Decline 'N Fall of Newspaper Editorial & Distribution - Print Spotting

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Bill Esler

Decline 'N Fall of Newspaper Editorial & Distribution
July 10, 2008

Hungry maw of web cries: Feed Me. And though on vacation, I'm virtually still at work, reading books, magazines and newspapers as my family and I traverse the globe; reading online junk and posting when we alight along the way.
We spent a week on the road between Chicago and Johnstown, PA, a chance to pick up regional papers, or try to, anyway, the way. Since our last summer driving trip, to northern Wisconsin last year, the quality and availability of newspapers at truck stops and small towns has diminished greatly.
When you ask cashiers at various truck stops whether a newspaper is available, you are now met with blank stares--as though they have completely forgotten about the existence, or somehow, it's been quite some time since anyone requested one.
When papers are available, well, they aren't much. In decreasing locations where a national newspaper of quality is available--and here I only include the New York Times--it is not reliably available. The national network of Starbucks, once the trusted source for that last of the well edited newspapers in America, is itself in decline. Its strategic relationship with the Times meant to stock them most everywhere, has fallen apart. Don't look for a copy on the Pennsylvania turnpike.
The second string USA Today is worse or perhaps no worse, but not very good; the Wall St. Journal is less available and less good than ever now that Murdoch edits it.

Local town papers which once carried a healthy dose of national and world news--at least the stories with local impact--are a faint reflection of what they once were. The Johnstown, PA paper is so unmemorable that I won't name it--carrying on its front page only a large photo of a motorcycle rally, and a gaping hole patched slightly with a tiny caption--otherwise a sea of empty newsprint and three or four pages of local religious news.
It's lamentable.

Posted by Bill Esler on July 10, 2008 | Comments (3)

Industries: Print Management

July 14, 2008
In response to: Decline 'N Fall of Newspaper Editorial & Distribution
Jim W commented:

Your liberal bias shines bright, as do most all of the major daily’s editorial and opinion pages. It is no wonder the circulation numbers continues to decline at the NY Times, SF Chronicle , Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Seattle PI, and Atlanta Journal Constitution. As long as newspapers continue the practice of hiring left wing journalism graduates, who are indoctrinated with a liberal bias, we will continue to see the fall and eventual disappearance of the American newspaper. By the way, check your facts. Circulation of the Wall Street Journal has increased 7% over the past year.

July 15, 2008
In response to: Decline 'N Fall of Newspaper Editorial & Distribution
Bill Esler commented:

Nowhere did I note the Wall St Journal circulation--which no includes in its tabulation online subscribers--only its availability at retail to me. As a reader of years I can report my opinon-it's poorly edited and worse for the wear. Likewise the NY Times, though still a good paper, wastes four major pages in section one with web recaps, bits and corrections. That's neither liberal nor conservative, but just plain straightforward opinion. And checking your facts, the Audit Bureau of Circulation reports "USA Today and The Wall Street Journal were the only two leading national dailies whose circulation increased by a modest 0.3% and 0.4% respectively."

November 5, 2008
In response to: Decline 'N Fall of Newspaper Editorial & Distribution
timothy commented:

India-born entrepreneurs empower US voters Shukoor Ahmed ran for a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates in 1998, after coming to America a decade earlier from Hyderabad, India. Campaigning door-to-door, he was surprised so many voters did not know who represented them! After his race ended slightly short of victory, he took advantage of his Master’