29 replies to this topic

[Revolutionist]

There are many factors at work here, not just the InterWebs

The economy is huge. Not only are people cutting back on extra expenditures - like news subscriptions, but advertising budgets are quickly shrinking. A huge print advertiser was the auto industry, especially local dealers who are hurting, and cannot spend as they once did. And that is also the case in many segments.

24x7 cable news channels are a big part of it. As was said earlier, all news that comes out in a newspaper is already stale at best, and often obsolete. Print does not allow for instant publication whereas TV does.

Editorial bias plays a part. As Dave already called the Bee on its editorial bent, from a business standpoint, this is an incredibly ill-advised move. You automatically alienate 40% of your possible audience by leaning one way or the other. People just aren't going to pay for news that is slanted in opposition to one's own position.

Very little innovation in the final product. Newspaper format has remained stagnant since the turn of last century. People are on the go now. There isn't a huge "read the paper while drinking mimosa for breakfast" crowd any more. Cumbersome pages that are difficult to manage while sitting on the light rail is not a great "buy me" feature.

[Bill Z]

There are many factors at work here, not just the InterWebs

The economy is huge. Not only are people cutting back on extra expenditures - like news subscriptions, but advertising budgets are quickly shrinking. A huge print advertiser was the auto industry, especially local dealers who are hurting, and cannot spend as they once did. And that is also the case in many segments.

24x7 cable news channels are a big part of it. As was said earlier, all news that comes out in a newspaper is already stale at best, and often obsolete. Print does not allow for instant publication whereas TV does.

Editorial bias plays a part. As Dave already called the Bee on its editorial bent, from a business standpoint, this is an incredibly ill-advised move. You automatically alienate 40% of your possible audience by leaning one way or the other. People just aren't going to pay for news that is slanted in opposition to one's own position.

Very little innovation in the final product. Newspaper format has remained stagnant since the turn of last century. People are on the go now. There isn't a huge "read the paper while drinking mimosa for breakfast" crowd any more. Cumbersome pages that are difficult to manage while sitting on the light rail is not a great "buy me" feature.

I think USA today has a better format for holding & reading a paper while riding on a train, bus, or a passenger in a commuter car. And I think they have a better handle on a unique market, business travellers on the go, get a free copy from the Hotels they stay at.

[Al Waysrite]

Editorial bias plays a part. As Dave already called the Bee on its editorial bent, from a business standpoint, this is an incredibly ill-advised move. You automatically alienate 40% of your possible audience by leaning one way or the other. People just aren't going to pay for news that is slanted in opposition to one's own position.

All those very smug, liberal newspaper editors (who deny any liberal bias) out of work, just brings a smile to my face.

Now if there were only a way to see the same thing happen to the so called "liberal-elite" at colleges. Oh, Wouldn't it be lover-ly?

[a little bean]

All those very smug, liberal newspaper editors (who deny any liberal bias) out of work, just brings a smile to my face.

Now if there were only a way to see the same thing happen to the so called "liberal-elite" at colleges. Oh, Wouldn't it be lover-ly?

And what do we do with the right-wing conservatives that dominate the cable networks? I suppose they get to stay in your red world?

[Al Waysrite]

And what do we do with the right-wing conservatives that dominate the cable networks? I suppose they get to stay in your red world?

Sour grapes. Take heart, though, the liberal media got a president annointed just 3 months ago.

[mylo]

Sour grapes. Take heart, though, the liberal media got a president annointed just 3 months ago.

Golly, and here I thought the people overwhelmingly voted for him.

[Al Waysrite]

Golly, and here I thought the people overwhelmingly voted for him.

Read Bernard Goldberg's book "A Slobbering Love Affair"

[Suburban Pool Service]

Well my folks still get a paper every day, they come from that generation. I admit I enjoy sitting on the porch with a beverage and a paper in hand more than sitting behind a computer screen. That said news paper reading is a luxury & relaxing type thing for me today, with the electronic access we have today I personally don't see a need to buy one for our household. When I was single and had my own place, I enjoyed going to the gas station on Sunday moorings and picking up the Sunday Bee. I guess my biggest concern today is trying to keep my personal space as "green" as possible and can't personally justify the waste that is contributed when your done with the days paper. I don't think the newspaper will go away entirely but just become a bigger online news, community and advertising outlet.

[SunshineServices]

Just heard the Rocky Mountain News out of Denver is shutting down this Friday after 150 years in business.

Jeff

[ngilbert]

Just heard the Rocky Mountain News out of Denver is shutting down this Friday after 150 years in business.

Jeff

All those very smug, liberal newspaper editors (who deny any liberal bias) out of work, just brings a smile to my face.

Oh wait. The RMN was Denver's conservative paper.

Nevermind.

Seriously though, that's very sad. 150 years. It won't be the last I'm afraid.

[Darthvader]

All those very smug, liberal newspaper editors (who deny any liberal bias) out of work, just brings a smile to my face.

Oh wait. The RMN was Denver's conservative paper.

Nevermind.

Seriously though, that's very sad. 150 years. It won't be the last I'm afraid.

Just because something has been around 100+ years doesn't mean that it should stay that way just because it's been around. I mean look at the auto companies, they would go poof if not for the bailout. Guess the paper crowd doesn't have enough pull for some of that Barry O "save our a$$" money.

A newspaper has changed in a 100 years, maybe it's time for them to go.

[ngilbert]

Just because something has been around 100+ years doesn't mean that it should stay that way just because it's been around. I mean look at the auto companies, they would go poof if not for the bailout. Guess the paper crowd doesn't have enough pull for some of that Barry O "save our a$$" money.

A newspaper has changed in a 100 years, maybe it's time for them to go.

Well yeah - obviously they need to adapt or they die. The same could be said of Bank of America and polar bears.

Newspapers have made some bad choices - most notably treating the internet as a fad for too long. Now some newspapers have gone whole hog on the internet and what it can do, like the Bee with all their databases lately (though they pissed off lot of state workers with one of them), but there's still the issue of how to be profitable online. Pop-up ads ain't gonna do it. Aside from pornographers, I can't think of any print media that has made money by going online.

And for those who say they'll just get their news via AP off the internet and don't need a newspaper (online or otherwise), well, you know where the wire services like AP get their money? From their subscribers, which are largely newspapers. So if the newspapers go, and with them *their* websites, so do the wire services.

One thing I've heard is that because the newspapers (and magazines) were the first to be affected by the economy starting about three years back, because auto ads stopped mainly, they'll be the first to be affected by the recovery, whenever that might happen. But I'm not holding my breath.

It's almost like they'd *all* have to agree at once to start charging subscriptions for online service, and block or actively fight linking to their content like the recording industry has done. No more freebies.

Dunno. I'm sure they're welcome to ideas if you have any.

[john]

My best guess is most will fold; some will merge with larger papers or news sources like CNN. However the demand will still be there for local journalism... I can envision a lot of the journalists turn to blogging once the papers fold. The whole journalism industry will likely look vastly different in 10 years.

[ngilbert]

My best guess is most will fold; some will merge with larger papers or news sources like CNN. However the demand will still be there for local journalism... I can envision a lot of the journalists turn to blogging once the papers fold. The whole journalism industry will likely look vastly different in 10 years.

Yeah, I see "CNN: The Print Edition" on the horizon. As far as all the journalists (and, presumably, copy editors and photographers and marketing people and the other hundreds of jobs a paper creates) turning to blogging goes, well, you know what they say:

writing a blog plus a having a quarter will buy you a gumball.

[john]

Sac News & Review reports that the Sacramento Union will fold (again) on Friday. Sad ending to a storied newspaper.