Continuing Saga, Part III
I posted earlier about the 'new media,' our local paper's entry into it, and whether the whole concept might be turned on its ear. This post is designed to continue the discussion, specifically with respect to a couple points raised in comments.
First, the Treasure State Jew, a journalism major, suggested that page 2M of the Tribune would stand as an impediment to my 'business model' of a blog that moves into the print realm. (2M is the page that reports the local statistics such as courts, obituaries, and births.)
He pointed out:
"[P]rofessional media will always take a higher place on the food chain than those of us that occasionally dabble in it.
The reason? Page 2M. That is the most important page in the Trib for most people. Who was born? Why died? Who got arrested? Its all right there. And filling that page is nothing but drudgery that an occasional dabbler like me, or even a more regular dabbler like you, will take the time to do right.
Not that the Trib often gets it all right on page 2M, but at least they try every day."
I have a couple points in response. First, I am trying to make it clear that I do not think that the end is nigh for newspapers. I am just curious whether there is not some other format or model for delivery of the news that better melds the online and print worlds, than newspaper websites, YourSpace! and all.
Second, let's assume someone did want to compete with 2M. I would posit that there are better ways to do it than pure "drudgery." For example, if I had a solvent business enterprise (combining offline and online work) I might well choose to offer the 2M information only online.
And I might well choose to go to the agencies where that information is generated, and provide them with software at my own expense that would automate the creation and posting of court and birth information. (Obits are a paid service anymore; I could do that too. Or maybe not, maybe one could still offer them for free, but require electronic submission.)
Next, there were several comments about the credibility of information found on blogs. The gist, I think, is that most information we receive is 'biased' in some way or another, and most true consumers of the news simply acquire and digest what they can, considering the source along the way. As Wolfpack points out, while this blog lacks journalists, there are many different perspectives to be absorbed along the way.
Again, the question is not whether newspapers are facing their demise, or whether blogs are. The question is whether there might be some different method to obtain and disseminate at least local news that is as good as or better than the Tribune.
3 comments:
Geeguy;
Been a long time since I majored in anything other than trying to earn my keep, but I thank you for the compliment.
I posit that once you have taken the step to provide the same information that the Trib provides on page 2M, you have become professional media.
That software you are talking about would cost money. Getting agencies to use it would also probably require the payment of some kind of fee (were they to do it at all). To do it on an ongoing basis, you would have to create some sort of a business model that would recompense you for those expenses. Even if you did it for cost, that changes the threshold.
I don't imply that a newspaper has to provide this sort of information. However, I suggest that it takes professional media to supply it day in and day out.
Take a look at some of the bigger blogs -- Talking Points Memo being a prime example. It may have started as a hobby, but now it is definitely professional media. That blog employs four journalists, rents space in Manhattan, etc.
The people that write for that blog may love and believe in what they do. However, that blog also pays them a salary. That crosses the threshold from hobby to job.
On a separate note, I would also argue with you that obits are a fee service. I suggest that the death notices printed on page 2M are not true 'obituaries,' at least not as defined by my former professors.
You certainly have to pay for death notices. However, true obituaries are reserved for newsmakers and notable individuals. They also don't have to be found on page 2M. A real obit is written by a journalist (not a family member) and has a fairly defined structure. The recently published obit, on page 1, of Mrs. Schwinden is a good example.
Semantics isn't just something. It is everything.
Aaron
Nah, semantics is just semantics!
said the lawyer.
Post a Comment