Is there any hope for young journalists?

But would it work in a town with one newspaper that doesn't lose $60 million in one year and have a JOA with a cutthroat competitor?

 

Will what work?

Will those new technologies "save" us? Of course not. Only an idiot -- and corporate blowhards are those -- would believe that or try to convince coworkers of that.

That said, there is value in those innovations. There is always value in innovation. Don't believe those who tell you different.

 

No, because it'll still be a newspaper losing more money than not making as much money as the shareholders like, and the publisher will have to "do what's necessary to bring expenses more in line with revenues."

I also reference Pete Incaviglia's story about the publisher not knowing who he's laid off, as the publishers just whack the shortest and longest-tenured employees (And then work inward in each direction) without regard to what they do for the paper.

 

Bang on. They aren't losing REAL money. They are losing "projected money" — fake money; money that doesn't exist.

They are making money, just not enough money.

 

Word for frackin' word. And at some places in some ownership groups, it's been this way for a few years.

As for technology, it now is a way for individuals to hold onto their jobs for a little longer. A designer who becomes a videographer, a reporter who shows a talent for design or the desk, etc.

I'm not sure any profession, in or out of journalism, is safe. Except maybe robber-baron.

 

That article more or less nailed it: You need to either convince people to pay for subscriptions, buy via micropayments, or make enough ad revenue to support the content.

These are problems that have faced almost every internet-based company since the dot-com bust began, and few if any of them have found solutions. News organizations won't either.