The Death of Print Media

Janz

Janz

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Rocky Mountain News publishes final edition

I have been in mourning all weekend with the demise of the publication of the Rocky Mountain News (founded on April 23, 1859, Denver, Colorado). Under the leadership of president, publisher and editor John Temple, the Rocky Mountain News won four Pulitzer Prices since 2000.

Local newspapers are closing all over the country and maybe, I am an old fogey; but there is nothing like reading a printed page with a cuppa coffee every morning. Yes, I like finding news stories online; but it just isn't the same.

I majored in Journalism in college way back in the dark ages and now that major has been replaced by "Communications."

Please a moment of silence in memory of all print media, an endangered species.

Thanks,
~~Jan
 
I used to feel the same way.

Earlier in my career I wanted to work in the newspaper business. I'm now happy that door didn't open for me.

But today I get far more information from the internet than I do newspapers. While we still subscribe to the San Francisco Chronicle (also in financial straits) and a local daily, I won't mourn if they go the way of the dinosaur.

It really is a major use of resources to put into print what today can be transmitted electronically.
 
Paladin said:
Jan,

I felt the same way when the Colorado Springs Sun went under.
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Me, too. Luckily, The Independent is still going strong as the only locally owned (weekly) newspaper. I know The Gazette is having it's financial problems but the only reason we still receive it is my hubby has to have his daily comic fix. :p
 
citizenzen said:
It really is a major use of resources to put into print what today can be transmitted electronically.
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I often wonder if the "electronic media" is any less of a drain on resources, given the vasts amounts of electrical power that must go into creating computers and other "information technology" infrastructures, and of course in running and maintaining computers and their networks.

Personally, I prefer the soothing quality of sitting with a book in a comfy chair or on the couch to the punishment that my eyes, neck, and back receive when I sit staring and straining at this computer screen.
 
As a typographer, may I point out that by losing the printed word to the digital image, we have lost not only an industry but an art form?

And re the above comments, paper resources are one of the best-managed resources on the planet, so that the paper industry, in Europe at least, is sustainable for the forseeable future, whilst continuing to play its part in the wider ecological balance.

Computers, on the other hand, are dreadfully wasteful ... what is there to recycle?

If two Google searches are the equivalent to boiling a kettle of water — a much repeated fact in these parts — then the carbon footprint of the electronic office is way, way greater than a paper-driven office.

And Microsoft researches have shown that the electronic office generates 5 times the amount of paper than the traditional paper office.

The web will replace paper as a resource for information ... but when it comes to a good read, there's nothing like a good book.

Thomas
 
Thomas said:
As a typographer, may I point out that by losing the printed word to the digital image, we have lost not only an industry but an art form?
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While I won't disagree, history is a chronicle of lost and forgotten art forms. It's just felt more keenly when the we are the artist and our talents are no longer in demand.

And regarding a computer's energy/resource footprint. I've read similar things that point out computers are by no means environmentally friendly,and I harbor no illusions to the contrary. But I will point out that my computer is my television, stereo, at-home workstation, rec center and soon-to-be newspaper. The resources that it does use need to be weighed against the multiple functions that it performs.

I do look forward to more information on this matter.
 
citizenzen said:
The resources that it does use need to be weighed against the multiple functions that it performs.
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OK. But those resources are still (short of a nuclear power programme) unsustainable, whereas paper is sustainable.

We look at aeroplanes and industry as the big producers of naughty stuff ... but the modern family, with central heating, lighting, levels of luxury required as a minimum, cars, PCs, and entertainment systems, a disposable consumerist culture ... the individual footprint must be quite impressive?

As a 50-year-old, I am staggered at the amount of 'luxury' which we consider a basic necessity, which was not available when I was young. Blimey! we used to keep the milk, butter and cheese on a marble slab in my bedroom (no fridge) cos it was the coldest in the house ... and consider the amount of materials used in a standard Ford, compared to a Model-T, or a post-war automobile.

Thomas
 
citizenzen said:
While I won't disagree, history is a chronicle of lost and forgotten art forms. It's just felt more keenly when the we are the artist and our talents are no longer in demand.
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Have to agree with this bit ... so many skills gone.

I used to drive old classic cars, and a favourite was the Daimler 2.5 V8. I took it in to a specialist once, and one of the mechanics walked out. "See your grille? They're hand finished. My old gaffer could tell you who made it, just by looking at one... "

Ah, they don't make 'em like that any more.

