Neiman Labs got a copy of the memo the New York Times Co. sent to its employees stating, among other things, we are still in business. But based on the "plan" for recovery laid out it is difficult to feel very confident about the future.

Maybe it is just because I am in the business but it is always surprising that distressed newspapers never come up with a plan that involves selling more ads. They always reduce staff, consolidate printing or change the size of their product. Publications never say, "we are just not selling enough ads, what do we have to do to sell more?" Maybe their rates are too high, maybe their system of selling is outdated and cumbersome, maybe they never take any steps to prove to advertisers that their ads work. And maybe the people in charge are just being lazy and have stopped believing in their product as a viable advertising vehicle.