PrintJuly 13, 2008
Subscriber sues newspaper over cutbacks
A subscriber who renewed his subscription to a newspaper, only to read about major staff cutbacks in the newsroom after the check was cashed, is suing the paper, claiming in effect that the product he purchased has been degraded before delivery was completed.
Joe Strupp of Editor and Publisher reports that Keith Hempstead, a lawyer in Durham, NC, is suing the Raleigh News & Observer, which announced staff cutbacks of 70 people and reduced its news coverage shortly after he renewed his subscription, and quotes the News & Observer:
"He says he renewed his subscription in May just before the paper announced on June 16 the layoffs of 70 staff members and cuts in news pages," the paper added. "The paper, he says, is now not worth what he signed up for and therefore the cuts breached the paper's contract with him...."
Mr. Hempstead is also a former reporter at another North Carolina newspaper, so he may be more interested in embarrassing the RNO over its cutbacks than in recovering for actual damages. But the lawsuit is an annoying embarrassment, which demonstrates to others that they get less and less for their money as the buy a newspaper.
Hat tip: David Paulin
