Good News

The Examiner, which has been published in DC as a free competitor to the Post and the Times is coming to Baltimore:

Baltimore Examiner will publish Monday through Saturday with an initial circulation of 250,000. The Examiner is published by Denver-based Clarity Media Group, which already publishes free newspapers in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. San Francisco's paper has a circulation of 163,000 Monday through Friday and 381,000 on Saturday. The Washington paper has a weekday circulation of 260,188 and a Saturday circulation of 250,000.

Clarity appointed Michael E. Phelps, a 34-year media industry veteran, as publisher of the new publication.

The free daily would compete with the Baltimore Sun, which has a circulation of between 250,000 and 300,000 during the week and 462,000 on Sundays. Sun officials are not concerned about an "out of town tabloid," said Sun spokesman Alonza Williams. Although all newspapers are facing increased competition for advertising dollars and readers, initiatives such as the Sun's recent redesign will help with that challenge, Williams said.

Maybe now, the Sun will worry a little more about correcting its content problems than its stylistic shortcomings. It would be unrealistic to think that the free Examiner will drive the Sun out of business, but any additional media outlet that competes with the Sun is better for all of those here in the Baltimore area.