Extra! Extra! The future of newspapers.

Slate ^ | Jan. 7, 2006 | Michael Kinsley

[Lorianne]

Bill Gates says that in technology things that are supposed to happen in less than five years usually take longer than expected, while things that are supposed to happen in more than 10 years usually come sooner than expected. Ten years ago, when I went to work for Microsoft, the newspaper industry was in a panic over something called Sidewalk—a now-forgotten Microsoft project to create Web site entertainment guides for a couple dozen big cities. Newspapers were convinced that Microsoft could and would put them out of business by stealing their ad base. It didn't happen. The collapse of the Internet bubble did happen. And, until very recently, the newspapers got complacent. Some developed good Web sites, some didn't, but most stopped thinking of the Web as an imminent danger.

Ten years later, newspapers are starting to panic again. But merely slobbering after bloggers may not be enough. In 1996, the oldest Americans who grew up with computers and don't even understand my tiresome anecdotes about how people used to resist them ("What's a typewriter, Mike?") were just entering adulthood. Now they are most of the working population, or close to it.

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.

[martin_fierro]

Bill Gates says that in technology things that are supposed to happen in less than five years usually take longer than expected

Longhorn, for example.

[GeronL]

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.

Ha... made me laugh

[martin_fierro]

That doesn't mean newspapers are toast. After all, they've got the brand names. You gotta trust something called the "Post-Intelligencer" more than something called "Yahoo!" or "Google," don't you? No, seriously, don't you? OK, how old did you say you are?

Only Michael Kinsey could write this with a straight face.

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[Paul C. Jesup]

Longhorn, for example.

(sarcasm) They should rename that OS "Longtooth". ;P

[Cvengr]

Then again, when's the last time you walked into a watercloset stall at work to find a monitor stashed in the partition for everybody's free use?

[appeal2]

Now we have Craigslist which is effectively a successful sidewalk. It has devastated newspaper classified advertising which was their most lucrative market. Now blogs are killing their news offerings and google will kill the rest of their advertising. Pretty soon newspapers will become like stock exchanges, just another venue for trading news.

[wildcatf4f3]

Ahem, its been many years since I partook, but if they preferred smirnof to stoli, well thats just more reason never to give the NYT website a hit. Best wodka is polish, from potatoeuies. (sp)

[napscoordinator]

I find it truly amazing that two industries who are toast cannot seem to understand this and maybe try other things to entice customer. The newspaper industry is dying there should be no question here, but instead of trying to be innovative they continue to give false reports, left leaning and not family worthy editions. The other industry that will eventually die on the vine is the post office. It is closer every generation that comes along. When I grew up we did thank you cards to grandma, now grandkids send grandma e-mails thanking her for this and that and also scan in pictures that they drew and maybe a test paper that they did well on. So instead of raising prises the post office again needs to be innovative. Both of these segments will not do this and just become an old legend.

[SkyPilot]

[Walkingfeather]

We have not taken the paper in the 14 years of our marriage. My parents on the other hand still do and it is an albatros around my fathers neck. Papers stacked that "he hasn't got to yet". It is the clutter that newspapers generate that I hate.

It is also an old model because like tv they feed you what you want. In the Google generation, you search and comsume what you want and no more. The days of sitting in front of the TV waiting for something good to come on are over. As well as being handed a 4 inch stack of oversized paper and try to find something interesting in it is also over.

Come to think of it..... You dont ever hear the enviromentalists complain about the trees cut down for news papers, they just scream recycle. They scream about timber for building homes, but yet scream about the homeless the next weekend....

[1FASTGLOCK45]

Walkingfeather,
I like some of the points you made in your post.
-1FG45

[HighWheeler]

"Come to think of it..... You dont ever hear the enviromentalists complain about the trees cut down for news papers, they just scream recycle. They scream about timber for building homes, but yet scream about the homeless the next weekend...."


Excellent points!

[Walkingfeather]

Thanks.

[MNJohnnie]

Right everything is great. Newspapers are doing SO well they are laying off bus loads of employees despite 11 straight quarters of better then 3% GDP growth. Newspapers are for sale all over the country, with few buyers, because they are such great business opportunities. Amazingly how stupid senile old Democrats are about REFUSING to deal with the world AS IT IS, not as they wish it to be.

[Pete'sWife]

Newspaper is the best window cleaner I've ever used.

As for actually reading one, I don't have a clue.

[Recon Dad]

After all, they've got the brand names.

Boy that's a stupid hook to hang your hat on. Packard, Penn Central, TWA, etc, etc.

Newspapers are within 10 years of of the proverbial "dirt nap".

[Recon Dad]

Newspapers aren't even good for recycling due to short fibers and inks.

[bert]

......And newspapers have got the content. ........

But when the content degenerates into non believable fiction, even this advantage is lost.

The furture of newspapers is to deliver local news and sports. Any thing beyond the county line is for someone else to do better.

English teachers are free to comment on a nationally known write publishing the fragment noted above.

[RKV]

And the vehicle with will carry the blogs when the murder the old fashioned newspaper is the RSS feed. That way readers pick a variety of content and get it in one easy to get to place. Take a look at News Gator for one example - its free and has some good conservative blogs (like Little Green Footballs) and MSM connection to Fox.