From TechCrunch:
Recently, I enjoyed a refreshing and invigorating dinner with Walt Mossberg. While we casually discussed our most current endeavors and experiences, the discussion shifted to deep conversation about the future of journalism in the era of socialized media with one simple question, “are newspapers worth saving?”
Walt thought for no more than two seconds and assertively replied, “It’s the wrong question to ask. The real question we should ask is if whether or not we can save good journalism.” He continued, “Think about it. Of the hundreds, thousands, of newspapers around the country, there are really only a few that matter. Good journalism and journalists, on the other hand, are worth saving.”
This is the first time I’ve seen a career newspaper man, sum up the current state of publishing affairs in such a perfectly rational way. While most people are busy arguing the fate of a disposable by design medium (newspapers), here’s Mossberg looking at the future of an indispensable art form (journalism). Very different discussions which often get muddled by people who have little ability to differentiate between the two. From there writer Brian Solis does an excellent job of taking Mossbergs simple premise and spinning it into a virtual road map for journalists looking to apply an old art to new mediums.
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Much longer discussion. I wrote a letter to the Telegram, the WSJ and to the NYT that never got published on this subject. I foresee the inevitability of daily papers surviving the Internet due to the far less expensive delivery system that the Internet can provide, but it is not without serious problems for me.
First of all, we are entering Depression ’09 and losing our most valuable resource and most common source of local information. At the same time even regional TV stations are disappearing.
Secondly, bloggers will not replace the investigative journalism we need at local, state and national levels. The TandG can barely survive, so we can’t expect them to go after the police in the Rojas case. There is MUCH that a local investigator can do to expose corruption in pension fraud, medical liability fraud in the city unions. I am specifically talking about fire and police. Rosalee Tirella can list the salries of the the top highest paid 250 employees, but if there isn’t a spotlight on waste and fraud with what Roasalee is doing, we wll lose.
Thirdly, it is time that Worcester and other municipalities realistically look at providing competition of Internet services. In the not too distant future, cable TV will go the way of the newspapers too. We will be able to get TV, telephone and vastly improved Internet services faster than we can imagine. The cable companies know this and are scared s—less. It always ticked me off that cable companies existed in the first place; people were “paying” for TV by having to put up with TV advertising.
Fourth, in light of the most recent “Flicker” virus, we need to realize that more and more of our lives are dependent on this Internet thing, and that we are allowing ourselves immense vulnerability should a disaster occur.
I agree Heinrich, this high tech stuff is brainwashin us all!
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/33333_At_Glenn_Beck_Tea_Party-_Burn_the_Books!