Over the past few weeks, there have been fifty some-odd changes to my most active Cision MediaSource press list. Which means that a staggering 20% of the reporters I’m in touch with on a regular basis have recently switched beats, switched organizations, or simply switched professions.

We all know that most newsrooms are shrinking. In mid July alone, about 400 newsroom people lost their jobs at papers across the country, according to MediaLife. Among the organizations making cuts were the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times.

We also know that the ones that aren’t shrinking are undergoing a major overhaul. As print outlets shed staff and streamline content, newswires are reacting to fill the void. Last month, AP realigned its business news department around 12 core beats, each staffed with five to ten reporters and one editor. In early August CNN moved its daytime shows to a single-anchor format and unveiled a host of changes in the newsroom.

At the same time, a few brave new traditional outlets are popping up. At the end of ’07 Fox Business Network launched on TV. Just a few weeks ago Bloomberg reported that Thomson Reuters is gearing up to launch its own business television network.

For communicators working with the press, this state of flux can bring pandemonium. While some beats are being eliminated, others are becoming consolidated. The realignment of AP’s business news department decreased the number of beats but actually increased the number of reporters on staff. Data base services like Cision just can’t seem to keep pace with the changes, and I for one have spent a lot of time figuring out the new lay of the land.

In the process, I’ve been reassured to see that reporters I’ve never been in touch with before are just as receptive as the old ones to good story ideas. This drives home the conclusion that contacts may come and go, but above all, it’s the idea that counts.