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A newsy era: newspapers are better able to take on radio, TV, because of the Web.

Article Excerpt
More information is better than too little. That seems to be the mantra of newspaper editors in San Diego County--even if it means creating competition for their own product.

But many members of the print media are learning to make their print and online editions work complementary as the newsgathering business evolves.

Newspaper editors around town say they are preserving more space in print editions for analytical and investigative reports. Putting breaking news first on the Web allows them to compete better with television and radio.

"Newspapers have to realize they are not the paper they print their news on," said Editor Kent Davy of the North County Times. "They are a news-gathering, synthesizing service."

Andrew Kleske, the North County Times' editor of its online edition, www. nctimes.com, said news organizations risk tipping off the competition by posting news to the Web, but that it doesn't change the importance of immediacy.

"Whether it's 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina, we want to get the news out there," Kleske said, adding that about five staffers work full-time on the daily newspaper's Web site. "If we sat around and debated all day about it, it would defeat the purpose of having a Web site."

He added that breaking news is sometimes reserved for the print edition if the publication is sure it will be a major exclusive.

The paper's online edition sees about 4 million page views a...