This Is Why Newspapers Will Fail

As we've seen a whole pissload of times, that doesn't matter anymore.

 

Somebody buy Reporter 2 a drink on me.

 

Seriously. It doesn't matter who you are or what you've accomplished. If you are in the wrong job at the wrong time, you're screwed.

 

But remember, the publisher makes the most money because it's important to attract the best people possible to that position.

 

That's exactly what my wife said, or thereabouts.

"Pete, you hated your last boss and since we moved here all you've been saying is how the newspaper industry is dying and you need to get out. You're never going to leave on your own because you love writing and reporting too much; you need to be pushed out. So, consider this your push."

Those were her exact words. The more I hear them in my head and type them on here, she's right.

 

And then there's this: http://rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/feb/26/rocky-mountain-news-closes-friday-final-edition/

 

Not that newspapers aren't failing. But if stupid publishers were the reason, we'd have been out of business long ago.

 

Damn. I am speechless.

 

If only.

 

I don't even ask who will do it. If an editor or publisher doesn't think it's important to find out who blogs or shoots video, I'm not going to worry about who does it.

 

I've thought about that quite a bit myself lately.

 

Sounds like I've worked for that publisher in all of my previous jobs.

These are the same people that want to cut, cut, cut and raise the price of a dumbed-down product. Then they wonder why circulation fell - again.

I feel like I'm in a bad Twilight Zone episode. The people making the decisions that will determine the future of our jobs and industry are so disconnected it's absolutely disgusting.

How about instead of more layoffs, unpaid time off and travel cuts for the worker bees, let's make the CEOs, board members, publishers, suits, etc., start forfeiting their bonuses to help cover the "losses" from planned profit-margin deficits? No more country clubs or other perks either.