Ever since I began this class and learned more about blogs, it has become evident to me that the way we receive our news is changing. Duh. Unless you’re living under a rock, you know that fewer and fewer people are reading old school newspapers. I mean c’mon, why would you pay a subscription fee when you could just use google news, MSN, yahoo, or your local newspaper’s website and access everything you want for free? So, I’ve been wondering what the deal is with the future of newspapers and decided to do a little investigating…
It is true newspapers are struggling… the internet is giving traditional media a run for it’s money. However, a recent article printed by the Seattle times(which I conveniently accessed online) sheds light on the situation – why they had to recently lay off employees, the future of their newspaper and why they aren’t sweating this situation. Executive editor, David Boardman states, “We don’t have a readership problem. But we do have a revenue problem.”
Boardman attributes some of their revenue problems to a particular Bay Area entrepreneur named Newmark and his free, online site called “craigslist”. Maybe you’ve heard of it? Craigslist has been a huge part of the reason newspapers have seen such a dramatic drop in revenue from the classified section. However, you will find that Boardman has a fairly positive outlook about the problems the Seattle Time is facing and is prepared to not only attack the problem, but reinvent newspapers and their capabilities, all the while focusing much of their efforts on their thriving website.
So, yes newspapers are struggling, but not disappearing just yet. Newspapers won’t go down without a strong, furious fight. Things will be changing, but that doesn’t mean the end is anywhere in sight. For now, newspapers will just have to try to keep up with the ever-changing and rapidly advancing blogosphere!
