Utah newspaper readers are lucky in that they have a choice: the Deseret News or The Salt Lake Tribune.
Not all major markets have the choice of two competing daily newspapers, with two completely separate editorial operations and two completely separate editorial staffs.To some this may seem confusing. Aren't the two newspapers, in fact, partners?
Indeed. But this partnership is what has enabled Salt Lake City to hold two major metropolitan papers.
Back in 1952, the Deseret News and The Salt Lake Tribune formed a joint operating agreement, which brought about the formation of the Newspaper Agency Corp. Each of the two newspapers assumed 50 percent ownership of the NAC.
Under the agreement, certain newspaper services, in no way connected to the editorial operation, were brought together. The three main areas were:
- Newspaper delivery. With the Salt Lake Tribune being a morning paper and the Deseret News an afternoon paper, the same delivery trucks can be used to carry the papers to the carriers. This cuts down on the expense of two fleets of trucks.
- Printing. Because the newspapers print at different times, with the exception of Saturday and Sunday papers, they have been able to use the same presses for printing. This also cuts down on overhead.
- Advertising. By combining operations here, one salesperson is now able to sell for both newspapers. This cuts down on production costs and sales costs, which makes it possible for advertisers to display in both newspapers at a lower rate.