No More Friday Night Lights, as Plano Newspaper Paper Ditches Its Saturday Edition

By now, perhaps you've heard that earlier this week, Addison-based American Community Newspapers --publisher of the Plano Star Courier, the McKinney Courier-Gazette and the Frisco Enterprise among dozens of papers scattered across four states -- filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company said there would be "no change in...

By Robert Wilonsky

May 1, 2009

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18855504",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17105533",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105532",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105535",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

By now, perhaps you've heard that earlier this week, Addison-based American Community Newspapers --publisher of the Plano Star Courier, the McKinney Courier-Gazette and the Frisco Enterprise among dozens of papers scattered across four states -- filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company said there would be "no change in the company's day to day operating activity," but today, Plano Star Courier sports writer Kevin Hageland notes a significant change: After tomorrow, there will be no Saturday edition of the Plano paper, which, he points out with great candor and courage, "is a huge mistake!" Why?

From a sports perspective I think we are doing a huge disservice to our readers. For the most part, Tuesday and Friday nights serve as game night. We always get our stories and scores out to the public for the next morning's issue, but that will no longer be the case. ...

A couple years ago I was at the Plano Senior pancake breakfast for the boys basketball team on a Saturday morning. This was in the fall, so obviously we were in the middle of football season. I didn't see anyone there with a Dallas Morning News, but I saw several copies of the Plano Star Courier and several people passing it around to look at the sports section.

After this Saturday, that won't be the case anymore and I cringe to think what the public reaction will be come football season. For those hoping for something different, as far as I know this is not a temporary move and we will not be bringing back the Saturday edition of the PSC for football season. Hard to imagine that in Texas, but that's where we are at.

KEEP THE OBSERVER FREE... Since we started the Dallas Observer, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Dallas, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.