What I mean is, we will only go so far with technology before there is some push back.
That push back may be happening now. According to research done by the National Newspaper Association, readership is up for newspapers (www.nna.org). The NNA reports, "In 2008, more people reported reading a newspaper each week, rising to 86 percent form 82 percent in 2005 and 83 percent in 2007."
I thought that was an extremely high number. And it gets better, "They also report that they're spending more time reading the newspaper, up to 45 minutes, an increase over 2005 (38 minutes) and 2007 (42 minutes)."
While some want to write off newspapers as a dying breed, I'm not ready to jump on that bandwagon. I am ready to admit newspapers need to continue to be smart, responsive to readers and nimble enough to dance with the times.
While this may disappoint some who will have to admit they were wrong about the future of newspapers, they're not going away as an entire industry.
4 comments:
While the internet certainly has had impact on newspapers, I chuckle whenever I hear anybody saying it is the source for all of newspaper's woes. The internet is a medium for news. Just like television, just like radio (well, used to be radio), just like cell phones. And it's a medium anybody can have, solely or supplementary.
If you look at newspapers as a business, those that fail and close down (Christian Science Monitor) do so because they no longer provide what their customers wants. They fail as a business.
Newspapers, who are starting to tighten their purse strings, should also take a look at RADIO. That medium, with it's few large owners, has become so much about cutting costs, having one or two people staff, host and run a large station, it's become more about profits than even music, weather updates or, bottom of the list, NEWS. They should take some pointers for what NOT to do, if they want their medium to still be about the news. (Or survive. Radio's not doing too hot.)
And, like any other business (which newspapers are, regardless of what many journalistic readings lament), the INNOVATORS with a product that people want will usually win the market. (Which is why you want your paper or media company to employ the best graphic artist in the nation!)
Charles,
Great stuff again from you.
What are your plans election night? Working late for Wood TV. It will be a great night to be around the news.....
By the way, can you give me the name/number of the "best graphic artists in the nation?"
I'll be at the channel, helping the web team out. They promise it will be a crazy night. Since I don't quite have a frame of reference for what that will mean, I'm kind of looking forward to it. :D
LOL, if you give me a full time job with benefits, I'll gladly be the best graphic artist in the nation.
I bet crazy will mean fun on Tuesday night at the station. Enjoy it!
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