Posted on 05/26/2008 9:08:46 AM PDT by abb
Let's not bury the lead: This is a rough time for the newspaper business, a rough time for The Washington Post and a rough time for me.
No one need shed any tears for the people leaving this building. The more than 100 journalists who have just taken early-retirement packages are voluntarily accepting a generous offer as the company trims its payroll -- a situation far better than at newspapers that have resorted to layoffs.
But it is painful to watch from the inside. The talented reporters, editors and photographers walking out the door are part of the heart and soul of a living, breathing organism. How do you replace a Tom Ricks, one of the best Pentagon reporters ever? Or a Sue Schmidt, the investigative reporter who revealed Jack Abramoff's dirty dealings? Or Robin Wright, who's covered the Middle East for a quarter-century? What about battle-scarred editors with deep knowledge and a light touch?
I know, I know. The future is digital. The Web is a cornucopia of fast-moving video and blogs and bulletins and gossip, while newspapers are old, slow and less than hip. That's why The Post (and every other paper on the planet) is beefing up its online presence and why I write a daily blog for the Web site.
But -- and stop me if you've heard this one -- newspapers matter. There isn't a Web site around that can produce the probing work, such as the exposé of shoddy conditions at the Army's Walter Reed Medical Center, that won The Post six Pulitzer Prizes this year. The economics of the Web, for now, won't support a staff that can hold public officials accountable across the region and still cover every Nationals game.
snip
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
ping
When journalists are propagandists, newspapers fail.
The problem, Howie, or part of it anyway, is that you are very selective regarding which public officials you "hold accountable" and people began to notice. You decided that your mission was to shape the world as you think it ought to be rather than as a disseminator of information that helps people make decisions. This is how you made yourselves worthless.
Chickens... coming home...
Recent file photo of Washington Post Media reporter Howard Kurtz
Emotional cost indeed Howard. Some of us are elated to see fewer trees have to give their lives for an outdated medium. That some of your buddies of 25 years have to go into retirement and golf full time is hardly a cause for sorrow.
Hmmm.... an inanimate object called a living breathing organism? Where have I heard that before?
Riiiight, Howie.
The WaPo is known for its hard-hitting fellatiating of B. Hussein Obama
On the whole, I do like Kurtz.
The Post went after George Allen at every turn during the ‘06 election, while providing cover for Jim Webb. They literally gave what amounts to millions of dollars in FREE advertising to Webb during that election.
All of it on the front page of their paper and I haven’t purchased a copy since.
Tough duck, Mr. Kurtz.
It isn’t the paper that people wont buy, it’s the content. Talented writers could print their articles on newpaper, in a blog, or on a box of Wheaties, and I would read them. The WaPo is so offensive and negative, that I refuse to consume it. Personally, I would love to have a good print newspaper. Sitting on the deck with a cup of coffee and the morning paper is one of life’s pleasures, but the WaPo has no redeeming qualities (my opinion!).
So, I sit on the deck with my laptop. Either way, I’m not consuming the WaPo.
You have a point. Newspapers and television are distribution systems instead of a manufacturing system that make a product. The only thing they put our are words and words are a commodity. They’re everywhere.
This is GREAT NEWS....the propagandist-media whores-are receiving their just due...
Why I find Kurtz column offensive:
1) Kurtz works for a company that produces a product. Consumers don’t want to buy that product anymore because it can’t compete. It’s called capitalism. Get over it.
2) Don’t bury the lede???!?! Are you kidding me, the WP is the king of burying the lede when it suits them. But now Kurtz is sad, so it MUST BE THE MOST IMPORTANT NEWS ON THE PLANET! (jerk)
3) So newspapers are dying, huh? How many jobs and businesses has the Post been instrumental in killing over the years? Sorry, I don’t feel your pain.
4) Kurtz thinks we’re spending our time playing video games? Video GAMES?!?! This man is seriously out of touch.
5) “Newspapers Matter!!!” Nonsense. What a silly narcisistic thing to say. Look Kurtz, if you produced a product that “matters” you wouldn’t be going out of business and all those fine people would have no problem making a living. I’m sorry to tell you this, but the Post doesn’t get to decide anymore what matters.
dung.
Adios to the lying and spinning left wing mediots!
America will be a safer place when lying and spinning left wing mediots no longer have a fishwrap for their lies and spins.
"Turn those machines back on! Turn those machines back on!"
Goodbye.
That will be a trend for those who can hack it. With advertising they could make more money on their sites.
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