Comments on: A newspaper’s leap into the Internet pond: Will it sink or swim? http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2008/05/08/a-newspapers-leap-into-the-internet-pond-will-it-sink-or-swim/ Think. It ain't illegal yet... Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:19:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dr. Denny http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2008/05/08/a-newspapers-leap-into-the-internet-pond-will-it-sink-or-swim/comment-page-1/#comment-38490 Dr. Denny Fri, 09 May 2008 21:07:09 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=2066#comment-38490 Madisonian: Thanks for the update. I'd been hoping someone with more intimate knowledge would chime in. You make Madison and Lee sound like Salem, Ore., and Gannett of a few decades ago. Lara: I live in a rural area and no longer subscribe to the local paper of the "larger" neighboring town because it simply does not provide what I need about the town I live in. But because I have no 'net access other than dial-up, I'm semi-redlined. I'd also like to read my hometown paper (where I worked for 20 years) as you suggest. But without widespread broadband, I'm unable to do so. "Small" generally means "a lot of rural." And that often means "no broadband." Thanks to all for their comments. Madisonian:

Thanks for the update. I’d been hoping someone with more intimate knowledge would chime in. You make Madison and Lee sound like Salem, Ore., and Gannett of a few decades ago.

Lara:

I live in a rural area and no longer subscribe to the local paper of the “larger” neighboring town because it simply does not provide what I need about the town I live in. But because I have no ‘net access other than dial-up, I’m semi-redlined.

I’d also like to read my hometown paper (where I worked for 20 years) as you suggest. But without widespread broadband, I’m unable to do so.

“Small” generally means “a lot of rural.” And that often means “no broadband.”

Thanks to all for their comments.

]]> By: Lara Amber http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2008/05/08/a-newspapers-leap-into-the-internet-pond-will-it-sink-or-swim/comment-page-1/#comment-38484 Lara Amber Fri, 09 May 2008 19:36:24 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=2066#comment-38484 I'm hoping more small town papers switch to an online presence and phase out their print versions. It may actually increase their "circulation" being online. Former residents would be able to check in on their once-local paper. As would regular visitors & vacation home owners. My parents wouldn't pay for a deliver subscription of the Durango Herald, but they would read it online. My mother misses that police blotter "May 30, Someone needed assistance removing a guinea pig from behind a stove" (not kidding). I’m hoping more small town papers switch to an online presence and phase out their print versions. It may actually increase their “circulation” being online. Former residents would be able to check in on their once-local paper. As would regular visitors & vacation home owners. My parents wouldn’t pay for a deliver subscription of the Durango Herald, but they would read it online. My mother misses that police blotter “May 30, Someone needed assistance removing a guinea pig from behind a stove” (not kidding).

]]> By: Madisonian http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2008/05/08/a-newspapers-leap-into-the-internet-pond-will-it-sink-or-swim/comment-page-1/#comment-38481 Madisonian Fri, 09 May 2008 19:04:58 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=2066#comment-38481 1) The Capital Times is not subject to market forces, considering that they have lost money for decades yet remain in operation through their profit sharing with the Wisconsin State Journal. They'll just be losing less money now than they did before by shedding paper, printing, and delivery costs, along with newsroom and other job cuts -- bigger than they claim, with newsrooms at other Capital Newspapers publications being cut as well. Whatever happens to the paper, though, is not indicative of anything larger with the industry considering their special situation. 2) The Wisconsin State Journal did not actually acquire all of the Capital Times' subscribers. Rather, all were given 3 weeks free of the State Journal, a bait and switch so the entire company can look like it's not shedding overall circulation. 3) You're spot on about the redlining. 4) Ultimately, it's all about the money. Capital Newspapers is shut out of the weekly market in Madison, hometown of the Onion, and this is its gambit to trim the fat off a money loser while rededicating resources to its primary unexploited print media niche in the region. 5) In the end, there's no business model for an online daily publication, particularly one with 40 plus employees. For people in Madison, this is merely the latest and an expected step in the long, slow decline of The Capital Times as its corporate partner Lee Enterprises gradually assumes a monopoly market position. Enough with the Web 2.0 fantasizing, it's not 1999. 1) The Capital Times is not subject to market forces, considering that they have lost money for decades yet remain in operation through their profit sharing with the Wisconsin State Journal. They’ll just be losing less money now than they did before by shedding paper, printing, and delivery costs, along with newsroom and other job cuts — bigger than they claim, with newsrooms at other Capital Newspapers publications being cut as well. Whatever happens to the paper, though, is not indicative of anything larger with the industry considering their special situation.

