Tag Archives: future of newspapers

Randy Siegel, president of Parade publications and co-founder of the Newspaper Project, offers a thought-provoking commentary on the “death” of newspapers in Editor & Publisher.

He asks that the backgrounds and motives of media experts, commentators and critics be available to those listening to and reading their comments. That seems fair. He points out examples where “media critics” might have other motives for proclaiming the death of newspapers. He’s right that the average news consumer should be made aware of this information.

It is an interesting piece. The only thing it lacks is full disclosure of Siegel’s motives and backgrounds. The piece does say Siegel is president of Parade publications and co-founder of the Newspaper Project (the latter, by the way, appears at the end of the article), but it does not explain in any way what that project is. Perhaps given that Editor & Publisher  is aimed at newspaper people, it assumes all readers know that the Newspaper Project was founded by a group of newspaper executives who don’t think newspapers are dead and are trying to counter that idea. But it shouldn’t assume that every reader will know that. Anyone can read that article on E&P’s web site. In the interest of fairness and full disclosure, the Newspaper Project should have been explained. Without that explanation, Siegel’s compelling arguments may be lost in the perception of hypocrisy.

When did TV web sites start having classified ads? Did I miss something?

I was searching through WGRZ-TV’s web site trying to find a story about the proposed Buffalo News job cuts that was on there last night and stumbled upon classified ads.

Ay carumba. As if newspapers don’t have enough problems with Craigs List and other job web sites.

If you haven’t read Walter Isaacson’s Time Magazine piece “How to Save Your Newspaper,” you need to do so. He proposes a logical step to getting newspapers back on the right track, although I must admit that, in light of his ideas, I am feeling a bit guilty about sending you to the link to the free story as opposed to encouraging you to buy the magazine…

Isaacson appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart last night to talk about the article. The interview is here.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced today that the government will try to help the ailing print newspaper business in several ways. They include:

*Giving free newspaper subscriptions to 18 year olds

*Covering more delivery costs

*Buying more ads

Sarkozy said,

“It is indeed its (the state’s) responsibility … to make sure an independent, free and pluralistic press exists.”

Wow. What a different way to approach this. In the U.S., I think government aid to newspapers in this fashion would have journalists worried about a perceived conflict of interest, not to mention what would happen the first time a journalist wrote a story that the president or government officials vehemently did not like.

But wouldn’t it be wonderful if even a part of this — say, giving teens a gift subscription to a newspaper on their 18th birthday–could be adopted here? To be good citizens, people need to be informed. I see how Sarkozy can view this as part of the state’s responsibility.

Sarkozy says his plan is intended to give newspapers time to transform and adapt to be multiplatform, offering their stories through multiple vehicles.

But as Sarkozy noted, government aid is not going to save the industry if it doesn’t change and adapt.