The real reason the news business is in trouble…

March 25, 2007 By

Too many Americans would rather watch Paris Hilton or learn about Anna Nicole Smith.

How do I know that? Cause there is a reason why CNN and Fox kept playing AnnaNews all day long a few weeks back. They do focus groups. They know what people are watching and just how much of something they are watching.

All the discussion today about whether newspapers are dead or aren’t won’t solve that one.

Today’s top headline in the local paper? Above everything else? Foodblogging.

Is that REALLY the most important thing in the world today? Hell, I’m a blog evangelist and even I don’t think that if you really pressed me on it.

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  • http://blog.macb.net macbeach

    )

    The problem with using parenthesis for parenthetical expressions (as I love to do) is that when you miss one it really stands out. I think I’ll make a New Years resolution to switch to commas (eventually).

  • http://blog.macb.net macbeach

    )

    The problem with using parenthesis for parenthetical expressions (as I love to do) is that when you miss one it really stands out. I think I’ll make a New Years resolution to switch to commas (eventually).

  • http://macbeach.blogspot.com macbeach

    )

    The problem with using parenthesis for parenthetical expressions (as I love to do) is that when you miss one it really stands out. I think I’ll make a New Years resolution to switch to commas (eventually).

  • http://weblogs.macromedia.com/jd John Dowdell

    Lo Fleming said: “The point of the media is selling a product”

    I’d disagree a bit… I think media organizations actually sell an audience, to groups which are selling a product, piece of legislation, or whatever.

    They’re selling your attention. They’re pretty skilled at it, too.

  • http://weblogs.macromedia.com/jd John Dowdell

    Lo Fleming said: “The point of the media is selling a product”

    I’d disagree a bit… I think media organizations actually sell an audience, to groups which are selling a product, piece of legislation, or whatever.

    They’re selling your attention. They’re pretty skilled at it, too.

  • http://weblogs.macromedia.com/jd John Dowdell

    Lo Fleming said: “The point of the media is selling a product”

    I’d disagree a bit… I think media organizations actually sell an audience, to groups which are selling a product, piece of legislation, or whatever.

    They’re selling your attention. They’re pretty skilled at it, too.

  • RC

    Robert,

    I agree with you on print media like papers; they’re dead and don’t even know it (although some do).

    The reason they are dead is because they are static. I can see an issue online at, say, Yahoo News, and then get updates online about that same issue as they occur. In addition, I can check several sources for that same bit of news and decide for myself how true/untrue a given piece of news is. Moreover, with Internet news, I can subscribe to multiple feeds from multiple news sources and not be tied down to one author or the authors of a particular paper.

    Viva la Internet…

  • RC

    Robert,

    I agree with you on print media like papers; they’re dead and don’t even know it (although some do).

    The reason they are dead is because they are static. I can see an issue online at, say, Yahoo News, and then get updates online about that same issue as they occur. In addition, I can check several sources for that same bit of news and decide for myself how true/untrue a given piece of news is. Moreover, with Internet news, I can subscribe to multiple feeds from multiple news sources and not be tied down to one author or the authors of a particular paper.

    Viva la Internet…

  • RC

    Robert,

    I agree with you on print media like papers; they’re dead and don’t even know it (although some do).

    The reason they are dead is because they are static. I can see an issue online at, say, Yahoo News, and then get updates online about that same issue as they occur. In addition, I can check several sources for that same bit of news and decide for myself how true/untrue a given piece of news is. Moreover, with Internet news, I can subscribe to multiple feeds from multiple news sources and not be tied down to one author or the authors of a particular paper.

    Viva la Internet…

  • LayZ

    “in trouble”? By who’s standards? As long as these news outlets are getting viewers and making money they won’t see a problem. Despite what many think of Fox News, for some reason they are kicking everyone’s ass. So, I rather doubt they view themselves as being “in trouble”

  • LayZ

    “in trouble”? By who’s standards? As long as these news outlets are getting viewers and making money they won’t see a problem. Despite what many think of Fox News, for some reason they are kicking everyone’s ass. So, I rather doubt they view themselves as being “in trouble”

  • LayZ

    “in trouble”? By who’s standards? As long as these news outlets are getting viewers and making money they won’t see a problem. Despite what many think of Fox News, for some reason they are kicking everyone’s ass. So, I rather doubt they view themselves as being “in trouble”

  • http://blog.macb.net macbeach

    @22: CNN and Fox may not be in trouble NOW, but these old media companies are making adjustments such as laying people off, cutting back coverage on a daily basis.

