Rueter's has a story today on the decision to close the San Francisco Chronicle, possibly a few month. This is the fabled newspaper that Mark Twain and Brett Harte wrote for during California's Gold Rush.

"Survival is the outcome we all want to achieve. But without the specific changes we are seeking across the entire Chronicle organization, we will have no choice but to quickly seek a buyer for the Chronicle or, should a buyer not be found, to shut the newspaper down," said Hearst Corp Chief Executive Frank Bennack Jr.

The paper lost over $50 million last year, and is bleeding red ink this year.

Read the Rueter's story on Yahoo.com.

The list of major metropolitan dailies that are in trouble is a long one. It includes the Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union Tribune, Chicago Tribune, New York Times, Philadelphia Enquirer, Seattle Post Intelligencer, Denver's Rocky Mountain News.

Hearst Media acquired the newspaper in 2000 for $600 million and ownes the rival San Francisco Examiner. It is the 12th largest newspaper in the United States.