The New York Times: 'Newspaper chain hires adviser as it weighs restructuring'
Forbes: 'Buyer beware'
Editor & Publisher: Journal Register stock plummets on bankruptcy report
Journal Register Co. press release
*******Forbes: 'Buyer beware'
Editor & Publisher: Journal Register stock plummets on bankruptcy report
Journal Register Co. press release
The fundamental problem, beyond particular business choices made by past JRC executives, is that the newspaper industry is taking it on the chin. We have fewer readers, except online, and sinking revenues.
What strikes me whenever I read about the industry's difficulties in depth is that journalism increasingly can't pay for itself because online ad sales don't bring in the kind of money needed to keep news organizations afloat. It's not a problem particular to the JRC. It's a systemic crisis that is threatening to undermine the flow of information in America, which cannot be good for democracy.
I have no idea what the long-term answer will be. But I worry that as business and government begin to control ever more of what people hear and see - because the press is dwindling away -- citizens will lose their ability to make informed choices.
What strikes me whenever I read about the industry's difficulties in depth is that journalism increasingly can't pay for itself because online ad sales don't bring in the kind of money needed to keep news organizations afloat. It's not a problem particular to the JRC. It's a systemic crisis that is threatening to undermine the flow of information in America, which cannot be good for democracy.
I have no idea what the long-term answer will be. But I worry that as business and government begin to control ever more of what people hear and see - because the press is dwindling away -- citizens will lose their ability to make informed choices.
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
16 comments:
I'm sure some jerk will write to say good riddance! I feel sad seeing this news. I don't know Steve or anyone at the newspaper except through their work. I think I'm privileged to be a reader and I hope that nothing happens that would close the paper or send Steve looking for a new job (though I am sure he would find a better one!). I also agree with Steve that America -- or Bristol -- without newspapers would be an impoverished place.
Hello Steve ;
I began w/ the Bristol Press when delivering the paper @ 42 cents per week .
I have continued daily receipt of the press to this day .
The most dramatic change I noticed in my nearly 50 year experience reading the press is the change from a 'NEWS'paper to an 'OPINION'paper .
This phenomenom is NOT limited to the press , but , to the public media at large .
Perhaps this is a contributing factor to it's steady decline .
I can see the same problem with televised 'news' . When you have a national news anchor fabricate a story in a vain attempt to sway a presidential election , people notice .
I don't think there's any doubt that some nationally oriented news media - from Newsweek to Fox News - are pretty openly opinionated. Their idea is that analysis is a key element to the news. I guess I can see the point.
But I do have to say, having made it a point to go back and read many thousands of old Press stories over the years, that I don't see any drift into more opinion in the Press. If anything, it has fewer agendas to push nowadays, since there aren't newspaper executives involved in the school board, economic development efforts and the like. Nobody's got an agenda except to try to get as much news as we can with limited staff.
There's too much scrambling to stand back and try to make sense of it all or to try to shove a particular policy onto the front burner.
This doesn't surprise me. With the internet, I believe the daily printed news is doomed.
I doubt the Hartford Courant is shedding any tears. Now the most liberal paper in Connecticut will be a monopoly.
I enjoy reading the Bristol Press almost everyday...online. Its not that I have anything against print news or receiving a paper, it is simply easier and more convienent. For people in their 20's and early 30's ingesting their news (and many more pieces of information)via the Internet is the norm and acceptible, and this will only become more pervasive as time goes on. I would hate to see the Bristol Press disappear, but I feel the news industry in general must learn from the errors of the movie and music industry. Do not "stay the course" and try to continue solely in print. I feel it is time that other alternatives are sought and quickly. There are many online publications that find more than enough money to keep themselves afloat. I'm not saying the Internet is the only way to go, but I agree when people say that printed newspapers and magazines have seen their hayday and are heading into the sunset. I only hope the Press's parent company realizes this quickly and implements a plan to avoid having to close down completely. As for Steve, this blog proves he is not blind to what the future holds. I'm sure he would fair well no matter where he landed.
Quite possibly the eight years of failing to report news during the clinton travisty has shown the public that convential news media isn't to be trusted .
In fact , not only did they fail to report the clinton travisty , the clintons were praised for their horrendous activities that have left this nation in the dire straits it is today .
2:45, you seriously need to get over the Clinton thing...and it's travesty not travisty
I think he knows for sure that a fair number (though most assuredly not all) of the readers are:
-- idiots
-- lousy at spelling
-- products of Bristol schools
-- lacking a sense of humor
-- all of the above
(Yawn) Naysayers on here too. Getting old!
I would take issue with the "products of Bristol schools" comment, but it's not worth the time. I can only say that many members of my graduating class (as well as graduates of Bristol Eastern) have gone on to do great things in society.
It's interesting that we talk about news organizations with an "agenda;" if you talk about news of the past, you'll find writing about a press that had a gentleman's agreement not to photograph FDR in his wheelchair, or to talk about JFK's affairs, or Mickey Mantle's late nights, or any other number of transgressions. We wonder why the press refused to report on those issues, and now we accuse it of relying too much on opinion, and not enough on straight reporting. There aren't any more problems with the news media than there were in the 40s and 50s, just different practices for different times. Maybe that changed in Vietnam, maybe it was Nixon, I'm not sure...
As I said, it's an interesting and sobering phenomenon. We can only hope that that newspapers have a recovery, because they do hold an important place in a free democractic society. There are some fine reporters on the Press, especially people like Steve, and I only hope they can continue to bring us the news for years to come.
April 9, 2008 10:36 AM
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There seems to be hope for the media outlets .
Although it may be 20 years late , reports are surfacing that mrs. clinton is NOT capable of speaking truth .
That is a fact known by the readers and watchers for at least 20 years , but , I guess better late than never will be tested .
Could this be the end of "The Official News Paper of Art Ward"?
I wouldn't say good riddance but they only express and push their issues and opinions as they see it . Guess what? They are not always right and they are just people. But some think they run the country , it's their ink !
Outside of Steve Collins and Jackie Majerus, the Bristol Press is terrible. Amy Talit is a mouthpiece for the police, incapable of objectivity. The sports section is horribly written and edited. It is so sad. The paper should cease operations immediately, it's really just a joke in comparison to the old days.
Although I find their reporting, and my personal interaction and intercourcing with Steve Collins and Jackie Majerus interesting, I would hardly call their work outstanding.
They will be missed however if the paper goes. I think something will fill the void. Perhaps the Warterbury Republican? That would be grand!! Can we expedite this process?
Amy Talit is right at home reporting on police and court matters. With her own lengthy criminal history and small claims court experience being sued a dozen times. It's no wonder she spends so much time reporting on such matters.
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