Fitch Ratings: 'Several cities' could have no daily paper as soon as 2010

Newspapers still have a market. Newspapers are run by complete and utter morons. Thus the business is doomed. Will other newspapers emerge? Doubtful. It takes a lot to pay for a printing press and the delivery machine.

 

I think smaller communities are going to fare pretty well. They seem to be riding the storm very well. I can't think of one major metropolis that won't have a daily publication. I definitely can see overlapping markets combining their talents with smaller publications.

 

But the smallish metropolises are screwed?

(Or would that be metropoli?)

 

Call me stupid or an eternal optimist, but there's one aspect of the electronic future I've never quite been able to grasp.

Look through today's newspaper and count how many locally produced ads there are. So, when Nowheresville loses its daily, how does Sam's Discount House of Futons get out the word that it's got a two-day sale that starts today? I just don't see your typical retired couple in their 60s logging onto their computer twice a day to see if anyone sent them an e-mail advertising buy-one, get-one-free cantaloupes at the market down the street.

 

I think a paper will go with a free throw and drop its circulation department before closing up shop.

Save a ton of costs and maybe even bust a union or two...

 

Well, today's 20- and 30-somethings are going to be that retired couple in their 60s. They've grown up with the Internet. They've never subscribed to a newspaper.

They will be definitely be logging on to ... something ... to get their advertising and coupons.