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Overhype

by Mike Masnick

Tue, Jun 2nd 2009 8:16pm




Filed Under:
failing, journalism, newspapers, thriving

Companies:
associated press, naa


Wait, Is The Newspaper Business Thriving Or Falling Apart?

from the depends-on-who-you-talk-to-apparently dept

It would appear that the folks in the newspaper business don't quite have their talking points set. Yesterday, we showed the letter from the Newspaper Association of America all about how the newspaper business was supposedly thriving despite what you may have heard. But clearly, not everyone in the industry agrees. A whole bunch of folks have sent in the Ars Technica article about the AP's supposed plans to go after sites that copy their articles, but we'd avoided posting it -- because there really weren't many new details beyond what they'd said before. However, reader Mark pointed to a rather interesting (and surprisingly honest) quote from the AP about why it wants to crack down on sites reposting some of its content:
"We need the money. The industry is falling apart."
So, on the same day, the NAA claims that the newspaper industry is thriving and profitable... and the AP insists its running out of money and the industry is collapsing. It would be great if, I dunno, one of these reporters could maybe dig into the actual numbers to figure out what's actually happening. Or is that not what the press does?

11 Comments | Leave a Comment

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  1.  
    identicon
    Dave Barnes, Jun 2nd, 2009 @ 8:24pm

    There are 3 kinds of newspapers (in the USA)

    1. Newspapers with zero debt. Doing OK. Not great. Will be here after all the dust settles. Have the financial strength to experiment or not. Most hyper-local papers fall into this category.

    2. Newspapers with lots of debt.
    a. Those that have declared bankruptcy to screw their creditors. cf. Tribune
    b. Those that will declare BK to fuck their creditors. cf. MediaNews
    Whether these papers are making money or nor is irrelevant. They cannot produce enough cash flow to make the debt payments. Therefore, BK is the only way out.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jun 2nd, 2009 @ 8:54pm

    Ap and newspapers are often two ends of the stick, they rarely agree.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  
    identicon
    Brendy, Jun 2nd, 2009 @ 10:45pm

    They have news on paper now?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  
    identicon
    Chunky Vomit, Jun 2nd, 2009 @ 11:45pm

    Re: moral values

    What?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  
    identicon
    Fungo Knubb, Jun 3rd, 2009 @ 5:49am

    Huh?

    "...Or is that not what the press does?"

    Nope, they haven't objectively researched anything in years. What they do is to fabricate stories, or intentionally ommit real stories, based upon their far left political leanings. Why do you think they're disappearing? ... people have started to figure it out.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  
    identicon
    giafly, Jun 3rd, 2009 @ 6:08am

    @Fungo Knubb. Research??? Pot meet kettle, Mr "I haven't paid for a newspaper, or news magazine for the last ten years or so."
    http://ww.techdirt.com/articles/20090324/1631534240.shtml

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  
    icon
    minijedimaster (profile), Jun 3rd, 2009 @ 6:40am

    Re: There are 3 kinds of newspapers (in the USA)

    Therefore, BK is the only way out.

    Why would Burger King be the only way out? Is it because they can have it their way?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  
    icon
    minijedimaster (profile), Jun 3rd, 2009 @ 6:44am

    Re:

    You don't have to buy a newspaper or magazine to know how corrupt and biased they are you asshat. I applaud him for not buying any in the last ten years, they don't deserve one red cent.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  
    identicon
    Michael, Jun 3rd, 2009 @ 7:00am

    So you take your laptop into the john to do the crossword ... grab a coffee, sit on the deck and read your computer ... geez, I'm getting old!

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  10.  
    icon
    ChurchHatesTucker (profile), Jun 3rd, 2009 @ 8:56am

    Re:

    "So you take your laptop into the john to do the crossword ... grab a coffee, sit on the deck and read your computer ... geez, I'm getting old!"

    Why would I grab the laptop? I use the iPhone for that.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  11.  
    identicon
    schleifnet, Jun 3rd, 2009 @ 10:23am

    ap is failing, some newspapers are failing

    newspapers are going through a contraction right now, local dailies in medium and small markets are mutating and are going to thrive in the years to come (see the times picayune/nola.com, recently found to have 85% of all adults in its market to read it online and in print, http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003979150 ) but those in over crowded markets that have to directly compete on a national and local scale with other outlets are going to get screwed big time... also AP is screwed right now. They overcharge member papers for content, provide substandard content at times and will be competing with the new CNNwire very soon (which will be cheaper, if not free and more unbiased) in addition to the current competetion with reuters and others

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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