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Time for Newspapers to Reverse Course
Newspapers across America are slowly but surely becoming extinct. They are basically reporting ‘old’ news. Once in a blue moon you will read something that’s not been seen on the Internet already; but it’s rare.
Perhaps it’s time for newspapers to reverse course.
Perhaps they should become the "Net Police."
They can become what the Net has been to them - for the past 10 years.
For several years now, the Internet has been a way for people to get their opinions and more facts out about what was being reported in newspapers and on television. Perhaps it's time to reverse course?
Instead of newspapers trying to compete with the instantaneous information highway (Internet), they should do their readers, Internet and television viewers a favor and ‘fact check’ what is being reported on the Net and on television.
While these stories they investigate and report the facts on may be printed a day or two late, they will in the long run, be the final place for readers to go – for the truth.
Comments (4)
With respect, I think you're being overly idealistic - and perhaps a bit new to the web. The majors still do a large percentage of the hard reporting and propaganda dissemination. They are, however, no longer solely in control of the course such reporting takes -- with some exceptions, blog "reporting" still largely consists of amplifying news or propaganda that is written by a major publication.
Kissinger, under Nixon, once referred to the MSM as the "media apparatus" - in context, it was a thing which could be controlled. I have a theory that the Bush 43 administration, laden with Kissinger's proteges and disciples, came to power without appreciating the power or advancement of this shift in the Reality-Based Community. Don't count on future administrations being so naive. Obama's propaganda will be much more advanced and subtle, I'm sure.
August 11, 2008 9:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know about you but I get most of my INFO from the internet. Politics, foreign policy and yes even domestic policy -- the news I read in my local paper is stuff coming from the Internet or just local stuff.
I realize there are still some really good 'scoops' reported still - but not nearly as many as the Net gives out.
Dropping revenues in the newspaper industry tells you that it's dying. They need a new strategy or risk being in the same position as networks are/were against Cable TV channels.
Going after the NET NEWS and investigating what's real and what's not -- just might be the way to go - in my humble opinion.
August 11, 2008 10:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
By the way, they should do this WHILE THEY ARE STILL TRUSTED WITH NEWS INFORMATION.
It's hard to know who to believe on the Internet, there's so many outlets of information. The newspapers STILL have credibility -- they should take advantage of that now.
August 11, 2008 10:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let me share a little bit of my Idealism. In 2003-04, where I live the Denver area we have the Rocky Mountain News. I remember vividly every weekend I would get my paper, and read the op-eds in the run up to the elections. I would be pleasantly suprised because the opinions expressed were negative about the bush administration. I found it rather comforting. However, when it came time to endorse a candidate, the Rocky endorsed G.W.B. I couldn't understand it. I was so infuriated by that, I canceled my subscription and vowed I wouldnt subscribe again. The following weeks the reports about news papers not doing well, really heated up. They would be practically giving them away at places like the grocery stores trying to get people to sign up for subscriptions. Coincidence that happened at the time the papers made endorsements, I think not. Yes I understand that with the internet and other places the papers will struggle, and for other reasons. I just think that their were allot of people like me who could not understand why they would report so much truth about the miss truths and failings of the administration, then turn around and endorse him. Its kinda like Michael Scheuer the author of Anonymous. I writes this great book, but then revealed on a radio show I used to listen to that he would vote for GWB in 04. Makes no sense. I know, I know, Im crazy!
August 12, 2008 1:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
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