Saturday, February 7, 2009

Mark Potts: "many papers" will collapse this year

Mark Potts says newspapers haven't adapted to the digital revolution and are about to get swamped by the tsunami heading their way:
Publishers have blown just about every chance they've had to get ahead of the digital tsunami that's washing over them. The harsh reality is–and always has been–that many papers aren't going to make the transition. The economy has fallen apart too quickly, killing whatever margin for error many companies had to figure out the best way to make an online-centric model work. That's why we're going to sadly see the demise of many papers starting over the next few months, unable to figure out a way to switch to a successful digital model in time.

.
.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

A bleak report, to be sure ... but refreshingly, it's not a politically biased rant from ill-informed people who would be better off spending their time masturbating to pictures of Ann Coulter and spray-painting "MSM SUCKS" on the schoolhouse wall.

Unfortunately, though, this bleak report is dead-on right.

Here are some more words with actual thought behind them, courtesy of Alan Mutter:

"With generic news and information freely available on the web, the only way newspapers can successfully charge for content is by creating unique and valuable information. To do this, they have to adequately staff their newsrooms. Starving this vital operation will be strategically disastrous, because weak content will turn off loyal readers and repel new ones."

Starved? Yes. Weak? More so with every passing day. Cue the disaster.

Anonymous said...

Anon.said..“…politically biased rant from ill-informed people who would be better off spending their time masturbating to pictures of Ann Coulter and spray-painting "MSM SUCKS" on the schoolhouse wall.
-------------
Now why did you have to write that snarky bit of garbage? What you had to say was good, but I for one, am tired of the drivel. More than 50% of the population thinks the MSM has been biased. Ann Coulter probably sells more books by far than most political authors, you don’t need to smear her into the bargain. If you think you are part of the new media, you haven’t learned a thing.
Buh, bye dinosaur.

Anonymous said...

5:11... your attitude is exactly the reason your attitude will no longer matter in the future.

When you transition from arrogant asshole 2.3 to used car sales, try insulting half of your potential customers and let me know if that works any better in your new career than it does now.

You are exactly the reason so many rejoice in the collapse of the newspaper industry. Congratulations on destroying a once proud and valuable profession.

Anonymous said...

“Creating unique and valuable information.” We have a winner.

Tell me, is any of the filth you idiots publish in this category?

As your pumped fist spins down the bowel, you still don’t get it.

Collectively, EVERY PAPER prints the same liberal BS. None of it is unique or valuable.

Have a nice flush

Anonymous said...

Propaganda becomes fact for some people-

Ann Coulter seems to be quite a lighting rod, but once I asked a person making vile comments about her, why he hated her so, and he admitted he had never read one of her books, and would not watch her on TV.

At my college there was a protest because she was coming to speak. So much for freedom of speech, and diversity. Our esteemed colleges is the last place something like that should happen.

Anonymous said...

Without the first paragraph, Anon 5:11 AM, was right on point. The only thing the snark-attack does is weaken the opinion as one from a nutcase. Nutcases on either side, are too biased, and not what I need now. I appreciate news and rumors, I can take from them what I decide for myself. Thanks everyone.

Anonymous said...

The journalist writing-heads are trying their best to make everyone believe that liberal bias had nothing to do with falling interest in the MSM. Let's just say liberal readers like the new McClatchy media site, but more conservative people do not. That is still the loss of a huge segment of readers. I personally believe the lack of trust will be a mortal wound for any media outlet that does not adhere to neutral reporting, very separate from opinion pieces.

Anonymous said...

Anyone that still does not want to admit how liberal/dishonest the media was about Obama is a fool. They are trying to save face. History should record the fraudulent election we just witnessed for what it was. The media was the centerpiece of the hoax, they should be embarrassed, and whitewashing won’t change the facts this time. The rejection of dishonest journalism is not complete just yet, but it is moving right along.

Anonymous said...

What a bunch of idiots.

Anonymous said...

Can you all please shut up about all of the political stuff and just stick to talking about what's going on w/ layoffs and furloughs at the papers? This would be an awesome blog if it wasn't for all of the political whackos ranting. WHO CARES?! All I want to know is what is happening to the employees at various papers. Leave the politics alone - or can we at least stay on course when the subject of a post has NOTHING to do about politics?

Anonymous said...

"WHO CARES?! All I want to know is what is happening to the employees at various papers. Leave the politics alone - or can we at least stay on course when the subject of a post has NOTHING to do about politics?"
----------------------------------

Although in general, I agree with you, I still must ask, when MNI (MSM) had a field day with (election) bias, who spoke for America? Certainly not you.

As the asbestos rich cloud you worked in consumes the ill, you raise the white flag of humanity inside your hospice.

But it’s hard to not spit contempt your way. You earned all of it.

Anonymous said...

Can you all please shut up about all of the political stuff and just stick to talking about what's going on w/ layoffs and furloughs at the papers?
-------------
Sorry, you don't get to determine what others talk about or decide what the issues are. I know that is still hard for you to accept, but that is the way it is.

Besides, if it is information on layoffs and what is happening at McClatchy that you are concerned with, I know for a fact that at least one MNI publisher has made public claim that you can find out what is going on at McClatchy from McClatchy papers!

I am sure that McClatchy has an aggregate section that acts as a clearing house of information concerning all employees. Don't they? Ok, so they don't. But still, I am sure that there are countless blogs that do nothing but post the information that you want and only allow comments that you want to see!

Anonymous said...

Kevin Gregory just posts McClatchy stuff to subject people to the inane political views he and his friends hold. Don't kid yourself -- this forum isn't for newspaper people. It's for people who hate them.

Anonymous said...

"...this forum isn't for newspaper people. It's for people who hate them." 8:22

I'm a newspaper person and I get no feeling of hate toward me. (expect from McClatchy defenders) There is a lot of hate for McClatchy here no doubt. Maybe you feel that way because you still try and defend the indefensible?