What Exactly Did Barry Diller Say About Newsweek’s Future?

Barry Diller’s cryptic comments yesterday about Newsweek have led to much speculation, some misquoting and downright erroneous reporting by the media, and charges of “scaremongering” from editor Tina Brown. Diller didn’t say exactly what will happen to Newsweek...except that its manufacturing costs will be significantly lower next year. By “manufacturing,” he almost certainly means not just printing but also freight, paper, and postage.

If you’ve seen Newsweek lately, you’ll know the cuts won’t come from having fewer pages. One option is publishing less frequently. (Newsmonth, anyone?) Another is to provide incentives for people to switch to digital versions.