The death of newsprint can be attributed to several factors. This is not an obituary, just a wake up call to arms, eyes and minds.
How many times have we asked ourselves how much of the current news and information content we receive really matters? Relevance is the crux of the news industry for sure, but is a fire, an auto accident, or local robbery really relevant to anyone who doesn’t know the difference between breaking news with gossip?
There are different types of news, Among them is hard news, soft news, features, evergreens, etc.
There are stories about local politicians introducing legislation, a murder spree, a business profiles. or feature on a priest who swears by golf. The difference is in how immediate, or timely a story is. But what should matter most is how much a story resonates with news consumers, not so much as how a story appeals to our lowest instincts to draw us in.
When politics enters the newsroom, like in some local newspapers, often the outcome is to solicit to a generic group of people. Y=Meanwhile, younger folks have now adapted to reading their news and information content online.
A free pres and true journalism should be a neutral platform to which everyone can subscribe unequivocally, not just those on the inside of the slant.
Unless the news-gathering process improves and embraces technology and innovation, many local papers will go the way of dinosaurs. http://newspaperdeathwatch.com/
Photo: Ron Terner