The News 2019

By: Mr. T on April 8, 2009
Recently there has been quite a spate of news about the pending death of the newspaper. Could the New York Times be bankrupt as soon as this summer? Regardless of what your opinion is of the political slant of the Times, the possibility that such a well-known institution could be facing bankruptcy is a startling one. As noted by sites like Newspaper Death Watch, already a number of major dailies have either moved to online-only editions, gone under entirely, downsized delivery services, or have taken other significant measures to save costs, including our own Journal Star and World-Herald. The current economic situation only further batters an industry which has suffered over the years from web 2.0, craigslist, and so on. Predictions of what could happen to the newspaper industry vary, but many commentators seem to think that the landscape will be quite different in a few years. Technology will continue to change the industry, and the move towards “social journalism” is already happening. What are your own thoughts about the future of the industry? What will the Journal Star and World-Herald be like in 10 years? Any predictions?

Comments

See what your friends and neighbors have to say about this.

Gene
April 8, 2009 at 12:28PM

Another industry suffering from operating under an outdated business model? Say it ain’t so.

Kirk
April 8, 2009 at 2:19PM

I agree with Gene. They have to adapt or die just like any industry. Record labels are finally getting it, so maybe they will survive. TV Networks are trying to stop sites like Hulu from replacing cable. Big media just doesn’t want to accept the inevitable. It’s the way it is though. Adapt or die.

West A Dad
April 8, 2009 at 2:48PM

I’ve been in Chicago all week and it’s strange to not see a Tribune anywhere.
Kirk is right, adapt of die.

Fletch
April 8, 2009 at 3:02PM

Hulu is run by TV networks, for what it’s worth.

Cable companies are fighting for survival knowing that people will soon be able to see much content online. Of course, that makes the idiots at Time Warner want to raise prices for heavy users.

Fletch
April 8, 2009 at 3:06PM

I don’t think the Journal Star will resemble anything like it does today in 10 years. I could actually see it lasting longer in print than the World Herald, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see them all vanish.

They seem to think the only solutions are to raise prices to customers and raise prices to advertisers. That’s just silly. I appreciate that costs have risen, but it would make more sense, for example, in classified advertising, to drop rates and encourage people to use it.

I use Craigslist or freecycle to get rid of anything I want to sell. Why spend $10-20 dollars for a small ad in the LJS when I can put as much info as I want, plus photos, in an ad on Craigslist for free? If the LJS had a similar online service, I’d pay a dollar or two to place an add if it would get a lot of eyeballs. They need to figure out how to compete and adapt, or they will perish.

beerorkid
April 8, 2009 at 4:58PM

We still get home delivery, but I am not all that sure why.  I read most of it besides sports, and the wife reads the comics and opinion page.  I am on their site all the time for current updates.  It is sad to see a story that is online not get printed till a few days later.  Most frustrating is when there are local articles (mostly blurbs) in the paper that never make it online.

I was contacted on my forum by the LJS library which reminded me of their copyright.  It was nic for them to warn and not take it further.  I contacted them to let them know that we will not copy and paste whole articles anymore.  It makes sense that they would like people to visit their site for ad revenue.

I did list a truck in their classifieds years ago and was shocked at the price.  It did work though.  Craigslist is the only way I would list something now.

The search on LJS is annoying to me.  Anyone else find it flaky?

Major props to the LJS for having a decent site and allowing comments is such a great source of entertainment.  Also not having you sign on is great.

Found this interseting
Google’s Schmidt Tells Newspapers To Quit Whining And Create A Product Readers Want

“Try to figure out what your consumer wants,” Mr. Schmidt said during a keynote speech at the Newspaper Association of America’s annual convention in San Diego. “If you [upset] enough of them, you will not have any of them.”

Wot really sure what I would improve on either the print or online versions.  A page 3 girl would not hurt 😉

Fletch
April 8, 2009 at 9:35PM

The silence from the blog readers at the LJS speaks volumes.

Dave K
April 9, 2009 at 3:12AM

The only way I see print media lasting more than 5 more years is if they get government bailouts/subsidies.  This, as we all know, is not too far-fetched.

Gene
April 9, 2009 at 2:07PM

If newspapers go, I see local television news going as well. Why would anyone wait for Ken Siemek or Jim Flowers when you can get more accurate information online?

Fletch
April 9, 2009 at 7:13PM

Who waits for these buffoons now? residents at the Legacy, or people who nodded off during Oprah and Ellen and were too lazy to wake up and change the channel?

Moses
April 9, 2009 at 8:44PM

Those of us old enough to live at the legacy actually find the Accu-Hunch nature of television weatherpeople to be excellent entertainment.

Dave K
April 9, 2009 at 9:29PM

The recent-and-ongoing DTV transition has proven that people still rely on local broadcasts for a number of things. It’s apparently critical for people to be watching local TV during inclement weather.

Fletch
April 10, 2009 at 12:26PM

I do turn to these buffoons when local conditions warrant. I guess my question was “who waits” more than “who watches.”  Between the web and the weather channel and 24/7 weather coverage on KETV’s channel 7.2 (on cable and free over the air), you can get the weather any time day or night.

Moses - I love the Legacy. I just figured that’s mostly Ken Siemek’s targeted demo, based on anecdotal experience. No offense intended!

dark night
April 11, 2009 at 9:52PM

The JS is rapidly heading for destruction. It has always set the bar for “average” and that is reflected in the poor wages it provides to all but the most senior staff. When most of the employees there are fresh out of school graduates, still wet behind the ears, you cannot expect quality. But the most important thing is the lack of vision and amount of control. This is why employee owned companies fare better generally, like the OWH. The JS is a sinking ship piloted by a blind captain.

Eric S
April 14, 2009 at 2:29PM

I see more consolidation to reduce overhead. I could easily see one newspaper for the omaha/lincoln/grand island area. It would make things cheaper for production, and it would also be a benefit for advertisers/classified users because they know their ads would be seen by more people.

This is already the case in some ways. Teaching jobs get listed in the world-herald regardless of their location. Even local schools list it there.

Share your thoughts with the community.

Commenting is no longer permitted on this post.