Future-of-newspapers: Difference between revisions
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[http://www.journalism.missouri.edu/alumni/doug-crews-73.html Doug Crews,] Missouri Press Association executive director, opens by reading an op-ed piece from a small Missouri newspaper about the financial challenge faced by U.S. newspapers -- written in June of 1980. "We didn't have the Internet in June of 1980 . . . but we've sort of been going through highs and lows in the newspaper industry." | [http://www.journalism.missouri.edu/alumni/doug-crews-73.html Doug Crews,] Missouri Press Association executive director, opens by reading an op-ed piece from a small Missouri newspaper about the financial challenge faced by U.S. newspapers -- written in June of 1980. "We didn't have the Internet in June of 1980 . . . but we've sort of been going through highs and lows in the newspaper industry." | ||
Now Vicki Russell, associate publisher of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Daily_Tribune <i>Columbia</i> | Now Vicki Russell, associate publisher of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Daily_Tribune <i>Columbia</i> (Mo.) <i>Daily Tribune,</i>] leads the discussion. She says "if we keep reporting that newspapers are dying, then that will be a self-fulfilling prophecy. But there is no reason for that to happen . . . we've got to keep some of the news about these things in perspective." | ||
She says many newspapers are doing just fine. So what are the distinctions betwen those doing well and those not doing well. They include, she says: | She says many newspapers are doing just fine. So what are the distinctions betwen those doing well and those not doing well. They include, she says: | ||
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"I will expect more newspapers to be filing for bankruptcy before we work our way through this economic crisis," she says. But one positive outcome may be the potential for more and more local ownership [Russell's paper is family owned]. "I will make a prediction that there will be newspapers started up to replace some of the ones that are going out of business." | "I will expect more newspapers to be filing for bankruptcy before we work our way through this economic crisis," she says. But one positive outcome may be the potential for more and more local ownership [Russell's paper is family owned]. "I will make a prediction that there will be newspapers started up to replace some of the ones that are going out of business." | ||
She says the | She says there are predictions that half of the nation's radio stations will be out of business by the end of the year. So she sees the problem as not limited to newspapers. | ||
She says | She says the smaller the market, the better the position of the newspaper which serves it relative to what is going on among major metro dailies. She provides demographic data about <i>The Tribune's</i> readership, which she says is growing -- some 5,000 more adults read the paper today than a year ago, the research shows. About 64 percent of Boone County adults (about 74,500 out of 117,00) read <i>The Tribune</i> in a given week. | ||
==Can the web replace the print product?== | ==Can the web replace the print product?== | ||
Russell isn't ready to "buy into" the notion that the web can "entirely replace the print product." | Russell isn't ready to "buy into" the notion that the web can "entirely replace the print product." | ||
Revision as of 18:20, 23 February 2009
The Future of Newspapers
Notes on a presentation Feb. 23, 2009 at the Fred Smith Forum of the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute, Missouri School of Journalism, Columbia, Mo. organized by the Missouri Press Association. Presenters are Doug Crews and Vicki Russell.
Doug Crews, Missouri Press Association executive director, opens by reading an op-ed piece from a small Missouri newspaper about the financial challenge faced by U.S. newspapers -- written in June of 1980. "We didn't have the Internet in June of 1980 . . . but we've sort of been going through highs and lows in the newspaper industry."
Now Vicki Russell, associate publisher of the Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune, leads the discussion. She says "if we keep reporting that newspapers are dying, then that will be a self-fulfilling prophecy. But there is no reason for that to happen . . . we've got to keep some of the news about these things in perspective."
She says many newspapers are doing just fine. So what are the distinctions betwen those doing well and those not doing well. They include, she says:
- Market size
- Corporate debt
- Economy
- Internet
- Readership
"I will expect more newspapers to be filing for bankruptcy before we work our way through this economic crisis," she says. But one positive outcome may be the potential for more and more local ownership [Russell's paper is family owned]. "I will make a prediction that there will be newspapers started up to replace some of the ones that are going out of business."
She says there are predictions that half of the nation's radio stations will be out of business by the end of the year. So she sees the problem as not limited to newspapers.
She says the smaller the market, the better the position of the newspaper which serves it relative to what is going on among major metro dailies. She provides demographic data about The Tribune's readership, which she says is growing -- some 5,000 more adults read the paper today than a year ago, the research shows. About 64 percent of Boone County adults (about 74,500 out of 117,00) read The Tribune in a given week.
Can the web replace the print product?
Russell isn't ready to "buy into" the notion that the web can "entirely replace the print product."