Thomas
 
Thomas said:
Blimey! we used to keep the milk, butter and cheese on a marble slab in my bedroom (no fridge) cos it was the coldest in the house ...
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House!? Luxury! We used to dream of living in a house; we lived in a hole in the road with a piece of tarpaulin over us...

s.
 
Newspapers: Yesterday's news, today!

It's sad, but really it's just commercial evolution in motion - a lot of publishers have treated the internet as something to avoid (my local still isn't available online) and where online editions have been set up, they have been done so poorly.

I think newspapers will continue to exist, but they will constantly need to look to developing a strong internet presence, and treat the internet side of business as a business.

Print media isn't going to die anytime soon, but there are a lot of sick businesses that are being culled in this recession.
 
Thomas said:
OK. But those resources are still (short of a nuclear power programme) unsustainable, whereas paper is sustainable.
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I'm not sure which resources you mean.

But I'm not disagreeing here either. I'd love to see a carbon-footprint comparison of one home delivered newspaper vs. one-half hour of internet browsing.

I'd happily continue my subscriptions to help save the world. :p
 
Snoopy said:
...and after all, who'd want to curl up in bed with a good laptop?????

s.
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Pathless said:
Personally, I prefer the soothing quality of sitting with a book in a comfy chair or on the couch to the punishment that my eyes, neck, and back receive when I sit staring and straining at this computer screen.
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There are great strides being made in the electronic industry to duplicate the book and newspaper without the book or newspaper. They will be electronic yet have the feel of holding a book or newspaper and have hundreds of newspapers and or books in one device and eventually access to the entire net. So you will be able to get yesterday's news, today.

as to the energy use and two goole searches, I highly doubt it. Look at distribution of newspapers to our doorstep...I'd have to think what we are heading towards is more efficient...and yes we do still create a lot of paper but are finally making strides moving in the other direction.

lastly, industries die, get over it. The scribes were thoruoghly pissed at Gutenberg. The and think of couriers, to pony express, to mail service to telegrams, to telephones, to texting to emails...and guess what we still have?? Couriers! If there is a need and a reason it will stay...otherwise you'll have to join some typesetters reanacter group and get out your muskets, dutch ovens, canvas tents and quill pens...
 
Pathless said:
I often wonder if the "electronic media" is any less of a drain on resources, given the vasts amounts of electrical power that must go into creating computers and other "information technology" infrastructures, and of course in running and maintaining computers and their networks.

Personally, I prefer the soothing quality of sitting with a book in a comfy chair or on the couch to the punishment that my eyes, neck, and back receive when I sit staring and straining at this computer screen.
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You can drop a newspaper and it won't break, but if you drop a laptop, it'll blow up with a SNAP, WHIFF, ZAP and a BANG and you won't be able to read your news anymore. Even worse, all your accounting records, the book you were writing are gone. So much for unbreakable news. Goodbye to all that. Tear up a newspaper, smash it with an axe, bend it, stretch it, scrunch it up or soak it in water and you can still see the words. The newspaper is more durable and reliable.:D

Thomas said:
As a 50-year-old, I am staggered at the amount of 'luxury' which we consider a basic necessity, which was not available when I was young. Blimey! we used to keep the milk, butter and cheese on a marble slab in my bedroom (no fridge) cos it was the coldest in the house ... and consider the amount of materials used in a standard Ford, compared to a Model-T, or a post-war automobile.
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It's not because we need it to survive, it's because we need it to compete. It's what I call capitalism. A typewriter doesn't use any more power than the biochemistry in your brain and fingers, but it can't compete against the modern computer and printer. You can edit your thesis a thousand times and not have to waste another 999 sheets of paper, scrunching it up when you're not happy and throwing it in the bin.

Rip, rip, wood-chip turn it into paper, throw it in the bin, no news today!

Kiss goodbye to the typewriter you don't need anymore, the one that made you feel like a miserable failure because you made so many mistakes while typing. It's time to stop feeling so stupid, guilty and ashamed. The computer has come to restore your dignity and self-respect.

Pardon me for sounding like a salesperson, but if you do the hokey-pokey, that's what it's all about. The salesperson makes a business out of providing you with a computer, but in the meantime, you stay in business because you save hours and hours of work and consequently find more opportunities to make the money you want.
 
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