The Decline of Western Newspapers - Part I ( Losing readers and money because of... )

News Busters ^ | July 14, 2006 | Mithridate Ombud

[george76]

The numbers are starting to come out for newspaper earnings.

Take a wild guess.

The Tribune Company lost 62 percent of their earnings.

McClatchy kept earnings about the same though they lost almost 5 percent of their circulation.

Media General lost 47 percent from a year ago.

Gannett lost 8.3 percent.

Of course, none of the papers will admit that their bias and reportage are to blame for their problems.

Instead it is all the fault of Internet activities, Craigslist, the uncooperative entertainment and auto industry, and a "weak operating environment."

Leave it to journalists to blame even thier financial problems on the environment.

[george76]

Here's a suggestion for all you newspaper VP's.

Why don't you get rid of the bias, the America-hating columnists, the socialist editorials, and the reporters pushing a gay/lesbian/transgendered/illegal alien/pro-abortion/anti-God/anti-gun agenda?

Ever thought of that in one of your falling circulation meetings?

No. Probably not.

http://newsbusters.org/node/6005

[TruthFactor]

BIG BTTT!!!!

[Babu]

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

[Political Junkie Too]

Here's a thought for newspapers: If you keep reporting that the economy is doing so poorly, why should someone spend their hard-earned money on your product when they need to save it for a rainy day?

-PJ

[BadAndy]

Perhaps if they actually started reporting instead of being liberal advocates.

[Liz]

Here's a suggestion for all you newspaper VP's: Why don't you get rid of the bias, the America-hating columnists, the socialist editorials, and the reporters pushing a gay/lesbian/transgendered/illegal alien/pro-abortion/anti-God/anti-gun agenda?

Bravo G76----you didn't leave out a blessed thing.

[IronJack]

The good news is that Failure is a repeat course: it's offered as often as it needs to be.

If the shareholders don't care enough to demand changes at these dinosaurs, then they can skip blissfully down the road to hell together.

[Zakeet]

A close friend who worked for the Illinois prision system told me that counsellors were taught liars always follow the same pattern -- in the same order.

1. Deny, Deny, Deny
2. Blame someone else (preferably someone who can't defend themselves)
3. Cause needless confusion

You might find it interesting to apply this model to our friends in the MSM, both with respect to made up stories (such as Gunga Dan's supposed expose on Dubya), and when confronted with their falling circulations.

[jimfree]

Instead it is all the fault of Internet activities, Craigslist, the uncooperative entertainment and auto industry, and a "weak operating environment."

These are legitimate factors as well, making it an even more difficult problem.

I like the news editing policy of the Washington Times but I can't commit to a subscription with all of the reading I do of magazines (Weekly Standard, Limbaugh Letter, and others) and online sources. I get a Times occasionally when I eat breakfast out or such.

[Milhous]

Michael Yon offers up intriguing insight into British media bias:

Be Dragons

. . .

The British press often plays slap and tickle: they issue sharp-tongued remarks about American troops (slap), while moments later shamelessly gratifying hometown readers with reports about the superiority of British troops (tickle).

[A Texan]

While reporter bias is obviously one reason for declining numbers and revenue of newspapers, it is not the only reason. They are correct in stating that the Internet is a major reason for the decline.

[Thombo2]

More good news.Earnings down and declining readership.Hope the trend continues-just faster!

[Tzimisce]

Hm.....

Maybe they just need to explain their lefty ideas in more detail?

[Teacher317]

If they would report facts, and be in formation source, rather than a spin organization, they would rebound to a certain degree. However, the days of print journalism are numbered, no matter what their content. "Video killed the radio star"... next up: internet killed the TV idols.

[R.W.Ratikal]

The major dailies and the alphabet TV networks have lost readers and viewers for one reason: Their overwhelming left wing bias.

The drain of readers and viewers began decades ago when the owners and managers of newspaper chains and TV stations, who had a virtual monopoly on news service, used that monopoly to further the cause of international communism.

Americans were not buying it but there was no real way for conservatives to learn the facts or to talk back.

Until the Nineties. The Internet became a force, conservative radio talk-shows took off, books by conservative writers began to sell. All of these new entrants into the information pipe-line made the old papers, journalists and TV anchors look silly.

If the Internet was tightly control ed by government, the talk shows dominated by liberals and publishers still blacklisted conservative books, the newspapers would still be alive today.

But something else came along, truth. The truth, when it because known killed the Left. The editors and publishers of failing newspapers and TV networks still don't know what happened. They never will.

[Milhous]

They are correct in stating that the Internet is a major reason for the decline.

Agreed. A most profound change in human communications that just happens to benefit conservatism as a byproduct. :)

[Grampa Dave]

They are arrogant lunatics. So they will continue to lie to their readers and advertisers, until they have to close their doors.

Then they will blame President Bush.

[Grampa Dave]

I can think of a few minor points, but George nailed the big ones.

[Liz]

I can think of a few minor points, but George nailed the big ones.

That he did.