    This trend isn’t all that new by the way. Newspapers were hurt by TV, talk radio and all-news radio made a surprise comeback for radio in general, but iPods and satellite receivers have eaten into music stations.

    It may not matter that much while second tier outlets suffer (San Jose Mercury News) but New York Times and Washington Post generate original content used by many other papers, so when they cut back there is a ripple effect.

    There was a recent dust-up over seating arrangements for the White House press corp. I don’t remember any bloggers being mentioned. If you want to ask a question in that room you have to work for one of the MSM companies still.

    But these big companies are hurting, regardless of which ones “kick the ass” of which other ones. (Those are relative rating numbers, not profits.) The New York Times loses money I think, and they have a stock holders revolt on their hands at every annual meeting lately. The house hasn’t collapsed yet, but we are certainly hearing a lot of creaking sounds we didn’t hear before.

  • http://blog.macb.net macbeach

    @22: CNN and Fox may not be in trouble NOW, but these old media companies are making adjustments such as laying people off, cutting back coverage on a daily basis.

    This trend isn’t all that new by the way. Newspapers were hurt by TV, talk radio and all-news radio made a surprise comeback for radio in general, but iPods and satellite receivers have eaten into music stations.

    It may not matter that much while second tier outlets suffer (San Jose Mercury News) but New York Times and Washington Post generate original content used by many other papers, so when they cut back there is a ripple effect.

    There was a recent dust-up over seating arrangements for the White House press corp. I don’t remember any bloggers being mentioned. If you want to ask a question in that room you have to work for one of the MSM companies still.

    But these big companies are hurting, regardless of which ones “kick the ass” of which other ones. (Those are relative rating numbers, not profits.) The New York Times loses money I think, and they have a stock holders revolt on their hands at every annual meeting lately. The house hasn’t collapsed yet, but we are certainly hearing a lot of creaking sounds we didn’t hear before.

  • http://macbeach.blogspot.com macbeach

    @22: CNN and Fox may not be in trouble NOW, but these old media companies are making adjustments such as laying people off, cutting back coverage on a daily basis.

    This trend isn’t all that new by the way. Newspapers were hurt by TV, talk radio and all-news radio made a surprise comeback for radio in general, but iPods and satellite receivers have eaten into music stations.

    It may not matter that much while second tier outlets suffer (San Jose Mercury News) but New York Times and Washington Post generate original content used by many other papers, so when they cut back there is a ripple effect.

    There was a recent dust-up over seating arrangements for the White House press corp. I don’t remember any bloggers being mentioned. If you want to ask a question in that room you have to work for one of the MSM companies still.

    But these big companies are hurting, regardless of which ones “kick the ass” of which other ones. (Those are relative rating numbers, not profits.) The New York Times loses money I think, and they have a stock holders revolt on their hands at every annual meeting lately. The house hasn’t collapsed yet, but we are certainly hearing a lot of creaking sounds we didn’t hear before.

  • http://www.straypackets.com/ billg

    MacBeach: If you are going to compare the internet with anything, it would be more appropriate to compare it with the electromagnetic part of the frequency spectrum or the supply of newsprint and blank paper. All are just places to store and convey information. Comparing something like newspapers or TV shows with “the internet” doesn’t wash.

    I think you’d get an argument from a lot of people, including newspaper readers, that everything but the first few pages are filler and fluff. Things like sports, business, weather, local news, lifestyle, etc., are in newspapers because people read them. Newspapers know what people read, and they know the percentage of their ad revenue that comes from each page of the paper. So do their advertisers. Something may strike you as fluff, but, trust me, someone else turns to it first. Example: my local weekly has an entire section devoted to high school sports and activities. Why? Because thousands of soccer moms read it. The ads on those pages reflect that.

    The primary problem facing newspapers is cost, and that situation predates the internet. Newsprint isn’t cheap, and it’s been getting more costly for years. Staff costs, i.e., health and retirement, have increased just as they have everywhere else. Ad rates have to be kept down because advertisers have so many other alternatives. Add in the reality that most people don’t want to spend more than 10-15 minutes a days taking in the news, if at all — and it’s hard times for newspapers. Most people don’t see the Internet as an expense, even though they’re paying the cable company $45 a month for it.

