In late June, Greenspun Interactive, the new media division of the company that publishes the Las Vegas Sun, launched a video Web site named 702.tv after the Las Vegas area code. The project, described as “a Las Vegas-based news and entertainment video Web site and television program,” has been canceled after only four months, and a number of staff members either laid off or reassigned.
Norm Clarke, a columnist for the competing Las Vegas Review-Journal, first reported that half a dozen videographers were laid off on Tuesday. Clarke gleaned at least some of his information from postings on Facebook and Twitter.
Late Wednesday, Greenspun released the following statement by e-mail: “Greenspun Media Group canceled its weekly “702.tv” program on Oct. 13, 2009. This situation is yet another reflection of events taking place nationally in both the media and the economy. We remain committed to long-term objectives.”
Greenspun Interactive’s Rob Curley pulled together an experienced team for 702.tv. One former 702.tv staffer, when reached for comment, would not speak for attribution. (It’s common for severance packages to include a confidentiality clause. In other words, if you speak out publicly, you lose your severance.)
The sour economy may be partly to blame for the failure of the site. Las Vegas is suffering from the economic downturn more than most communities. But there’s also a bigger question about the role of video on newspaper sites.
Eventually, people will watch Web videos on their home television sets and mobile devices. In theory, newspaper companies should invest now to develop video skills and earn a reputation for quality video journalism. But the equipment, training and staffing are expensive. And while video pre-roll advertising typically commands a high rate, it’s difficult to produce enough video to break even. So when the economy tanks and newspaper revenues plummet, video is seen as expendable.
Some videographers at other newspapers complain privately about cutbacks that result in fewer videographers, more of an emphasis on short, breaking news videos at the expense of longer, narrative pieces, and being required to shoot still photos for the paper.
Greenspun isn’t the first newspaper site to pull the plug on a video news show. Beginning in 2005, The Roanoke Times produced TimesCast, an innovative, low-tech, daily news show. The final TimesCast was produced in October 2007. The staff at delawareonline.tv continue to produce news video, in part because Wilmington is sandwiched between New York and Philadelphia television markets and doesn’t have any local TV news. But the Web site of The (Wilmington) News Journal no longer produces a daily TV-like news show.
