I know, it’s hardly unique to blog about the future of newspapers these days but hear me out!
I was approached quite some time ago (last fall, I think) about contributing an essay to an upcoming issue of Canadian Notes and Queries, a literary/culture magazine. The issue is a special one – taking a long look at important issues of Canadian culture and what they may look like in 25 years.
I wrote most of the piece in one caffeine-fuelled session at a local fair trade coffee house back in October. It was edited through November and finally published at the start of February (though the magazine’s website hasn’t been updated yet – ironic, really, given the subject matter).
Now, as many of your probably realize, some freakin’ substantial things have happened since October – the economy tanked, several newspapers have gone under and Canada’s largest media chain has been pushed to the brink of bankruptcy.
Still, upon flipping through my copy of CNQ, I was pretty pleased with how my arguments mostly still apply.
So, without (much) futher ado, here’s the article as it appears in the magazine (I think – can’t recall if more changes were made after this version). I encourage you to hit a newsstand and pick up a paper copy, though, as all the articles provide excellent food for thought.
NEWSPAPERS
By Joe Boughner
Conventional wisdom says that the dead-tree media, as bloggers have dubbed printed newspapers, will soon join the ranks of 8-track and 33 RPM vinyl records. In many ways, the writing is already on the wall-or, rather, the web. No self-respecting paper of record, after all, dares compete without at least an online version of their publication. All but the most resolute also offer some sort of updated web-exclusive content throughout the day (though these updates are often little more than repackaged newswire copy) and most major newspapers have even begun experimenting with blogs, podcasts and comment forums.
But perhaps the dead-tree death watch is focused on the wrong patient. With newspaper circulation numbers dropping across the country, particularly in the increasingly important youth demographic (tomorrow’s news consumers), the question isn’t when print newspapers will flat-line but whether the news organizations behind them will survive.
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