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Started By
Message
Is the Decline of Newspapers Bad for the Country?
Posted on 4/24/19 at 9:40 am
Posted on 4/24/19 at 9:40 am
Major newspapers are dying. Many daily newspapers are going to 3x a week publication. In 2000, the Cleveland Plain Dealer had a staff of nearly 400. Now it's 33. Newspapers in mid-sized cities like Charlotte, Memphis, Denver and San Jose have seen a 90 percent reduction in staff. 1800 newspapers have closed since 2004.
Interestingly, nearly 75% of Americans have lost trust in the media but nearly the same number believe that their local media is financially healthy.
I'm not worried about the journalists themselves. Many of them have found work elsewhere and continue to spew their garbage. However, I have noticed a disturbing trend since the decline of newspapers.
Without a watchdog reporting, local municipalities have gone off the deep end with debt. My local government has been making some really bad moves that will cripple us, and nothing but a handful of citizens that the government has successfully branded as kooky on social media seem to care. Statewide, its just as bad. Only a couple of newspapers in Mississippi have a full time reporter covering what is going on in Jackson - and it's bad.
With the decline of local newspapers, voters turn to national media, and we know what is wrong there. In 1972, over half of voters voted a split ticket (that is, voted one party for Congress and another for President) In 2016, that number was less than 5 percent.
Interestingly, nearly 75% of Americans have lost trust in the media but nearly the same number believe that their local media is financially healthy.
I'm not worried about the journalists themselves. Many of them have found work elsewhere and continue to spew their garbage. However, I have noticed a disturbing trend since the decline of newspapers.
Without a watchdog reporting, local municipalities have gone off the deep end with debt. My local government has been making some really bad moves that will cripple us, and nothing but a handful of citizens that the government has successfully branded as kooky on social media seem to care. Statewide, its just as bad. Only a couple of newspapers in Mississippi have a full time reporter covering what is going on in Jackson - and it's bad.
With the decline of local newspapers, voters turn to national media, and we know what is wrong there. In 1972, over half of voters voted a split ticket (that is, voted one party for Congress and another for President) In 2016, that number was less than 5 percent.
Posted on 4/24/19 at 9:42 am to anc
I certainly think the click based t style of journalism that's dominating is bad for the country
Posted on 4/24/19 at 9:42 am to anc
It's certainly bad for any fool who goes to college majoring in journalism.
The Daily Iberian in 1960 was was much larger than the Shreveport Times is today.
The Daily Iberian in 1960 was was much larger than the Shreveport Times is today.
Posted on 4/24/19 at 9:44 am to anc
When the car was invented and refined; wagons makers, buggy makers and saddle makers saw a decline of sales.
A better mousetrap was built....
A better mousetrap was built....
Posted on 4/24/19 at 9:45 am to anc
Depends on how many people have bird cages.
Posted on 4/24/19 at 9:45 am to RogerTheShrubber
quote:
I certainly think the click based t style of journalism that's dominating is bad for the country
It's actually more democratic, but yeah, clickbait news is now dominating more in-depth reporting. Formerly, for better or worse, journalists chose which stories were front page news. Now, we do.
Posted on 4/24/19 at 9:47 am to anc
Yes, because idiots can't post comments to actual newspaper articles like they can on the internet.
Posted on 4/24/19 at 9:47 am to anc
No, it's the decline of honest journalism that is bad for the country.
Posted on 4/24/19 at 9:50 am to Tchefuncte Tiger
quote:
Yes, because idiots can't post comments to actual newspaper articles like they can on the internet.
The Shreveport Times printed call-in comments 'Tell the Times' for a little while in the 80s. It was great. My favorite:
'I don't want to alarm the people of Shreveport but I was crossing the Red River Bridge near Barksdale AFB and I saw a periscope sticking out of the water.
And I heard German voices.'
Posted on 4/24/19 at 9:51 am to oogabooga68
quote:
No, it's the decline of honest journalism that is bad for the country.
On the national level that's absolutely true. But that's a slightly different topic.
On the local level the newspapers didn't get destroyed because of a lack of credibility, they are getting destroyed because of a lack of money as the press changes and becomes more nationalized. There is no money in local journalism and it's allowing local governments to go completely unaccountable as no one is paying attention.
Posted on 4/24/19 at 9:52 am to Zach
quote:
'I don't want to alarm the people of Shreveport but I was crossing the Red River Bridge near Barksdale AFB and I saw a periscope sticking out of the water.
And I heard German voices.'
Posted on 4/24/19 at 9:55 am to anc
I hope good investigative newspapers come back strong one day. So yes.
Posted on 4/24/19 at 9:55 am to anc
The crazy ways the news is reported is what's killing it off. I think people are tired of agendas being injected into literally every news story.
Posted on 4/24/19 at 9:57 am to Zach
quote:
The Daily Iberian in 1960 was was much larger than the Shreveport Times is today.
Our local newspaper has not only decreased the amount of ink it spends on actual news items, it's about half advertising now, the size of the paper used has shrunk considerably.
Posted on 4/24/19 at 9:57 am to anc
Why stop at newspapers? Print media is a niche, not an industry.
Posted on 4/24/19 at 9:57 am to anc
Yes, it is bad, locally at least. We need the newspapers for the crawfish boils.
Posted on 4/24/19 at 10:03 am to anc
No, we actually need to hasten the decline of newspapers, circulars, magazines, and broadcast news outlets. Their "credibility" was purely a facade. So long as we work hard to protect the First Amendment online (regulations with teeth and a pro-First Amendment USSC), the truth will out.
We are on the cusp of talking about ideas again, instead of policy or gossip - the go-to bread and circuses of the establishment. Do you think it's mere coincidence that civil libertarianism and progressive socialism have exploded in popularity online?
Social media will be the instrument that fractures traditional voting blocks and upturn the political hierarchy. People are finding words to describe their desires for a new world, words that had previously been verboten - locked away by the media, by academia, by corporations. People fear this change because extremists on both sides are the first and loudest voices, but good ideas will defeat bad ideas as long as capable men and women have the courage to see them through.
We are on the cusp of talking about ideas again, instead of policy or gossip - the go-to bread and circuses of the establishment. Do you think it's mere coincidence that civil libertarianism and progressive socialism have exploded in popularity online?
Social media will be the instrument that fractures traditional voting blocks and upturn the political hierarchy. People are finding words to describe their desires for a new world, words that had previously been verboten - locked away by the media, by academia, by corporations. People fear this change because extremists on both sides are the first and loudest voices, but good ideas will defeat bad ideas as long as capable men and women have the courage to see them through.
Posted on 4/24/19 at 10:03 am to anc
It's all about coding now
And with the fast pace of news changing day to day and hour to hour in some cases, 3x a week won't cut it. You'll be getting 2 day old news
And with the fast pace of news changing day to day and hour to hour in some cases, 3x a week won't cut it. You'll be getting 2 day old news
Posted on 4/24/19 at 10:05 am to NewbombII
quote:
When the car was invented and refined; wagons makers, buggy makers and saddle makers saw a decline of sales.
A better mousetrap was built....
But better for what? Modern media is certainly more efficient. The volume of information has increased with a lower cost.
But that does not mean better quality reporting. This is especially true at the local level as the OP notes. Some of this is made up by the internet. There is just so much more government information available online now. But really isn't enough by itself to tell you what is going on.
Posted on 4/24/19 at 10:08 am to Homesick Tiger
quote:
Depends on how many people have bird cages.
Or housebreaking a puppy
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