On 6/4/2013 8:49 PM, Paul Stenquist wrote:
You would have a point if they were currently relying on experienced photographers, but
for years most newspapers have turned to low-buck freelancers and penny stock. At least
the reporters will be connected to their stories. They're hardly "instagram
ingenues."
If they're currently, and have been for some time, relying on low-buck
freelancers and penny stock and their newsstand sales and subscription
rates are still flat or falling -- well, that sort of speaks for itself,
doesn't it?
I'm a writer who shoots his own photos much of the time. Does that make me a
"schlub?" Or does that only apply to those other writers?
How long have you been taking photos and writing compared to the
phalanx of schlubs who've been issued iPhones since the photographers
were cut loose? Don't you think you're the exception that proves the
rule here?
Newspaper circulation is flat in many venues and increasing in others. Ad revenue is down
in part because the supposed marketing experts have convince many advertisers that social
media will be their salvation, and in part because of the recession. What's "the
model" on which the industry is supposedly placing the blame? Your analysis doesn't
make sense.
How many venues can claim an increase in circulation compared to those
that have declined? Are there more newspapers in existence today than
there were, say, five years ago? I doubt it. Apparently, the industry
has shrunk by about 40% over the past ten years, and a modest growth in
revenues at a handful of the nation's largest papers does precious
little to offset that. And what revenue gains have been made are largely
attributable to e-commerce and consulting fees.
Based on the actions of the Sun-Times, "the model" that's to blame is
apparently the one where talent was hired and cultivated, and content
generated, in-house -- hopefully better than that of the competition.
The recent uptick in revenues appears to be the result of just about
everything but putting out a better newspaper, and the bulk of that
uptick has been experienced by just a handful of publications, nearly
all of whom have generated it largely by way of pay-walls for online
content. At present, the newspaper industry's only saving grace is the
fact that the decline has slowed -- and that's up against expectations
that they'll continue to decline at a fairly steady rate for the
foreseeable future.
Maybe the Sun-Times is at the vanguard in canning all its photographers
and doling out iPhones to reporters. Maybe they'll prove to be the way
forward. Maybe getting rid of John White is the ticket to catching up to
and passing the Trib.
I'm skeptical.
-- Walt
Paul
--
PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List
PDML@pdml.net
http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow
the directions.
