Welcome to TBO.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pasco News

Suncoast Pasco > News

The future of the press

THE SUNCOAST NEWS

Published: December 13, 2008

Newspapers are in trouble. The fact of the situation remains that in the 21st century, newspapers have become irrelevant in reporting breaking news that occurs. Our culture is one of instant gratification. We do not want to wait and with so much information at our fingertips, newspapers have become very archaic creatures in the world of media.

This fact became ever so clear again when news surfaced - ironically on the Internet - that the Tribune Co. in Chicago was going into bankruptcy. It seems that the mighty New York Times may be next, as well. The Times Co. is apparently $400 million in debt, even borrowing up to $225 million against its mid-Manhattan headquarters to stay in business in 2008. Some say the age of newspapers is slowly coming to an end.

Some could care less, but I love reading the newspaper, I can honestly say though that I am not in the majority within my generation which would rather pull up a Web page than flip open a paper in the morning. If you do not prefer the Internet, cable news has provided nonstop coverage of daily national news.

I do believe the era of "national" newspapers may be coming to an end, but newspapers serve such a greater purpose than just being national news organizations. Companies have overextended like the New York Times, and their marketing strategy is a pre-Internet creation. But newspapers serve the local interest, and that has been their main purpose since day one. Ever since the creation of the printing press, it has been local news that has driven sales of newspapers on a day in and day out basis.

This is why I am proud to be a part of a newspaper like The Suncoast News which serves the community it lives in. I believe papers that do serve the local interests first will be successful in the future. If you want to know what is going on in your community, on your roads, and in your schools, the best coverage of your hometown continues to be your hometown paper. This is where you learn what is going on with events that immediately affect you. It is time for newspapers to evolve, but also get back to the basics and serve the local people.

Share this:

* To:
Your Name:
Your Email Address:
Personal Message [optional]: