News outlets (CNN is a nonprint example) die when they fail to produce content that a substantial number of their base consumers want. Coupons are online now. Classifieds are online now. Weather? Online and animated.
Good coverage of local sports, local govt, community events, obituaries is what’s left. The challenge is to untangle the web of conflicts that are embedded in the relationship between ad dollars from local businesses, lawyers and healthcare providers and their corresponding political contributions. Being a good journalist is a lonely job.
The web has a huge advantage over print with its ability to link items in an article to an external website. I can’t stand “continued on page A4...” . If I don’t understand something I’m reading on a webpage, I open a new tab and Google it. Can’t do that with a newspaper.
Totally agree. There are lots of local and regional stories out there that people would pay to read if somebody would report on them.