The Future of Newspapers
Interesting article on the New Yorker about the Future of Newspaper - how many newspapers (paper but also electronic) are going bankrupt, because of decreasing advertising revenue.
Beyond the traditional print vs digital divide, the overall future of newspapers looks pretty grim. As the author points out: “many argue that if newspapers had understood they were in the information business, rather than the print business, they would have adapted more quickly and more successfully to the Net”. Most newspapers suffer from the “Not invented here” syndrome – no liink to other articles or provides.
Still, according to the author, the real problem for newspapers, isn’t the Internet, but the readers. They want access to everything, now, and for free. “That’s a consumer’s dream, but eventually it’s going to collide with reality: if newspapers’ profits vanish, so will their product. [...] But that situation can’t last. Soon enough, we’re going to start getting what we pay for, and we may find out just how little that is.”
Anyway, maybe lessons for all of us in the traditional print business – learn how to make the best of the Internet and new technologies, and surf the wave rather than fight against it.
In Detroit where I live, they’ve discontinued home delivery of the Detroit newspapers. The papers are trying to redirect people to their web sites. As much as I love my iPhone and my Google Reader, I love to hold my physical paper and drink my coffee as I read my paper. I’ve considered Amazon’s kindle for my paper, but haven’t made the investment yet.
Nice post Francois. On Surowiecki’s article, I’d say that marketing myopia is easier observed than fixed — does anyone believe that Penn Central Airlines would have worked as a solution for the railroad’s problems?
Yes, the newspapers must respond to their current crisis, but getting-there from here is much harder than it looks, and the companies who are disrupting them are often tiny fractions of their size — e.g., Craigslist employs 25 people.
For more, read my post on the story here at http://marklogic.blogspot.com
Great post. Thanks for sharing!I also have an online printing website to recommend. Check out at my website.1125
[...] the same vein as the New Yorker’s article published a few weeks ago, another interesting article on the Future of Newspaper by CNET.com’s Dan [...]