Breaking News: Newspapers Broken
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Written By Reprise Media | January 9, 2006 | Share This
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Michael Kinsley writing for Slate has a nice piece that examines the outmoded process and practices of modern newspaper distribution and speculates on when and how the newspaper as we know it will meet its demise.
Unlike others in his set, Kinsley refrains from making grandiose ‘the newspaper will be dead by tomorrow’ type claims. Instead, he chips away at the pillars currently propping up the print news base.
One of these is dedicated subscribers, on which Kinsley says:
“The trouble even an established customer will take to obtain a newspaper continues to shrink, as well. Once, I would drive across town if necessary. Today, I open the front door and if the paper isn’t within about 10 feet I retreat to my computer and read it online. Only six months ago, that figure was 20 feet. Extrapolating, they will have to bring it to me in bed by the end of the year and read it to me out loud by the second quarter of 2007.”
Read the full article now.
On a related note, New York Magazine has a lengthy interview with the guy it calls both a “schlumpy IBM refugee” and a “newspaper killer”, the illustrious Craig Newmark.
Check it out here.
Topics: Publishing |