Like THE NEW YORKER, THE NEW REPUBLIC persisted in long-form journalism. But the latter wasn't so lucky. Even after the McKinsey troops stormed [upon invitation] Conde Nast, THE NEW YORKER was virtually left untouched. Recently, in fact, Jeffry Toobin had a 10,000-word article in it about some weighty legal matter.
Today, we find out that only the percentage of how many will be cut at TNR needs to be verified. But major layoffs there will be. A percentage number floating around is one-third. However it is unclear if that one-third, if a correct number, means one-third of the newsroom or one-third of the staff.
With politics such a hot category, TNR could have been saved. Look at the increasing influence and readership of Politico.com. The formulas for the latter include a racing metabolism, not missing any developing news such as when Sarah Palin eats a halibut taco, and getting into and out of a story fast.
In the new world of communications, it's Change or Die. It's a puzzle why the Creative Class at TNR chose not to change.




