Hollywood papers struggle; L.A. paper loses local news section

Variety and the Hollywood Reporter have always been big competitors in covering Hollywood -- and in seeking lucrative Hollywood advertising. But they have both been hit hard by the economy. Reuters reports:

Winking headlines like Daily Variety's "Katz-and-Mouse Game Over," describing the rift between Jeffrey Katzenberg and then-CEO of Walt Disney Co. Michael Eisner, speak volumes to Hollywood insiders. But [USC professor Jonathan] Taplin, among others, said the papers are rapidly becoming outmoded as readers go to blogs that provide an edgier version of film and TV news. MovieCityNews editor [David] Poland said he expects The Hollywood Reporter will become a Web-only news outlet, and Daily Variety will cut back to publishing twice weekly. Both have long histories, and can raise revenue online from their archives.

Of course, L.A.'s big daily is having it's own financial woes. And L.A. Observed reports that the publisher of The Times has come up with a controversial plan: Killing the "California" section of the paper. The move would allow later deadlines for the "Calendar" section, which now goes to press in the early afternoon. Kevin Roderick reports that top Times editors are bracing for the angry reader calls.