Newspapers are dead!

Everyone that is thinking clear, knows the printed press will disappear. Investors take out their money and readers get rid of their over-priced subscription.

Newspapers seem to work in an old fashion way. They employ 200 journalists, working day and night, but in the end producing less than a well organized web news organisation with 20 people.

How come? Because of efficiency and having the guts to make a choice. Old fashion newspapers like to rewrite stuff. An article written in one paper, appears slightly different the next day in the other. On the web, people link! Users don’t care about if an article is written by reporter X or Y. They want the story, and as quick as possible.

The paper is for your parents parents
In the same time a you see a new generation, for who internet is their second nature. The find their news on dozens of places on the web. Use their social networks to keep in touch – and to know the latest news. And have the opportunity to get in direct contact with professionals, using Twitter or discussing topics with pro’s at Wikipedia entries.

It is for sure: They don’t need that dead tree with old news!

What to do..
But will there be place for journalists? Yes! There is always a need for new people who are searching for ‘the truth’, showing injustice and controlling ‘the people in power’. But there will be less and less place for people who are just rewriting stories from other news outlets like wires. And there is a simple explanation for that: It is just useless!

So my advice:

• Get to understand your public, know what they want. And give it to them! You’re not writing for your self, but for the consumer.
• Start using the newest technologies, and keep up with it. You don’t wanna be that gray old grumpy editor that doesn’t understand a computer.
• And finally, be the best in what you do! There is always somebody willing to pay for quality