  • http://www.straypackets.com/ billg

    MacBeach: If you are going to compare the internet with anything, it would be more appropriate to compare it with the electromagnetic part of the frequency spectrum or the supply of newsprint and blank paper. All are just places to store and convey information. Comparing something like newspapers or TV shows with “the internet” doesn’t wash.

    I think you’d get an argument from a lot of people, including newspaper readers, that everything but the first few pages are filler and fluff. Things like sports, business, weather, local news, lifestyle, etc., are in newspapers because people read them. Newspapers know what people read, and they know the percentage of their ad revenue that comes from each page of the paper. So do their advertisers. Something may strike you as fluff, but, trust me, someone else turns to it first. Example: my local weekly has an entire section devoted to high school sports and activities. Why? Because thousands of soccer moms read it. The ads on those pages reflect that.

    The primary problem facing newspapers is cost, and that situation predates the internet. Newsprint isn’t cheap, and it’s been getting more costly for years. Staff costs, i.e., health and retirement, have increased just as they have everywhere else. Ad rates have to be kept down because advertisers have so many other alternatives. Add in the reality that most people don’t want to spend more than 10-15 minutes a days taking in the news, if at all — and it’s hard times for newspapers. Most people don’t see the Internet as an expense, even though they’re paying the cable company $45 a month for it.

  • http://www.straypackets.com billg

    MacBeach: If you are going to compare the internet with anything, it would be more appropriate to compare it with the electromagnetic part of the frequency spectrum or the supply of newsprint and blank paper. All are just places to store and convey information. Comparing something like newspapers or TV shows with “the internet” doesn’t wash.

    I think you’d get an argument from a lot of people, including newspaper readers, that everything but the first few pages are filler and fluff. Things like sports, business, weather, local news, lifestyle, etc., are in newspapers because people read them. Newspapers know what people read, and they know the percentage of their ad revenue that comes from each page of the paper. So do their advertisers. Something may strike you as fluff, but, trust me, someone else turns to it first. Example: my local weekly has an entire section devoted to high school sports and activities. Why? Because thousands of soccer moms read it. The ads on those pages reflect that.

    The primary problem facing newspapers is cost, and that situation predates the internet. Newsprint isn’t cheap, and it’s been getting more costly for years. Staff costs, i.e., health and retirement, have increased just as they have everywhere else. Ad rates have to be kept down because advertisers have so many other alternatives. Add in the reality that most people don’t want to spend more than 10-15 minutes a days taking in the news, if at all — and it’s hard times for newspapers. Most people don’t see the Internet as an expense, even though they’re paying the cable company $45 a month for it.

  • http://www.philoking.com/ Jason Burns

    I read an article awhile back that had cnn’s front page, and they had blacked out all of the ads, photos and celebrity stories, it literally left 12% for actual news related content. I know people are saying newspapers are on their way out, and I agree, I haven’t read one in ages, but the online news sites, I frequent MSNBC and CNN the most, are really half news, half tabloid these days. I saw a front page story about Keith Richards dad a few months ago…how in the world does a celebrity’s relative make the front page of a world wide news site?

  • http://www.philoking.com/ Jason Burns

    I read an article awhile back that had cnn’s front page, and they had blacked out all of the ads, photos and celebrity stories, it literally left 12% for actual news related content. I know people are saying newspapers are on their way out, and I agree, I haven’t read one in ages, but the online news sites, I frequent MSNBC and CNN the most, are really half news, half tabloid these days. I saw a front page story about Keith Richards dad a few months ago…how in the world does a celebrity’s relative make the front page of a world wide news site?

  • http://www.philoking.com Jason Burns

    I read an article awhile back that had cnn’s front page, and they had blacked out all of the ads, photos and celebrity stories, it literally left 12% for actual news related content. I know people are saying newspapers are on their way out, and I agree, I haven’t read one in ages, but the online news sites, I frequent MSNBC and CNN the most, are really half news, half tabloid these days. I saw a front page story about Keith Richards dad a few months ago…how in the world does a celebrity’s relative make the front page of a world wide news site?

  • http://tenftpole.wordpress.com/ tenftpole

    Food blogging….Actually, I totally see why this resonates. I know you were probably being arbitrary, but I’m a foodie and am obsessed with cooking and anything that I can eat. That’s what’s great about blogs — you can write about your passions.

