SALT LAKE CITY — For the second straight day, a Utah journalistic institution has announced it will no longer print a daily version of its newspaper.
The Deseret News said Tuesday it will discontinue its daily print version sometime early next year, ending a run of 170 years. The Salt Lake Tribune announced Monday it would also stop printing a daily version of its newspaper at the end of the year.
In an online article posted to its website, the Deseret News says it will replace the delivered printed options with a new weekly printed newspaper and a monthly printed news magazine. The Latter-day Saint Church-owned paper says the move away from print will also allow it to focus on expanded digital offerings.
Officials said Monday that 18 Deseret News employees will be let go, including six journalists.
The moves by the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune come after their Joint Operating Agreement came to an end, which will result in the shutdown of the West Valley City printing and distribution center and the loss of 160 additional jobs.
While newspapers in some cities disappear, the Deseret News believes it is poised for a healthy future.
“While some have been wringing their hands about the decline of newsprint, we have been busy reinventing for the future,” said Deseret News President and Publisher Jeff Simpson. “The additional changes we are making in the coming months are made possible because of strong vision in a dynamic group of writers, editors and other professionals. We are excited for our readers to experience what we have planned for them.”
