How will they be able to afford their sterling list of columnists?

The Washington Post Corporation's scam plan for maintaining a profit is not going to be so profitable anymore. Took a while, but people did have to rely primarily on word-of-mouth, instead of what they read in the paper.

For-profit colleges are facing a tough test: getting new students to enroll.



New-student enrollments have plunged—in some cases by more than 45%—in recent months, reflecting two factors: Companies have pulled back on aggressive recruiting practices amid criticism over their high student-loan default rates. And many would-be students are questioning the potential pay-off for degrees that can cost considerably more than what's available at local community colleges...



Some companies are feeling pain not only from students shying away but from their own tightened admissions standards. Washington Post Co.'s Kaplan Higher Education, like Apollo, now requires certain students to participate in a trial program before enrolling and paying tuition. Kaplan reported a 47% decline in new-student enrollment for the June quarter. Even without the orientation program, new-student enrollment would have dropped 36% in the quarter.

That'll teach 'em to even pretend to have a conscience!f



But the important question is how will this affect the ability of the paper to continue paying Richard Cohen, Robert Samuelson or Fred Hiatt?



Oh, silly me, they'll just let go of more actual reporters.



[cross-posted at Firedoglake]