Hoy to become free

Tribune has a new idea for Hoy, the Spanish-language daily that was caught cooking the circulation numbers—and that here in L.A. isn't doing too well, cooked or not, up against the entrenched La Opinión. Starting in January, they will give Hoy away in Los Angeles and Chicago. The switch to "controlled circulation," publisher-ese for free, will "maximize access to Hoy's valuable content for the audience that advertisers value," the Tribune Co. press release says with undiluted optimism.

Also: On his blog, Former Times reporter Ken Reich criticizes the Tribune's latest explanation for falling circulation.