"Does it matter if someone gets the
news in a newspaper anymore or over the Internet or through their cell phone?"
That was one of the questions PBS NewsHour posed to Philip Meyer, one of my University of North Carolina journalism professors. He thinks the medium does matter -- with geography giving local newspapers an advantage over the others, at least for now. More of his answer:
"The newspaper creates a social and political and economic
sphere that brings a community together... Now, maybe
you can replicate that with a Web site, but you don't have the automatic protection
from competition that the expense of buying a printing press gives you.
"I think some really interesting stuff is going to happen. And -- and I admire
the entrepreneurs who are going out and trying to start news operations that compete
with newspapers just with a Web site." Meyer, who worked in "new media" for Knight-Ridder before the Web was born, was among the experts NewsHour talked to about the sale of impending sale of the Knight-Ridder chain and its implications for the newspaper industry. And speaking of media trends, you can read the conversation, watch the video or listen to an audio version at the Online Newshour. (Thanks to another UNC mentor of mine, Paul Jones, for pointing to the program.)
As for local news communities, I've got to find more time to read -- and contribute to -- KnoxViews.com... maybe during spring break.
Knight-Ridder papers aren't the only ones feeling the digital squeeze... The New York Times newsfeed has the following stories about The Washington Post, broadcast TV and a Knoxville-based theater chain. (The latter one claims that DVD's have a silver lining, but I haven't been in a movie theater in months.)
What's Online: A Blog Writes the Obituary of TV.
According to Prince Campbell, a media-exec-turned-blogger, "Just like
the Internet killed the music industry, it's about to do the same thing
to broadcast TV." By Dan Mitchell. NYTimes.com.
Washington Post to Cut 80 Newsroom Jobs.
The Washington Post is joining a roll call of major U.S. newspapers
reducing editorial positions as the industry continues to face
advertising and circulation concerns. By Katharine Q. Seelye. NYTimes.com
Saturday Interview: Seeing DVD's as a Boon to Theaters.
Michael L. Campbell, chairman and chief executive of the Regal
Entertainment Group, says the DVD format has been beneficial to theater
owners. By Ken Jaworowski. NYTimes.com
2:23:25 PM 
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