Week #5: Blogging Chapter 5 (Newspapers)

Chapter 4:

In reading chapter four, I found it interesting that as circulation continues to drop with print versions of newspapers most of the major media conglomerates are trying, some more successfully than others, to reinvent themselves and get a piece of the on-line market. As discussed in the text, different strategies exist for example the Gannet Corporation’s “Information Centers” which is their reinvention of the traditional newsroom on-line. It is where their journalists post up-to-date stories on the Web early in the morning versus writing the stories the day before in print format. They have designed their websites to be interactive with readers to include a blogging component as a forum for readers to discuss the news stories with one another. Gannett’s latest corporate philosophy is that reporting on the Web is a priority. Is this concept really new and is it really differentiating them from other media outlets?

My original question this past week in class was whether on-line versions of newspapers were the same as their counterpart print versions. In reading Chapter 4 this question was addressed in that most on-line components are at least the same and usually include more content than the print versions. Given that information, my new question is if on-line media markets are growing so much on Web 2.0 is there still a chance for innovative techniques to be unveiled in print versions of newspapers that would increase circulation and make consumers more apt to pick up a newspaper versus going on-line to get news?

Newspapers:

As I sat in the Champlain College library one evening this past week reading our chapter on newspapers staring me in the face were all of the major newspapers in the country, Boston Globe, NY Times, Christian Science Monitor, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. I can honestly say that I don't read any of these newspapers on a regular basis. Growing up in the Boston area our family had a daily subscription to The Boston Globe and from time to time I would glance at it. I do read a local newspaper published in Addision County which comes free in the mail weekly, The Addison Independent. It's an interesting paper and I wouldn't say I agree with the politics that are often evident in the Editorial section, however, it does allow my to stay in touch with area events and provide some perspective of the many views and opinions of others who live around me.