Gannett papers to largely skip election results in print

Readers of Gannett papers in the company’s 109 local markets will be told to go online to papers’ websites for election results. There will be little in the way of fresh election results in the Nov. 7 print editions, Ken Doctor reports in his Newsonomics column for Harvard’s Nieman Journalism Lab. 

Gannett will scrap its paywalls for two days or more to let the public see election results, Doctor reports. 

The move is meant to encourage readers to go online and to cut costs, says Doctor, who provides a lengthy analysis in light of trends in print.

Gannett has a 7 p.m. print close time in most markets, Amalie Nash, executive editor for local news at Gannett’s USA Today Network, told Doctor. Print deadlines have moved up in many markets as centralized production hubs have become prevalent, Doctor points out.

“Across Gannett, some publishers, editors, and circulation directors wonder what the reaction will be among long-time print subscribers accustomed to seeing actual election results in print,” Doctor writes.

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