How long will the Observer last?

[CLTPanther]

San Fran won't be the first to fold, that already happened in Denver 2 days ago.

[Panthro]

San Fran won't be the first to fold, that already happened in Denver 2 days ago.

I said major...:troll:

[Fiz]

print news itself will just become incredibly decentralized which is good and bad at the same time.

it should be noted that the accompanying rise in 24 hour news is not a good thing.

[Soul Rebel]

I love having a printed paper to read on the john, but the reality is people expect their news right now, not tomorrow morning. And if they want a printed form they can print off the net.

is it odd that i take a laptop with me to the can at home rather than a paper? i've always read when i take a seat and my macbook is pretty light to take with me.

[mountainpantherfan]

I saw a documentary one time about movies in the 1930's and there was a debet during the Great Depression if non-fiction books would last with the emergence of film. Most people believed that novels would die and that people would get their entertainment from going to the cinema. There was also the same debet over theatrical stage productions as well. In the end, both survived and found their new place within the market with film. I think the same will be seen with printed news papers and the enternet.

[MyDrunkardNC]

I didn't say I want to put the paper out of business nor that I want people to lose their jobs, only that I did not choose to subscribe to it anymore. We all have our own opinions about politics and, while the Observer may reflect yours, it does not reflect mine.

I wasn't referring to you . . . that's why I didn't quote you. And the Observer doesn't necessarily reflect my POV.

[Cyberjag]

This is so interesting to me. Will they all go out of business? Then people will get sick of reading sh*tty blogs so they'll demand a newspaper? Hmmm.. my guess is no, people won't get sick of reading stupid sh*t on the internet.

They better not, the Huddle's livelihood depends on that!

[Sam Mills Fan]

The Observer is doing fine all things considered. All of those papers around the country that you hear about closing down have all been the second paper in a large market. The Observer is the only paper around, so they won't be going anywhere any time soon.

[Brooklyn Bully]

It's still a LONG way off before teh inte3werbz shut down print. You have to remember that by reading this thread, you're more than likely an avid webhead. You must try and think of the tons and tons of people who aren't on the web every single day, can't afford it, etc. They can still be a customer to the print edition. It's all going to come down to how well the print edition markets their product. I heard from an Observer writer that to cut costs, they're going to give a lot of work to freelancers.

The better (and more stupid) debate comes from my friend who thinks that flat, digital, book reader off Yahoo (can store thousands of books, all downloadable) will replace printed books. MAYBE in 75 years, once they market their product to the babies of the world who are growing up in the digital age...but not any time soon. People like having a book.

[Darth Bobo]

People spoke much truth here.

Money is forcing paper news towards periodicals, and away from daily productions.

Daily news is moving to the internet, where it'll be paid for by subscriptions or advertisements and cookies.

I've noticed a serious sterilization and homogenization of main stream media. Most articles we read online are now recycled or paraphrased products of the Associated Press, Reuters, and United Press International. You can count the number of internet sources of original material on one hand. Investigative reporting is simply no longer affordable on a regional basis, and only the national news organizations have enough money.

The question is how are news agencies that sponsor investigative reporting on a local and regional level going to get paid? The News and Observer in the Triangle is a strange mix of national news, syndicated columnists, and a very small amount of local investigative reporting. They've cut certain days of delivery out, and been switghing content around. They've laid off staff. I think they're trying to fit a square peg ina a hole that is now round.

[pstall]

If papers were smart. Charge a dime to view online a month. Sounds cheap but thats a nice revenue stream if you can get it.

A dime won't start a revolution either. Geez

[Squirrel]

If papers were smart. Charge a dime to view online a month. Sounds cheap but thats a nice revenue stream if you can get it.

A dime won't start a revolution either. Geez

But people will just go someowhere else to find the news.

[User Name]

If papers were smart. Charge a dime to view online a month. Sounds cheap but thats a nice revenue stream if you can get it.

A dime won't start a revolution either. Geez

The problem is even if it were a penny, a charge is a charge, people do not want to pay for something that was once free and can be found somewhere else for no charge.

[jasonluckydog]

I wasn't referring to you . . . that's why I didn't quote you. And the Observer doesn't necessarily reflect my POV.

Man I want your AV!!! Give me a direct link and nobody gets hurt.