Comments on: The death of the newspaper: murder or suicide? http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/ Exploring How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything Sun, 28 Aug 2011 14:21:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Shawn http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/comment-page-1/#comment-237830 Shawn Mon, 12 Jan 2009 04:44:18 +0000 http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/#comment-237830 As someone who has seen this issue from a range a bit too close for comfort, I think critics sometimes forget that newspapers, like so many other businesses, can loose sight of the essential value they once gave their customers and become outpaced by stealthy competitors. Instead of lamenting that readers don't take the time to read newspapers anymore (or more importantly, I suspect, that businesses no longer want to advertise) publishers should be asking themselves why they ever did...and what, if anything, can be done to reverse the trend. As someone who has seen this issue from a range a bit too close for comfort, I think critics sometimes forget that newspapers, like so many other businesses, can loose sight of the essential value they once gave their customers and become outpaced by stealthy competitors. Instead of lamenting that readers don’t take the time to read newspapers anymore (or more importantly, I suspect, that businesses no longer want to advertise) publishers should be asking themselves why they ever did…and what, if anything, can be done to reverse the trend.

]]> By: Newspapers today, the move to fluff…… « Kern Latino http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/comment-page-1/#comment-146652 Newspapers today, the move to fluff…… « Kern Latino Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:23:28 +0000 http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/#comment-146652 [...] Denis Hancock - The death of the newspaper: murder or suicide? -For many people, it’s a cut and dry issue - newspapers are dead or slowly dying, because the Internet has destroyed their underlying business models. But a few days ago, David Simon (who some may know as the executive producer of “The Wire”, an incredible show that everyone should see) published a fascinating perspective on what’s actually happened to them entitled Does the news matter to anyone anymore? …..While it is easy to place the blame on greedy monopolist newspaper owners for increasingly replacing real investigative journalism with fluff, and it’s possible to then connect this failure with their slow demise (with the Internet acting as an accelerant), one still must consider the very real possibility that they were accurately reading the market demand……. In other words, the problem is not that you’re more likely to get an update on Paris Hilton’s escapades than (say) the Hurricane Katrina relief “effort” when you look to the news, but rather that this is exactly what people want to see. Link to complete story here… [...] [...] Denis Hancock – The death of the newspaper: murder or suicide? -For many people, it’s a cut and dry issue – newspapers are dead or slowly dying, because the Internet has destroyed their underlying business models. But a few days ago, David Simon (who some may know as the executive producer of “The Wire”, an incredible show that everyone should see) published a fascinating perspective on what’s actually happened to them entitled Does the news matter to anyone anymore? …..While it is easy to place the blame on greedy monopolist newspaper owners for increasingly replacing real investigative journalism with fluff, and it’s possible to then connect this failure with their slow demise (with the Internet acting as an accelerant), one still must consider the very real possibility that they were accurately reading the market demand……. In other words, the problem is not that you’re more likely to get an update on Paris Hilton’s escapades than (say) the Hurricane Katrina relief “effort” when you look to the news, but rather that this is exactly what people want to see. Link to complete story here… [...]

]]> By: Wikinomics » Blog Archive » Some hope, at least “on paper” http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/comment-page-1/#comment-129709 Wikinomics » Blog Archive » Some hope, at least “on paper” Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:08:35 +0000 http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/#comment-129709 [...] popular topic on the Wikinomics blog (see here, here, here and here), “the newspaper” has come under a lot of scrutiny (read: criticism) for [...] [...] popular topic on the Wikinomics blog (see here, here, here and here), “the newspaper” has come under a lot of scrutiny (read: criticism) for [...]

]]> By: Will D http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/comment-page-1/#comment-107053 Will D Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:25:33 +0000 http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/#comment-107053 It is interesting to consider that readers might have preferred trash to quality. If not, why didn’t they put up more of a protest over falling standards? It is easy to see tabloid journalism as the result of media outlets more concerned over selling papers than informing readers. But is there some right or responsibility for newspaper owners to give people what they should want as opposed to what they do want? On the one hand, it seems a little arrogant to tell people what they should be reading. But on the other hand, it seems a bit pathetic to excuse someone for being party to the deterioration of civic society just because no one else seems to care. As newspapers and other ways in which we engage with civic society move online, we might find ourselves becoming more fragmented. People may give up reading the local paper for something more specialized. This may erode the ability of leaders to enforce community standards: such as by maintaining the journalistic integrity of the local paper. And it may make us feel less engaged in our communities and civic institutions. It is important that as we embrace more and more technology, we recognize and facilitate the continued need of communities to find and connect around shared interests and values. It is interesting to consider that readers might have preferred trash to quality. If not, why didn’t they put up more of a protest over falling standards? It is easy to see tabloid journalism as the result of media outlets more concerned over selling papers than informing readers. But is there some right or responsibility for newspaper owners to give people what they should want as opposed to what they do want? On the one hand, it seems a little arrogant to tell people what they should be reading. But on the other hand, it seems a bit pathetic to excuse someone for being party to the deterioration of civic society just because no one else seems to care.

