Erie Times-News to outsource printing

It was announced earlier on www.goerie.com that the printing of the Erie Times-News will be outsourced by the 3rd quarter of 2011. It is not clear who will take over printing the daily newspaper as of yet but this move will put 40 people on the unemployment line. The Union representing the workers was not happy as this news occured on the day negotiations for a new contract were to take place. The Times Publishing Company is stating that aging equipment (up to 40 years old) is the reason why the ETN is looking at outsourcing the publication. With the Internet becoming becoming an alternative source for newspapers to utilize, it really does not make sense for a publisher to invest in new printing equipment. No doubt, newspapers will become a thing of the past in a few years. A few have already closed shop or went exclusively online.