Tennessean cuts newspapers to nine counties

NIT has confirmed that Gannett owned newspaper the Tennessean will stop delivery service to nine counties in Tennessee by the end of the month. At the same time, the paper will roll out a new digital product.

The counties whose service will be cut are in two clusters roughly equal distance from the paper's Nashville headquarters. Counties West of Nashville are Henry, Benton, Humphreys and Perry. Those East of Nashville are Clay, Jackson, Overton, Pickett and Fentress counties.

According to Tennessean Vice President of Market Development Bob Faricy, the move is a strategic one, and he denies reports by WSMV that fuel costs were a factor.

"It's purely a strategic move to focus our efforts more tightly geographically," Faricy told NIT. "People who receive the paper in those counties through mail subscription will still receive the paper."

Faricy also said the Tennessean will roll out a new digital version of the hard copy newspaper that is currently available to schools. The digital version will be available to everyone at the end of July.

The nine counties affected by the cuts amount to 1.2% of the Tennessean's subscriber base according to Faricy, including 2,800 daily subscribers and 4,300 Sunday subscribers.