Readers of the New York Times with find themselves with less of a handful when they pick up today's New York Times - this morning - they've shrunk the so-called newspaper of record.
The Times announced that beginning today, Monday, the Times "will reduce the width of its pages by an inch and a half," to a 12-inch standard, according to Editor and Publisher, which added that the Times will compensate for its smaller size by adding pages.
"The move will cut newsprint expenses and, in some printing press locations, will make special configurations unnecessary. Slight modifications in design will preserve the look and texture of The Times, with all existing features and sections, and somewhat fewer words per page." the paper explained.
The Times had originally planned to make the shift next March, but spokeswoman Diane McNulty told the Associated Press that the company was able to get its presses reconfigured sooner than anticipated.
The change will result in the space for news being reduced by about 10 percent, but the paper will make up for about half of that decline by adding extra pages. Additional pages may also be added from time to time to accommodate major news stories, McNulty said.
The Times hopes to save about $10 million per year with the change, and it needs the money, as TheStreet.com reported last week that the Times' "second-quarter income from continuing operations fell 59% to $221 million. Revenue slipped 3.7% to $788.9 million, missing analysts' forecast of $801.18 million. The company's advertising revenue dropped 5.7%, while its circulation revenue was down 0.5%."
The Times is not first paper to shrink in recent years: USA Today and the Wall Street Journal have also done so.
Other papers in the New York Times Co.'s New England and Regional Media divisions also are slimming down, E&P reported, citing The Boston Globe which is reducing its width from 50 inches to 48 inches.