Is the Web killing print? Its the Redundacy, Stupid says John C Dvorak
John C Dvorak of PCMag.com has an interesting view why print media dying.
Two reasons. Print printing news that can be found on the web and the publishers are not paying good money for good writers and editors.
Where do these writers and editor go for more money? Public Relations!
Wrote John,
I think much of the problem stems from what I’ve been harping on for years: redundancy. Simply put, there are too many newspapers selling the exact same news. And because the owners of these papers do not understand the fact that the public hungers for original material, different from all the rehashed AP stories, papers will continue to slide.
I can assure you that if you plot the amount of money paid out to writers against salaries paid to executives at the same companies, the writers get the short end of the stick. Today a competent newspaper reporter could easily make twice as much money if he or she was in PR. What does that tell you about priorities?
Generally speaking, when there are layoffs at a newspaper, first the support staff goes; then the reporters, along with a few editors. This cheapens the product; and the public senses the cheapness and rejects it. The paper’s income is further reduced, resulting in a downward spiral of quality.
!!!! And we kept blaming the web!!!!
“Why do these writers and editor go for more money? Public Relations!”
I think you meant “where” instead of “why”…
In the local context, the print media works towards a different agenda. They are into nation-building. Of course, there are signs that even the local print news media is suffering. People are not buying the newspaper much, so they give out free newspapers to continue with the nation building efforts.