Seattle Post Intelligencer is Leading the Charge

The new shuttering of the print edition of the [http://tonyperez.thoughts.com/posts/cheering-up-antonio-again click here] Post-Intelligencer, and the transference of that newspaper to an exclusively online version, is really a first for a sizable daily newspaper in North America, if not the entire world. All eyes is likely to be watching to see how the paper maintains its viability and relevancy in an completely digital format.Despite the loss in careers at the S P-I and other publications which can be downsizing or shutting down, this is a time for the newspaper industry. I believe we're on the cusp of anything new and innovative here, and I am thrilled to be a spectator as this monumental shift unfolds.One original statement about the steady layoffs of reporters at daily newspapers: There are a lot more freelance article writers plying their trade today than there were a year-ago, and there is a lot more in the years ahead. If you are looking to hire a freelance writer, you needn't seem very far.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Since newspapers began placing their content online 15 years back, the company model has been to provide that content at no cost. Online visitors haven't been ready to buy news stories and articles on the internet, as was proven from the New York Times, which tried to introduce a 'settled' premium service a couple of years ago. The concept didn't fly, and the Occasions soon reverted back to publishing the news online for free.The most well-known exception to that particular has been the Wall Street Journal, which has charged a fee for its online edition since its site was initially launched. Rupert Murdock, the current owner of the WSJ, has recommended that the significant WSJ might move to a free online format some day, but it's not occurred yet (Note: I rarely have trouble accessing WSJ tales for free online ).As more newspapers begin to follow the Seattle Post-Intelligencer model, it will be interesting to see how news coverage is affected. Can investigative literature drop sway to hearsay and views? Will the interests of common citizens be less served with the increased loss of a daily newspaper?It would seem, in the beginning look, that with fewer writers since the political and business defeats, that the general public will be deprived of the strong reporting that's necessary to keep citizens adequately informed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But the old proverb 'nature abhors a vacuum' concerns mind when I try to visualize the future of newspapers and journalism in a non-print, digitized, Internet-only world. I believe that the news coverage machine in this case will be quickly filled by citizen journalists, bloggers and other interested parties, some of whom will get paid for giving content and others who'll report for the sheer joy of reporting.This presumes a good deal. It assumes that anybody with an Internet connection and a pc can be quite a working journalist. It is not so. Writing - good writing - needs devotion, years of training, and a way of measuring talent. Good writing involves years of practice, sharp interviewing abilities, and proper training.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;However the law of averages can come in to play here. With a lot of people writing and blogging, more voices will end up part of the fray. From these several new voices will appear a number of skilled and respected voices that will end up being the de-facto authorities for their areas of coverage. In other words, the treatment of the publishing share may rise towards the top.You happen to be seeing a number of that today. There are serious writers writing about politics, organization, engineering, sports, leisure and lifestyle subjects. A number of the most popular bloggers writing today - such as technology author Jeff Jarvis and political commentator Michelle Malkin - are generally implemented, and their views are highly influential.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Every time a important news story breaks, the people and citizen journalists are occasionally the initial on the scene, long before the print and TV journalists have arrived. Citizen writers and bloggers are quickly taking pictures on their iPhones and giving pictures and stories to their friends and acquaintances, or posting their information on social networking websites like Facebook or Twitter.It also assumes that on line newspapers will discover a revenue model that will enable them to pay their authors, publishers, graphic designers and IT experts a good wage. Thus far, many online newspapers do not generate a profit, but that, also, will change as more newspapers go online. Once a major daily newspaper starts asking a fee to gain access to its content - and demonstrates a successful business design for doing so - different forms will follow suit.Far in the S P-I proceed to an on the web format being a dark day for journalism, I am inclined to believe that we're moving towards a form of reporting that's further and more nuanced than the usual classic tabloid or broadsheet newspaper.