Why It's OK for Newspapers to Die

[PoliCon]

By Sonia Arrison
TechNewsWorld
03/20/09 4:00 AM PT

The transition that's taking place in the news publishing industry -- from print to online -- is a healthy step in technology-driven evolution, though there will undoubtedly be some short-term pain. The loss of print newspapers is akin to the loss of the horse and buggy. The Internet offers the potential for broader and deeper news reporting.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer ceased print publication this week to focus solely on the Web, a transition that frightened some in the publishing business, coming so shortly after the Rocky Mountain News shut down. However, as many in the tech industry are aware, this is simply a form of "creative destruction" that should boost both choice and economic activity in the longer term.

"Creative destruction," a term coined by Joseph Schumpeter in his 1942 book Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, means exactly what it says -- the process by which a new technology or structure replaces the old and builds a new infrastructure. This is how progress happens and capitalism moves ahead. For a clear example, think back a century or so, when Henry Ford released his first prototype automobile, relegating the horse and buggy, and the buggy whip industry, to obsolescence.

Most would agree that such creative destruction resulted in a good outcome for society. Yet, not everyone is willing to let such revolutions take place without a fight. Indeed, some politicians have proposed bailing out newspapers, as the federal government has done for failing automakers.
Don't Panic

"The media is a vitally important part of America," said Frank Nicastro, who represents Connecticut's 79th assembly district and advocated for a state government bailout of The Bristol Press. Likewise, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is hinting at federal intervention to help the embattled San Francisco Chronicle.

"We must ensure that our policies enable our news organizations to survive and to engage in the news gathering and analysis that the American people expect," wrote Pelosi in a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder.

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Maybe people would buy their papers is there was more ORIGINAL content in the damn things! Why should I pay $1 to read UPI articles I can read online for FREE??

[Space Gravy]

Again it's a lot more important for one political party then another.

Where do we draw line? We already prop up NPR, PBS, AMTRAK, the USPS and every city public tranportation system.

At some point the moderates in this country have to catch on and see what's happening and go enough is enough.

[Gingersnap]

The only argument for tree-based journalism that I can see is that those institutions have the ability to pay reporters to report. Some stories require a long-term investment of time and other require travel. This would be a really cogent argument if the reading public had confidence in the importance of the stories or in the objectivity of the reporting.

Since we don't, what difference does it make if some partisan hack reports something in a blog or if some partisan hack reports something in dead tree-format? They're all still partisan hacks at this point.

[Sonnabend]

The only argument for tree-based journalism that I can see is that those institutions have the ability to pay reporters to report.

..and sit in the Green Zone fabricating news because they are too chickenshit to go out and get the real story.

Bloggers are the future.

[PoliCon]

..and sit in the Green Zone fabricating news because they are too chickenshit to go out and get the real story.

Bloggers are the future.

which is horribly sad. How can people sitting on their asses is their mothers basement know what the real news is?:(

[patriot45]

The print media is definately on its way out. All those hot dog investigative journalists are now just dem o shills. You still have the TV guys out there on the beat, but they are inthe American Idol crowd, not real digging up dirt.

I seem to get what I need to know from blogs like Malkin, or Townhall.com or from here hitting links to top stories.

The Tampa Tribune is leaning left and the St Pete Times is left! I only buy the Sunday paper and that is for the crossword puzzle and cryptoquote!! Oh yeah, we need em for the bottom of the bird cages! :D Birds poop every 13 minutes!

[Sonnabend]

which is horribly sad. How can people sitting on their asses is their mothers basement know what the real news is?:(

Paging Dan Rather, Dan Rather please pick up the white courtesy phone....

[PoliCon]

Paging Dan Rather, Dan Rather please pick up the white courtesy phone....

EXACTLY