Life Without the San Francisco Chronicle

We chose the name to make the point that we would offer news and perspectives that went “beyond” what was found in the Bay Area’s largest circulation daily newspaper. Little did any of us suspect in choosing our name that we would outlive the San Francisco Chronicle. But the Hearst Corporation’s announcement last week that, absent significant cost savings, it would shutdown the Chronicle means the paper’s days are numbered. When rumors emerged in 2007 that the Chronicle would shift entirely to its online SFGate.com, I purchased the domain name “Beyond Gate.” But I did not renew the registration. I realized that the Chronicle faced two insurmountable problems that would prevent its success in any format. First, its model for delivering news is no longer economically viable. Second, its management is so out of touch with its potential customer base that declining circulation and advertising revenue will continue. Despite my differences with the paper’s editorial direction, I am saddened that so many hard-working and quality journalists, as well as longtime blue-collar production workers, could soon be out of work. But the Chronicle’s impact on Bay Area life has greatly diminished, and much of its value will be replaced by other formats.

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