With Transcontinental's help, San Francisco Chronicle goes glossy

The San Francisco Chronicle is the first major U.S. newspaper to print on glossy paper, starting on Monday. The magazine-style glossy paper will appear on the first page of most sections and show up on inside forms as well, according to a story in the Associated Press.

Besides making the Chronicle more pleasing to read, the magazine-style glossy paper could help the newspaper attract more advertisers looking to make their products shine.....

The Chronicle confirmed it has secured some advertising commitments for the new glossy format, but it would not provide details or discuss the paper's costs.

The switch also is another sign of how newspapers are targeting their print editions at niche markets as their circulation shrinks.

The Chronicle last July closed its own presses and contracted out production to a brand new $200 million printing plant (right) run by Transcontinental Inc. in Fremont, California. It prints 270,000 copies of the Chronicle, Monday to Saturday and 360,000 on Sunday.