Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Last Printed Edition Begins A Future Online

PITTSBURGH (NewsRadio 1020 KDKA) - After 24 years of producing a daily printed newspaper, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review has published its last edition.

"It's not a sad day for me. It's a sentimental day," Pittsburgh Tribune Review editor Luis Fabregas told KDKA money editor Jon Delano on Wednesday. "It's a day to reflect and a day to look forward."

Earlier this fall, the Trib announced it would go digital, after laying off about 20 percent or 100 employees, but Fabregas says the Trib is still well-positioned to provide free online news content.

"We're very fortunate that, even though we lost some really well-known journalists who were dear friends and colleagues of mine for many years, we've actually been able to retain some outstanding journalists," Fabregas says.

The switch to an online edition is no surprise says Point Park Professor Bill Moushey, a former investigative newspaper reporter, who says millennials won't read hard copy papers.

Moushey: "There are free papers sitting downstairs on the first floor -- both papers -- and they never pick them up."

Delano: "They don't read printed newspapers?"

Moushey: "No, no."

Johanna Wiser of Emsworth seemed to confirm that.

Delano: "Where do you get your news?"

Wiser: "Mostly on social media, or if I hear something happens, I'll research it on their website."

Andrew Conte, director of Point Park's Center for Media Innovation, says online is the future.

"A lot of people look at this as the death of a newspaper, but you could also look at this as the birth of a new news organization."

In a statement from VP & General Manager Lisa Hurm, Pittsburgh's remaining daily paper said, "We at the Post-Gazette remain committed to delivering the most comprehensive news and information to our readers in Allegheny County and throughout the region with a daily print and digital edition."

Fabregas said the Trib intends to compete with quality content for free.

"We're very energized about the future and I've said this again and again -- we're not going anywhere, so look out," Fabregas says.

Conte, a former investigative reporter with the Trib, says newspapers have "struggled to remain profitable."

Trib Total Media decided to stop printing its Pittsburgh edition, which began in May of 1992, before it completely ran out of  money and is going all-digital on Thursday.

"The question will be, can they still be a quality news organization, without actually printing a newspaper?" Conte said. "I think the answer's going to be yes."

Conte thinks the online Trib will, "Still be competitive with the Post-Gazette," which continues to publish a print edition.

Conte also thinks the strong competition between the Trib and the Post-Gazette will continue and most Trib readers won't miss the printed paper.

The change comes after a year of downsizing, including employee buyouts and layoffs.

The Greensburg Tribune-Review will still continue to be printed in Westmoreland County.

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