The Advocate is Louisiana’s largest daily print newspaper, based in Baton Rouge. As of last week, it has a new owner.
New Orleans businessman John Georges bought the paper from the Manship family, the paper’s owners for over a century. The Advocate is growing circulation, including a New Orleans edition added last year when the Times-Picayune cut back printing to three days a week. Georges plans to grow the New Orleans readership for The Advocate, while maintaining its Baton Rouge presence. The T-P has since announced a tabloid edition that would bring back a daily paper-and-ink version of its publication.
But, overall, the fact remains that the newspaper business, at least the paper part of it, is shrinking around the country.
WWNO’s Paul Maassen sat down to talk with John Georges about going into the print business during a tough time for the industry.