2) The Wisconsin State Journal did not actually acquire all of the Capital Times’ subscribers. Rather, all were given 3 weeks free of the State Journal, a bait and switch so the entire company can look like it’s not shedding overall circulation.

3) You’re spot on about the redlining.

4) Ultimately, it’s all about the money. Capital Newspapers is shut out of the weekly market in Madison, hometown of the Onion, and this is its gambit to trim the fat off a money loser while rededicating resources to its primary unexploited print media niche in the region.

5) In the end, there’s no business model for an online daily publication, particularly one with 40 plus employees. For people in Madison, this is merely the latest and an expected step in the long, slow decline of The Capital Times as its corporate partner Lee Enterprises gradually assumes a monopoly market position. Enough with the Web 2.0 fantasizing, it’s not 1999.

]]> By: Russ Wellen http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2008/05/08/a-newspapers-leap-into-the-internet-pond-will-it-sink-or-swim/comment-page-1/#comment-38468 Russ Wellen Fri, 09 May 2008 17:54:01 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=2066#comment-38468 Thanks, Dr. D., for another important post on the subject. It's a learning experience for me. All I have to offer is that, in the end, local newspapers, whether they morph into Web sites exclusively or magazines as well, are more likely to resemble traditional newspapers, where the emphasis is on objective dissemination of events obviously not reported nationally. National news sources echo each other. The growth there, one would think, is in partisan, or at least op-ed-oriented, papers or sites to hook today's jaded readers, for whom objective reporting on national issues seems dry. Thanks, Dr. D., for another important post on the subject. It’s a learning experience for me.

All I have to offer is that, in the end, local newspapers, whether they morph into Web sites exclusively or magazines as well, are more likely to resemble traditional newspapers, where the emphasis is on objective dissemination of events obviously not reported nationally.

National news sources echo each other. The growth there, one would think, is in partisan, or at least op-ed-oriented, papers or sites to hook today’s jaded readers, for whom objective reporting on national issues seems dry.

]]> By: Dr. Slammy http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2008/05/08/a-newspapers-leap-into-the-internet-pond-will-it-sink-or-swim/comment-page-1/#comment-38456 Dr. Slammy Fri, 09 May 2008 13:43:26 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=2066#comment-38456 I still say that pubs like this one need to keep the paper, but shift its emphasis to something more magazine-like. The news outlet that makes the Web move work first, I suspect, will be in a tech-saturated urban area (Seattle, Denver, SF, Boston, etc.) but I'm glad to see a publisher taking the plunge, at least.... I still say that pubs like this one need to keep the paper, but shift its emphasis to something more magazine-like. The news outlet that makes the Web move work first, I suspect, will be in a tech-saturated urban area (Seattle, Denver, SF, Boston, etc.) but I’m glad to see a publisher taking the plunge, at least….

]]> By: www.buzzflash.net http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2008/05/08/a-newspapers-leap-into-the-internet-pond-will-it-sink-or-swim/comment-page-1/#comment-38341 www.buzzflash.net Thu, 08 May 2008 20:21:34 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=2066#comment-38341 <strong>A newspaper’s leap into the Internet pond: Will it sink or swim?...</strong> Long ago, in the beginning, a newspaper developed a Web site. Hundreds followed that lead. Now, one newspaper has only a Web site. In the end, what will there be? And what will be the consequences for readers?... A newspaper’s leap into the Internet pond: Will it sink or swim?…

Long ago, in the beginning, a newspaper developed a Web site. Hundreds followed that lead. Now, one newspaper has only a Web site. In the end, what will there be? And what will be the consequences for readers?…

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