Atlanta Journal-Constitution Moves Out Of Town. But Is That a Big Deal?

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, one of the largest daily papers in the south, plans to relocate its main offices to a site outside of downtown Atlanta.

The New York Times writes today: "The Journal-Constitution, the result of a 2001 merger of two newspapers that were each more than 100 years old, is moving to a former Macy's distribution center in Dunwoody, Ga. It will leave its downtown home near the courthouses, City Hall and the statue of Henry W. Grady (“Journalist, Orator, Patriot”), who was the managing editor of The Atlanta Constitution during Reconstruction and popularized the idea of an industrial 'new South.'

“Dunwoody is not only outside city limits, it is what Atlantans call O.T.P., or 'outside the perimeter,' the freeway loop that, at least in psycho-geographical terms, delineates the transition from city to endless suburbia”

But is that such a big deal these days? More and more reporters are working as MoJo's, or mobile journalists, in which they travel around their beats and report via laptops, cell phones and all matter of on-the-go devices. If the news folks remain on the stories and push for in-depth reporting, the impact is likely minimal at best.

And if the paper saves money this way rather than cutting more staff, all the better.