I grew up reading and loving newspapers. I didn’t aspire to write in that field; like so many others, I wanted to read what others carefully and insightfully wrote.
Love doesn’t sustain an industry; sound perspectives and tenacity sustain an industry.
The trends for newspapers are inauspicious. See, only the latest in a long string of bad news, If Newspapers And Magazines Think Life Is Tough Now, They Won’t Want To See What Happens Next…
1. Independence Brings Respect. Carrying water for one’s well-connected friends is erosive of respect. That’s how many readers feel, and it’s disproportionately so for those who are middle-aged or younger.
2. Watchdog Captivates. If practiced repeatedly, and uniformly, watchdog reporting wins readers and respect. That’s watching the powerful, in government and business. Now-and-again is not enough.
3. Top-Down is Bottom-Shelf. We’re years into a new media world, but it’s still hard for old media types (those working in print, really) to understand that media haven’t changed simply because there are digital offerings.
They’ve changed because of what digital makes possible. See, Shirky’s ‘Shock of Inclusion’.
One doesn’t have to take these any of this to heart – and many won’t.
Readers didn’t abandon newspapers; newspapers abandoned readers.
No matter; I’ll still offer a charitable hand, to those who insist on old-style perspective for print.
Those stodgy diehards are not without hope – there’s a place for uninspired newspapers: