Comments on: “Rocky Times for Colorado News Media” panel discussion recap http://www.peoplespresscollective.org/2009/05/rocky-times-for-colorado-news-media-panel-discussion-recap/ Bloggage and Original News Coverage From Colorado and Around the Country Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:13:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: The Peripatetic Pundit http://www.peoplespresscollective.org/2009/05/rocky-times-for-colorado-news-media-panel-discussion-recap/comment-page-1/#comment-2863 The Peripatetic Pundit Mon, 04 May 2009 13:56:20 +0000 http://www.peoplespresscollective.org/?p=10800#comment-2863 Thanks, Al - appreciate both the compliment and the commentary. I think it's not only the "paper" aspect of newspapers that is being challenged (although that's significant) but the hubris and entitlement mentality of many journalists. Too many of them have the "we're professionals - don't try this at home" mentality (witness the fight by many bloggers - even very well established ones with readership in the thousands - to obtain 'credentials' for covering major events). We're on the verge of a major democratization or decentralization of journalism and news coverage in general. For many, particularly in both the media and political establishments, this is a very scary thing - they dread the loss of control inherent in the old model. Wake up and smell the future, folks - it's coming, like it or not. Thanks, Al – appreciate both the compliment and the commentary.

I think it’s not only the “paper” aspect of newspapers that is being challenged (although that’s significant) but the hubris and entitlement mentality of many journalists. Too many of them have the “we’re professionals – don’t try this at home” mentality (witness the fight by many bloggers – even very well established ones with readership in the thousands – to obtain ‘credentials’ for covering major events).

We’re on the verge of a major democratization or decentralization of journalism and news coverage in general. For many, particularly in both the media and political establishments, this is a very scary thing – they dread the loss of control inherent in the old model. Wake up and smell the future, folks – it’s coming, like it or not.

]]> By: Drudge Potato Al http://www.peoplespresscollective.org/2009/05/rocky-times-for-colorado-news-media-panel-discussion-recap/comment-page-1/#comment-2851 Drudge Potato Al Sun, 03 May 2009 16:54:08 +0000 http://www.peoplespresscollective.org/?p=10800#comment-2851 Excellent piece. As a former newspaper employee (on the advertising side) and as the son of a man who was a reporter and editor at The Chicago Tribune for 35 years, the death of metropolitan newspapers is a sad thing. What I'm noticing though is that most journalists are really lamenting and trying to prevent the elimination of the SALARY level they have been used to for decades. I don't blame them since that's a natural instinct to have. It should also be said that it was a comfortable living but not a wealthy living for the vast majority of journalists. Journalists currently journeying through the 5 stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance) are somewhere in the middle. As soon as the acceptance phase is reached, the people who got into journalism as a public service (which it absolutely is) will continue to pursue their craft and will find ways to make a living doing it. Until the journalism veterans accept the web and not disdain it, that will be a long time coming. This is precisely why bloggers are making MAJOR inroads in providing the public with coverage that wouldn't normally exist. The print journalism business model also needs to be analyzed from a logic standpoint. An outsider can see that there is no longer a convincing rationale to argue that the optimum delivery of news is on physical paper. All the production and transportation necessary to get the story onto newsprint and into a customers hands was needed when that was the only technology available. ALL of that now is a Rube Goldbergian process that has now been rendered as a very wasteful process that is no longer necessary nor is it preferred. Sadly though, as with MANY industries that are now having to adapt to the web, that means an UNAVOIDABLE decrease in wages and jobs. Excellent piece. As a former newspaper employee (on the advertising side) and as the son of a man who was a reporter and editor at The Chicago Tribune for 35 years, the death of metropolitan newspapers is a sad thing. What I’m noticing though is that most journalists are really lamenting and trying to prevent the elimination of the SALARY level they have been used to for decades. I don’t blame them since that’s a natural instinct to have. It should also be said that it was a comfortable living but not a wealthy living for the vast majority of journalists. Journalists currently journeying through the 5 stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance) are somewhere in the middle. As soon as the acceptance phase is reached, the people who got into journalism as a public service (which it absolutely is) will continue to pursue their craft and will find ways to make a living doing it. Until the journalism veterans accept the web and not disdain it, that will be a long time coming. This is precisely why bloggers are making MAJOR inroads in providing the public with coverage that wouldn’t normally exist.

The print journalism business model also needs to be analyzed from a logic standpoint. An outsider can see that there is no longer a convincing rationale to argue that the optimum delivery of news is on physical paper. All the production and transportation necessary to get the story onto newsprint and into a customers hands was needed when that was the only technology available. ALL of that now is a Rube Goldbergian process that has now been rendered as a very wasteful process that is no longer necessary nor is it preferred. Sadly though, as with MANY industries that are now having to adapt to the web, that means an UNAVOIDABLE decrease in wages and jobs.

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