The Advocate plans New Orleans edition

The Advocate (http://bit.ly/PSpdoe) newspaper says it will expand into the New Orleans market with a specialized print edition.

Richard Manship, president and CEO of Capital City Press, says The Advocate is laying the groundwork to reach into the market following the announcement by The Times-Picayune that the newspaper will reduce publication to three days a week this fall while beefing up its online report.

Manship said The Advocate will add staff to supply this coverage of the area, but did not provide specific numbers.

The Times-Picayune, which is owned by Advance Publications Inc., announced plans in June to convert the 175-year-old New Orleans daily to a 24-hour digital news operation with a print edition only on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The newspaper also said it will reduce news staff.