Google CEO: I Wish We Could Rescue Newspapers

It's nice to know he's at least thinking it as Google gobbles up all of the advertising dollars.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/07/technology/lashinsky_google.fortune/index.htm

 

"We also can't materially change the way consumers behave ... "

Yes, you can. Google's success is based on changing the way customers behave.

 

Aww, he does care. In a very, detached, bottom-line seeking, casual way.

 

I can't imagine it'd be that difficult to force Google and similar outfits to cough up some money for the right to slap a paper's news content up in its 'Google News' section. Not if the sizeable papers and wire services demanded it. They're making money by reappropriating someone else's content. No reason they shouldn't pony up some cash in kind for it, the same as papers around the country pay to run AP copy.

But apparently that's not a good direction to take the business.

Instead, focus on amping up "reader comments" and BLOGS!

Because that's a better way to make money online.

Really.

 

He's a successful executive with a very technical background, but he is no more qualified to talk about newspapers than Sam Zell was before he bought Tribune.

 

I did think it was interesting that he said the articles sent readers to the newspaper, which they could then "monetize." But eyeballs doen't equal dollars, which is the whole problem. And I hate the word monetize anyway. Harumph.

 

Or, really, since he bought Tribune.

 

It's not his fault newspapers chose to give their product away for free online.

 

Oh, please - the last bastion of a bitter newspaper person is the "giving it away for free online" line. Anyway, check this out: http://www.yelvington.com/node/520

Also, how the Internet is not killing newspapers: http://www.yelvington.com/node/525

And take your site off Google, and watch the web hits decrease.

This is actually a pretty interesting Q&A. Schmidt says: "The good news is we could purchase them. We have the cash. But I don't think our purchasing a newspaper would solve the business problems. It would help solidify the ownership structure, but it doesn't solve the underlying problem in the business."

Basically, don't expect us to bail out the current poor management.