Short Takes From Editor Smith’s KGA Interview

On KGA this morning, SR Editor Steve Smith made the following comments:

*When everything shakes out, there will be two reporters and a Handle Extra reporter assigned to the North Idaho bureau of the SR. (Erica Curless is already assigned here. High school prep writer and a photographer also are assigned to Coeur d’Alene.) Layoffs are over for now. We are hoping to rehire some of the individuals laid off on Nov. 1.

*The SR acknowledged the reality that it’ll always be a second buy in a North Idaho market that has a hometown paper. We can’t compete with the quantity of the report but we will remain a “substantially better paper.” Readers will still subscribe to us in North Idaho b/c they’re interested in our business, sports, features, national and international report.

*The SR has failed to add substantial circulation in North Idaho despite a major financial commitment over a quarter century.

*Huckleberries Online will continue to be a major focus of the North Idaho strategy, although it might change some. Smith noted that HBO is approaching 2 million page-views, which he considers extraordinary considering the limited size of its market.

*Despite trolls, spammers and flamers, the SR is going to continue to allow open access to its blogs b/c that approach is important to our online vitality.