As newspapers and other ways in which we engage with civic society move online, we might find ourselves becoming more fragmented. People may give up reading the local paper for something more specialized. This may erode the ability of leaders to enforce community standards: such as by maintaining the journalistic integrity of the local paper. And it may make us feel less engaged in our communities and civic institutions.

It is important that as we embrace more and more technology, we recognize and facilitate the continued need of communities to find and connect around shared interests and values.

]]> By: Wikinomics » Blog Archive » If Nelson declares the newspaper is dead, it must be true http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/comment-page-1/#comment-106523 Wikinomics » Blog Archive » If Nelson declares the newspaper is dead, it must be true Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:37:21 +0000 http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/#comment-106523 [...] Nelson declares the newspaper is dead, it must be true Denis Hancock previously posted about “The death of the newspaper: murder or suicide?” and referenced an interesting article in the Washington Post by David Simon (the creator of the HBO [...] [...] Nelson declares the newspaper is dead, it must be true Denis Hancock previously posted about “The death of the newspaper: murder or suicide?” and referenced an interesting article in the Washington Post by David Simon (the creator of the HBO [...]

]]> By: Wikinomics » Blog Archive » Does the digital world endanger the reading brain? http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/comment-page-1/#comment-92505 Wikinomics » Blog Archive » Does the digital world endanger the reading brain? Thu, 07 Feb 2008 02:02:24 +0000 http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/#comment-92505 [...] few people have indicated that I was over thinking the issues I presented in my recent blog post death of the newspaper: murder or suicide? Naturally, this led me to think about the issues some more, with a particular focus on reading [...]

]]> By: Fifth Estate Trends Continue: Survival of the Fittest Newspapers » The Buzz Bin http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/comment-page-1/#comment-88312 Fifth Estate Trends Continue: Survival of the Fittest Newspapers » The Buzz Bin Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:04:17 +0000 http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/#comment-88312 [...] newspapers have failed to adapt, and are not serving their communities.  Monopoly power has made them drunk on power. A recent WaPost article guest written by The Wire’s David Simon (found through [...] [...] newspapers have failed to adapt, and are not serving their communities.  Monopoly power has made them drunk on power. A recent WaPost article guest written by The Wire’s David Simon (found through [...]

]]> By: Denis http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/comment-page-1/#comment-87802 Denis Sat, 26 Jan 2008 16:10:44 +0000 http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/#comment-87802 Thanks Geoff - that's a very interesting and well written manifesto! I'm STILL working through some of the various links! Kin - when big changes happen, I think it's important to look at/back for reasons why. It's not so much about assigning blame... as looking for insights and lessons. Thanks Geoff – that’s a very interesting and well written manifesto! I’m STILL working through some of the various links!

Kin – when big changes happen, I think it’s important to look at/back for reasons why. It’s not so much about assigning blame… as looking for insights and lessons.

]]> By: Geoff Livingston http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/comment-page-1/#comment-87571 Geoff Livingston Fri, 25 Jan 2008 21:57:42 +0000 http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/#comment-87571 I agree full heartedly. The fifth estate (blogging, etc.) has risen to prominence because fourth estate papers like this are blowing it. I actually wrote a social media manifesto on the topic, which I linked to in my signature. I agree full heartedly. The fifth estate (blogging, etc.) has risen to prominence because fourth estate papers like this are blowing it. I actually wrote a social media manifesto on the topic, which I linked to in my signature.

]]> By: Geoff Livingston http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/comment-page-1/#comment-87570 Geoff Livingston Fri, 25 Jan 2008 21:57:15 +0000 http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/#comment-87570 I agree full heartedly. The fifth estate (blogging, etc.) has risen to prominence because fourth estate papers like this are blowing it. I actually wrote a social media manifesto on the topic: http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2008/01/06/welcome-to-the-fifth-estate/ I agree full heartedly. The fifth estate (blogging, etc.) has risen to prominence because fourth estate papers like this are blowing it. I actually wrote a social media manifesto on the topic:

http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2008/01/06/welcome-to-the-fifth-estate/

]]> By: Kin Lane http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/comment-page-1/#comment-87516 Kin Lane Fri, 25 Jan 2008 18:22:19 +0000 http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/01/25/the-death-of-the-newspaper-murder-or-suicide/#comment-87516 Why does there have to be any blame in the demise of newspapers. Time changes things. Those who cannot adapt go away. It is the nature of the world....not just technology. Why does there have to be any blame in the demise of newspapers.

Time changes things. Those who cannot adapt go away.

It is the nature of the world….not just technology.

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