    Damn, now I’m hungry again…

  • http://tenftpole.wordpress.com/ tenftpole

    Food blogging….Actually, I totally see why this resonates. I know you were probably being arbitrary, but I’m a foodie and am obsessed with cooking and anything that I can eat. That’s what’s great about blogs — you can write about your passions.

    Damn, now I’m hungry again…

  • http://tenftpole.wordpress.com/ tenftpole

    Food blogging….Actually, I totally see why this resonates. I know you were probably being arbitrary, but I’m a foodie and am obsessed with cooking and anything that I can eat. That’s what’s great about blogs — you can write about your passions.

    Damn, now I’m hungry again…

  • http://www.data360.org/ Tom Paper

    Robert – Print media has infuriated and amused me for a long time, especially because I’ve been a CFO, the guy responsible for putting together objective information about a company for leaders of the company to view. That’s why our company, Webster Systems, built a product called Data360. Our view is that if the newspapers can’t make an objective presentation of what’s happening in the world (the important things), then we might as well. You can check it out at http://www.data360.org. Some really cool features will be coming in a couple weeks, so please don’t judge us on one viewing. We view this as a work in progress to spread the view that objectivity and reality (about important things) matters. Best regards, Tom

  • http://www.data360.org/ Tom Paper

    Robert – Print media has infuriated and amused me for a long time, especially because I’ve been a CFO, the guy responsible for putting together objective information about a company for leaders of the company to view. That’s why our company, Webster Systems, built a product called Data360. Our view is that if the newspapers can’t make an objective presentation of what’s happening in the world (the important things), then we might as well. You can check it out at http://www.data360.org. Some really cool features will be coming in a couple weeks, so please don’t judge us on one viewing. We view this as a work in progress to spread the view that objectivity and reality (about important things) matters. Best regards, Tom

  • http://www.data360.org Tom Paper

    Robert – Print media has infuriated and amused me for a long time, especially because I’ve been a CFO, the guy responsible for putting together objective information about a company for leaders of the company to view. That’s why our company, Webster Systems, built a product called Data360. Our view is that if the newspapers can’t make an objective presentation of what’s happening in the world (the important things), then we might as well. You can check it out at http://www.data360.org. Some really cool features will be coming in a couple weeks, so please don’t judge us on one viewing. We view this as a work in progress to spread the view that objectivity and reality (about important things) matters. Best regards, Tom

  • http://quotes.wordpress.com/ quotes

    >>Today’s top headline in the local paper? Above
    >>everything else? Foodblogging.

    They are playing catchup with the New York Times.

    Back in December, a NYT Food Editor did an article about “populist food and recipe sites” including featuring http://famousrecipes.wordpress.com/ as an example.

    People loved that article apparently. famousrecipes got about 7000 visitors that day.

    http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic.php?id=6297&page&replies=50

  • http://quotes.wordpress.com/ quotes

    >>Today’s top headline in the local paper? Above
    >>everything else? Foodblogging.

    They are playing catchup with the New York Times.

    Back in December, a NYT Food Editor did an article about “populist food and recipe sites” including featuring http://famousrecipes.wordpress.com/ as an example.

    People loved that article apparently. famousrecipes got about 7000 visitors that day.

    http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic.php?id=6297&page&replies=50

  • http://quotes.wordpress.com/ quotes

    >>Today’s top headline in the local paper? Above
    >>everything else? Foodblogging.

    They are playing catchup with the New York Times.

    Back in December, a NYT Food Editor did an article about “populist food and recipe sites” including featuring http://famousrecipes.wordpress.com/ as an example.

    People loved that article apparently. famousrecipes got about 7000 visitors that day.

    http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic.php?id=6297&page&replies=50

  • http://www.omninerd.com/2007/03/25/coffeeshop/37 Tom

    I just did a short two week informal study on CNN. Click my name to read the results. Basically, I found that entertainment (celebrity) news was almost always the most popular news despite not being the “lead” news. The media is going to report what we are interested in and we have shown we read the news to be entertained, not informed.

  • http://www.omninerd.com/2007/03/25/coffeeshop/37 Tom

    I just did a short two week informal study on CNN. Click my name to read the results. Basically, I found that entertainment (celebrity) news was almost always the most popular news despite not being the “lead” news. The media is going to report what we are interested in and we have shown we read the news to be entertained, not informed.

