It Is a Far, Far Better Site I Go To…
Is the Web really killing newspapers? The traditionalist buzz is fierce, even desperate, when it comes to online journalism’s betrayal of print. I am certain the issue is far more complicated than any one person’s opinion. It’s a massively complex equation that touches on sociology, economics, technology, and political science (at least). But it is real, and it is worth digging into. So, we’ll be doing that here, from time to time, offering up ideas and opinions that we might agree with or disagree with. With a little luck, perhaps we’ll at least illuminate the issue a little. And by we, I mean you and me; please fire off a comment whenever you feel the urge. Don’t make me provoke you.
Case in point: this article, by John Dvorak, is mostly unsubstantiated opinion. But does that make it wrong? His take is that—having been marketed into a neutral gruel—newspapers lack life, vitality, personality; they simply aren’t exciting anymore. I’m wary of cranky old guys who bemoan “political correctness” (which bemoaning is now more fashionable than political correctness itself), but he raises an interesting question. Is it really the Web that’s taking the wind out of print’s sails? Or is it a long post-television decline that is now being exacerbated by a new front? I don’t buy his whole argument (which, let’s face it, is the kind of off-the-cuff commentary that the Web does well). I’d like to see the in-depth, well-researched, authoritatively critical version of this story; and I’d be glad to get it in any medium.
Don’t Blame the Web When Newspapers Die
4.19.06
By John C. DvorakThe newspaper industry is losing readership. So let’s blame the Internet, right? In fact, circulation began to decline around 1970, with the fading of the once powerful evening newspapers. TV news is to blame there. Circulation of morning and Sunday papers was still increasing gradually, but according to Journalism.org’s The State of the News Media 2004, “By 1990…even the boost from a growing population was not enough to maintain how many newspapers were sold each day. Circulation began dropping at the rate of 1 percent every year from 1990 to 2002.” …
It is hard to blame these declines, especially those from 1970 to 1990, on the Internet. There are other factors involved that nobody seems willing to discuss. …
As I say, his “other factors” don’t amount to much more than his personal take (and, quite possibly, his axe-to-be-ground). But it’s a perspective. So: is he right? Wrong? Ridiculous? Big Ink readers, you make the call.
