DISQUS

Rob Hyndman · 2 years ago

I was wondering when you'd say that - have been waiting for your post :)

Haven't touched paper on a weekday in years and it will never happen. And if anyone starts charging me for the current stuff I simply won't visit. It's not really complicated - a virtually infinite number of suppliers.

The only exceptions are strongly branded content - but the dimensions of content that can carry the branding are diminishing. And these days, that list is pretty short.

Steven Hodson · 2 years ago

Everytime I see this discussion of electronic media vs "hold a real book (newspaper) in my hands" I keep being reminded of a scene from a Star Tek movie where Kirk is caught reading a book .. I can't remember the exact movie or dialog but the end result was something along the line of - there is nothing like holding a real book and reading from a real page.

The real printed media made really become a niche market but it will never go away - just ask anyone who lovingly collects and treasures 78's, 45's and LP's

Mathew · 2 years ago

Thanks, Rob. Finally got around to it :-)

And Steven, I agree (I remember that episode too). But I think for newspapers, we're a lot closer to the "collecting 78's" end of the spectrum than we are to the "thriving business" end.

Tony Hung · 2 years ago

If I had the time today I would go on an awesome rant about exactly what you blogged about -- but since I don't, a comment will have to suffice.

Doc Searls, bless his soul, makes some valid points, but they are the opinion of a clear and shrinking minority.

Yes, newspapers won't go away. And yes, there is a visceral pleasure of having something in your hand that can't be matched by reading it on the screen.

But that doesn't mean that it represents the opinion of the majority. And because, it in fact, represents the opinion of a shrinking *minority*, it would be absolutely disaster to court them instead of the growing majority of people -- who, like Rob Hyndman -- haven't touched a newspaper in years.

Newspapers *will* always exist in some form or another, but they'll be forced to change like every other media has when something new is introduced.

Radio is still with us, for example, but it serves a very different purpose than when it originally started, and will never ever have the same reach it once did.

Cheers
t @ dji

webomatica · 2 years ago

In my mind, there is a big difference between books and newspapers. Newspapers are highly time sensitive, read once and throw away. Information is broken into short articles.

Books are meant to be read over and over and longer format; people want to keep and collect them.

I feel that newspapers (and anybody who writes for one) needs to decide if they're going to move towards the shorter, timely, fast pace news world which is increasingly moving online, or move towards news magazines and books, where pieces are longer, more in depth and not as time sensitive. There's room for both but this area in the middle that newspapers have traditionally occupied is a vanishing niche.

Mathew · 2 years ago

I think you're right, Tony. And Jason (Webomatica), I agree that books are different in many ways -- and newspapers are being squeezed in the middle ground between time sensitive and the in-depth read.

Doc Searls · 2 years ago

Uncle.

As I said here ...

http://doc.weblogs.com/2007/05/25#theyreRight

... you're right. Locking up the current stuff is a bad idea. Mea bozo.

Still, bear in mind that newspapers remain a many-billion-dollar business. They aren't going away soon, even if they are closer to 78s than mp3s (playing with the metaphor above). They need to engage, but not to abandon something that has long-standing and persistent value. Daily print is still that — for many folks, even if not for you, Kent and other young'uns.

Rock on,

Doc

Mathew · 2 years ago

Thanks for the comment, Doc. Not everyone would be as quick to admit they were wrong -- and yes, you are right about newspapers still being multibillion-dollar businesses.

In any case, good on ya. And thanks again for those sunset shots.