NEWSPAPERS: GOING...GOING...GONE!

Should you be an AOL subscriber you probably have seen the Daily Finance article penned by Bruce Watson that carried the same headline. After reading his print demise conclusions, supported by the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Center for the Digital Future, I penned my personal comment on the web site agreeing with their theory.

Here is a link to the site:

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/12/16/newspapers-going-going-gone/?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl15%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D121304

The realities of the problems facing the ever-changing newspaper business is that their model has changed due to the evolution of the internet, and it is doing to newspapers the same diminished fiscal return that it has caused the U.S. Postal Service’s anticipated death. While the pay-firewalls will provide some degree of financial gains in the major markets I am concerned that it will not save the business model in smaller markets.

As I noted in my comment, the internet is bloated with inaccurate information, and the firewalls do permit some degree of financial cover so the few remaining major newspapers have professional journalism oversight. It is important to highlight the fact that the editorial bent of the four predicted print survivors (The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and USA Today) is currently equally balanced by two being liberal and two conservative voices.

Four newspapers will not properly serve America, but we all must be vigilant in securing accurate vital information and in-depth investigative reporting. Experience has taught this commentator that the lack of competition is dangerous and disquieting, just as is a dominant one-party political democracy.

COMMANDER GRANGER