  • http://www.omninerd.com/2007/03/25/coffeeshop/37 Tom

    I just did a short two week informal study on CNN. Click my name to read the results. Basically, I found that entertainment (celebrity) news was almost always the most popular news despite not being the “lead” news. The media is going to report what we are interested in and we have shown we read the news to be entertained, not informed.

  • http://norfolkandwaay.blogspot.com/ Mr. Waay

    It’s just ratings, ratings, ratings. That’s all.

  • http://norfolkandwaay.blogspot.com/ Mr. Waay

    It’s just ratings, ratings, ratings. That’s all.

  • http://norfolkandwaay.blogspot.com Mr. Waay

    It’s just ratings, ratings, ratings. That’s all.

  • Kevin

    Thank you!! Man, I was wondering if it was my imagination, but CNN and Fox News are getting really annoying with their nonstop Anna Nicole coverage. Great, so what makes her death more interesting and important than the 3000 deaths of Americans in Iraq?

    The worst offender is Nancy Grace who seemed to have dedicated a whole week to digging into this not-so-interesting story. I mean, cmon. Newsflash: limelight public figure with a penchant for the wild life OD’s on drugs. Wow, that’s news!!

  • Kevin

    Thank you!! Man, I was wondering if it was my imagination, but CNN and Fox News are getting really annoying with their nonstop Anna Nicole coverage. Great, so what makes her death more interesting and important than the 3000 deaths of Americans in Iraq?

    The worst offender is Nancy Grace who seemed to have dedicated a whole week to digging into this not-so-interesting story. I mean, cmon. Newsflash: limelight public figure with a penchant for the wild life OD’s on drugs. Wow, that’s news!!

  • Kevin

    Thank you!! Man, I was wondering if it was my imagination, but CNN and Fox News are getting really annoying with their nonstop Anna Nicole coverage. Great, so what makes her death more interesting and important than the 3000 deaths of Americans in Iraq?

    The worst offender is Nancy Grace who seemed to have dedicated a whole week to digging into this not-so-interesting story. I mean, cmon. Newsflash: limelight public figure with a penchant for the wild life OD’s on drugs. Wow, that’s news!!

  • Jamie

    Not everyone wants to know about Paris Hilton or Anna Nicole Smith. I was pretty perturbed about the coverage of her death. I don’t care about it. I’m more interested in what is going on in the world and my home. Yet Fox seems to think I’d rather watch a funeral procession and yip yap on a has been that never was model that overdosed.

  • Jamie

    Not everyone wants to know about Paris Hilton or Anna Nicole Smith. I was pretty perturbed about the coverage of her death. I don’t care about it. I’m more interested in what is going on in the world and my home. Yet Fox seems to think I’d rather watch a funeral procession and yip yap on a has been that never was model that overdosed.

  • Jamie

    Not everyone wants to know about Paris Hilton or Anna Nicole Smith. I was pretty perturbed about the coverage of her death. I don’t care about it. I’m more interested in what is going on in the world and my home. Yet Fox seems to think I’d rather watch a funeral procession and yip yap on a has been that never was model that overdosed.

  • http://www.jankarlsbjerg.com/blog Jan Karlsbjerg

    http://www.jibjab.com/what_we_call_the_news

    Quote: 3% (of Americans) can point to Kabul on a map, but 96% say they’ve seen Britney’s [naked crutch].

  • http://www.jankarlsbjerg.com/blog Jan Karlsbjerg

    http://www.jibjab.com/what_we_call_the_news

    Quote: 3% (of Americans) can point to Kabul on a map, but 96% say they’ve seen Britney’s [naked crutch].

  • http://www.jankarlsbjerg.com/blog Jan Karlsbjerg

    http://www.jibjab.com/what_we_call_the_news

    Quote: 3% (of Americans) can point to Kabul on a map, but 96% say they’ve seen Britney’s [naked crutch].

  • Pingback: The Thin Line » Scoble writing about Fox News

  • Podesta

    I haven’t had time to read all the comments, so apologies in advance if I’m repeating what someone else has said. As someone who has actually been a print journalist, I thought I would bring the insights that come from that experience to the discussion.

    First of all, Scoble is wrong in thinking that newspapers’ problems began with the Internet. Much of what ails newspapers has been ailing them for decades. That would include the cost of newsprint, difficulty distributing newspapers as populations become increasingly suburban and exurban while highway driving becomes increasingly slow and congested, competition for ad dollars, and, an an audience that is comparatively semiliterate and unsophisticated. (I’ll leave it to others to decide whether American audiences also have poor taste and short attention spans.)

