Comments on: The Answer is “Niche Journalism”

By: Russ

Russ — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:34:00 +0000

True, and your dividends result in better coffee mornings… !

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:42:36 +0000

I give great dividends Russ. Whenever your name comes up in conversation I say “Russ Taylor? That guy’s awesome!” Eventually people can’t help but agree. When is the last time News Corp did that for you?

But seriously, I’m not arguing that big national media won’t (or shouldn’t) exist in the future, just that it will be a much smaller party in the future. Only so many outlets can tell the same story over and over again. The “niche” answer is for those orgs that can’t survive without change, and those looking to enter the field.

By: Russ

Russ — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:41:26 +0000

So you’re telling me I should dump my News Corp / Time Warner stock? They both usually pay a regular dividend.

Which of these clued-in new media firms would make a better investment?

he he…

By: W. Gibbets

W. Gibbets — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:04:32 +0000

I really like the point on there being no doubt of a generational shift, but that it is ALSO a myth–which part does she believe?
It seems they are clearly lost and confused–hell, we just read their story for free.

By: Fence Sitter

Fence Sitter — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:26:56 +0000

Here’s what struck me as a jaw dropping quote from the Politico article, courtesy Washington Post publisher Katharine Weymouth:

“There’s no doubt that there is a generational shift,” said Weymouth. “But it’s a little bit of a myth.” Weymouth said that more young people read the print edition of the Washington Post than watch “American Idol.”

More young people read the print edition of the Washington Post than watch American Idol!?! Really? REALLY??

The AI finale in May drew 28 million viewers. Assuming only 10% of those viewers were 18-24, Weymouth seems to be saying that more than 2.8 million young people read the just the print edition of the Washington Post. Do 2.8 million people period read the Washington Post?

Unfortunately, her statement went unchalleged by the other panelists, so we have no idea how she chooses to define “young people” or over what period of time she is referring. But it certainly seems like a dumb thing to say because it appears impossible on its face and easy to check. Combined with the story about the Washington Post that came out yesterday, she seems to project an air of the blithe cluelessness shared by some other members of the “old media.”