Allen Weiner

This one hurts. I grew up in Philadelphia when it was a two newspaper town–actually three if you include the Daily News which had the best sports section in a brutal sports town (who did not love/hate Stan Hochman). In fact, when I was in graduate school, I did freelance work for the non-defunct Philadelphia Bulletin. Philadelphia newspapers are in my blood.

While some newspapers are considering moving from print to online, that will be tricky here. If I am not mistaken, Philly.com is a separate business unit from the Inquirer and Daily News and there would be both business, personnel and technology issues at play for a total conversion from print to web.

I am left with one question (raised by my wife, an MBA who is not from Philadelphia) that is with my head and not my heart: If they are bailing out banks and car companies, why not newspapers? I have no easy answer.