The owner of the Chattanooga Times Free Press said in a recent interview that "the print model is not going to make it for newspapers. I don't care what town you are in in America."
Instead, Walter Hussman said in the interview and in a "letter to subscribers" that in Arkansas he is moving toward digital, including giving out IPads to current print subscribers.
His plan is to continue with a Sunday print addition that goes along with the daily digital version.
Mr. Husmann said his Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock lost money last year for the first time and would lose more money this year.
But he said he believes he can maintain current newsroom staffing by getting readers to convert to digital subscriptions on the IPads he furnishes and teaches readers to use.
Mr. Hussman said it is vital that newspapers continue in some form, saying they cover important stories that no one else would cover.
However, customers will need to be willing to pay about $400 per year to make his plan work.
Mr. Hussman said he plans to spend about $12 million on the IPad venture in Arkansas.
There was no mention in the interview or letter about the future of his Chattanooga newspaper.
Mr. Hussman earlier bought the afternoon Chattanooga News Free Press and then the morning Chattanooga Times. He merged them as a morning paper in 1999.
That same year, Chattanoogan.com was formed as one of the nation's first online only newspaper for Chattanooga. It will celebrate its 20th anniversary in September. It operates as a free publication with income from banner ads.
Click here to read the letter from Mr. Hussman.