The San Jose Mercury—News, once renowned as the newspaper with the most advertising linage in the entire United States, is laying off 16% of its newsroom staff, through attrition and buyouts, so as to avoid the nasty—sounding term "lay—off". The AP, anxious to avoid offending a client, presents this as almost good news: "San Jose Mercury News avoids layoffs." Hurray! Just 5.39 more rounds of avoiding layoffs in this fashion, and there will be no more newspaper editorial staff.

Even press optimists are starting to realize that the death throes of the daily newspaper industry are in process. Too bad. I used to enjoy reading several newspapers a day. But that was a long time ago.

Thomas Lifson  11 12 05