Stop the presses; New Haven Register to lay off 105 workers

NEW HAVEN, Conn. WTNH/(AP) - The New Haven Register is laying off 105 people as it moves to outsource its newspaper printing operation to Hartford.

The newspaper reports that the layoffs will primarily affect workers in the pressroom and the mail room.

"I have bought a printed newspaper in a long time," said Branford resident Jason Esch. "Usually electronic, like the iPad. I'll go online and check the articles."

That's what most people say when you ask them if they still buy a copy of the New Haven Register.

"I don't buy a newspaper," said Srini Alla. "I go online and read the newspaper."

"I think if they're smart they'll develop a more robust online presence, but I think the time has come," said Amanda Geno. "I think newspapers are going away."

That's what the Register's parent company wants to do, focus on the digital version of the newspaper, and that's exactly what longtime newspaper reporter Paul Bass did when he left print to start the New Haven Independent in 2005.

"We saw print dying. We saw that was the past. And the future was going to be a more exciting way to do journalism," said Bass. "Now you do't have to spend any money on paper, or any money on overhead. It's all about the job we wanted to do originally, which was to cover the news, but with the public more involved."

However folks like Bill Davis in his Hartford Courant sweatshirt still like the printed page.

"Do you still buy an actual printed newspaper?"

"Yes I do," replied Davis.

"Every day?"

"Probably at least 5 times a week."

Publisher Tom Wiley said Tuesday that an agreement is being finalized to outsource printing to The Hartford Courant beginning in February. Plans also call for sister publications including The Register Citizen of Torrington and The Middletown Press to be printed by the Courant.

Wiley said the Register is planning to move key operations to a new office space in downtown New Haven where the public will be invited to participate in local journalism. He said it will be modeled in part on the public newsroom café that was launched by The Register Citizen .