On May 31, many Gannett newspapers did not feature Donald Trump’s historic conviction on their front pages, a move quickly noticed by The Seattle Times‘ Jeong Park. The conviction news broke around 5 p.m. ET on May 30, too late for many local publications that have earlier print deadlines due to outsourced printing.
For instance, the Montgomery Advertiser, now printed in Jackson, Mississippi, did not mention the conviction on its front page. The Indianapolis Star, printed in Peoria, Illinois, also omitted the news. IndyStar executive editor Eric Larsen explained that although the paper missed the initial coverage, it featured extensive coverage online and in subsequent print editions.
Despite Gannett and McClatchy ending their Associated Press relationship in March, Larsen said this did not affect IndyStar’s coverage. Some West Coast Gannett papers, like The Record of Stockton, California, published outdated stories or omitted the news entirely, citing print process constraints.
While some Gannett papers like Arizona Republic and Detroit Free Press did cover the news on May 31, others used teases to direct readers online. McClatchy spokesperson Julie Pendley noted that their print deadlines also impacted coverage, but emphasized their online updates.
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