Indiana

Black, White and Not Read All Over

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

If  anyone doesn’t think life is tough in the newspaper world is tough, go talk to the more than three dozen people laid off this week at the Indianapolis Star.

The Star is a victim of a number of factors, but I’ve always wondered in the 21st Century is there still a need for a daily printed edition of a newspaper?  Most content can be delivered on-line to your computer, laptop or cell phone.  It’s much cheaper to push “send”  than to run a printing press.

Some papers have already cutback daily circulation.  And the weekly model does work, just ask NUVO, the Indianapolis Business Journal or Politico.  And at the same time while newspapers can change delivery methods, with the savings they hire more reporters and focus on developing stronger content.

The old news cycle used to be you heard the news on the radio, watched it on television that night and read about it in the paper the next day.  By the time the news is printed in the paper, it’s old.  I would use my newspaper for more analytical pieces rather that straight reporting, while my website would keep readers updated on daily news.

Of course the trick in all this is to make money.  It can be done, but it requires strong content and more efficient delivery mechanisms full integration of all media tools and some smart, visionary leadership.

Now all I need is a few million bucks to get started.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on July 10, 2009 (boomark / email).