    I don’t think I ever worked for a newspaper that did not have hiring freezes and layoffs even 15-20 years ago. There’s nothing new about that. Mergers are old hat, too.

  • Podesta

    I haven’t had time to read all the comments, so apologies in advance if I’m repeating what someone else has said. As someone who has actually been a print journalist, I thought I would bring the insights that come from that experience to the discussion.

    First of all, Scoble is wrong in thinking that newspapers’ problems began with the Internet. Much of what ails newspapers has been ailing them for decades. That would include the cost of newsprint, difficulty distributing newspapers as populations become increasingly suburban and exurban while highway driving becomes increasingly slow and congested, competition for ad dollars, and, an an audience that is comparatively semiliterate and unsophisticated. (I’ll leave it to others to decide whether American audiences also have poor taste and short attention spans.)

    I don’t think I ever worked for a newspaper that did not have hiring freezes and layoffs even 15-20 years ago. There’s nothing new about that. Mergers are old hat, too.

  • Podesta

    I haven’t had time to read all the comments, so apologies in advance if I’m repeating what someone else has said. As someone who has actually been a print journalist, I thought I would bring the insights that come from that experience to the discussion.

    First of all, Scoble is wrong in thinking that newspapers’ problems began with the Internet. Much of what ails newspapers has been ailing them for decades. That would include the cost of newsprint, difficulty distributing newspapers as populations become increasingly suburban and exurban while highway driving becomes increasingly slow and congested, competition for ad dollars, and, an an audience that is comparatively semiliterate and unsophisticated. (I’ll leave it to others to decide whether American audiences also have poor taste and short attention spans.)

    I don’t think I ever worked for a newspaper that did not have hiring freezes and layoffs even 15-20 years ago. There’s nothing new about that. Mergers are old hat, too.

  • Ken from Chicago

    First, just to get it out of the way, people are NOT famous for being famous. People are famous for “being famous” are really famous for SEX. They are famous for looking sexy, being sexy, dressing sexy, having sexy videos, having sexy pictures and / or even sexy audio.

    Anna Nicole Smith (big-breasted former centerfold), Britney Spears (breakout music video had her in a mini-skirted Catholic schoolgirl outfit, scantily clad on the cover of Rolling Stones as a dress-up doll), Paris Hilton (online sex video), Pamela Anderson (well-endowed Baywatch star who got national prominence with an early online sex video), et. al.

    As for newspapers, people are interested in what they care about. Ratings spiked in the Anna Nicole Smith story not because people were interested in the news, they were interested in sex, sexy pictures and videos that the news networks always put onscreen. It wasn’t news it was entertainment.

    Just like the judge, Sideling(?), who was entertaining. Roe Conn, a local talk radio host, does a killer impersonation of the voice that’s hysterical.

    Speaking of entertainment, that’s what the news has increasingly become. The target demographic for tv news and cable news who are actually interested in news, in information, simply go online. So that leaves entertainment, news reporters being funny or angry or funnily angry (ala Stephen Colbert or Bill O’Reilly) or angrily funny (ala Lewis Black or Keith Olbermann). Or syrupily compassionate ala the flood of newsmagzines and “morning (news/talk/variety) shows” interviewing someone who has gone thru some traumatic and being asked “How do you feel?” or various variation thereof (e.g. “What was your reaction?”, “What’s your take?”, “What’s your impressions?”, etc.).

    If you want people to watch or read the news, then report on stuff they care about–or EXPLAIN WHY THEY SHOULD CARE, as in how it affects them. And here’s a concept, show NEW news, not merely repeat the same story and call it “news” or worse “breaking news” (like the same news story is “breaking” for an hour or two or three or four).

    As for the news BUSINESS, I think the problem is that news is too small a fish in giant oceans. The Powers That Be over them no longer are the maverick millionaire newspaper owners who cared about the news as a craft but executive who’s only interest and relationship with the news is a single line in an accounting report or a single entry in some electronic spreadsheet. Maybe if the news was a third or even a quarter of the whole business it belonged to then at least those in charge would care or at least know about news other than its profit and loss. Maybe.

    – Ken from Chicago

    P.S. Also focus helps, targeting a niche market and not trying to be all things to all people.

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