The Advocate to deliver in N.O., Times Picayune in Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - By Monday, October 1, 2012, the Advocate newspaper from Baton Rouge will begin home delivery in New Orleans. That is also when the most famous paper in New Orleans, the Times Picayune, will start producing a paper just three days a week. However, both papers have their eyes on both cities.

"We're not naive enough to sit up here and say well the times are changing we've got to change with them," said David Manship, CEO of The Advocate. "We have already changed we have a website, we have mobile apps, and can possibly want we have e-edition which you can read on line."

The Advocate has hired some former Times Picayune reporters to staff its New Orleans bureau, but former Denver Post editor and LSU professor Bob Ritter is a little skeptical of the New Orleans market embracing the Baton Rouge based paper.

"It's a very difficult proposition for both newspapers by now. And a challenge, given the disruption that occurred in the newspaper business," said Ritter.

Ritter believes there will be some backlash when the Times Picayune starts going to print only three days a week.

"That all depends on the quality of the news coverage. The relevancy of the Advocate news coverage in New Orleans and whether readers in New Orleans can come to recognize that newspaper as their own," said Ritter.

The Times Picayune is now bowing out gracefully. It has hired 16 people to work out of a new bureau in the Baton Rouge market for their website. That kickoff is next Monday.

The Advocate will offer 10,000 New Orleans edition newspapers on newsstands in the Crescent City for the next week, until they being daily home delivery.

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