Where are our stories going?

Our union colleagues at Northern California MediaNews papers have been told the same thing we have: the company plans to keep the reporting staff bare-boned. It will freeze positions vacated by departing staff members who have moved on. From One Big Water Cooler, we learn that MediaNews has signed a deal with Topix.com, a company that "handles online forums and comments section people use to discuss articles they read in the paper. The bottom line spelled out by Topix folks, is the deal is a way to stretch copy and reports further." Check it out, but then come back here and tell us what you think about yet another effort to expand MediaNews reach (read: $$$) without investing in the very people who provide the content — you and me!