Thursday, February 26, 2009

Terrific News! The Rocky Mountain News Folds!


Some more good news on the Dinosaur media front as a really big newspaper bites the dust as of tomorrow when the Rocky Mountain News publishes its final edition.

Now, Denver is like so many other cities in the United States. A one newspaper town. And that is more than likely hanging on a thread.

The Denver Post is the "winner" in this newspaper war.

In 2001, the News and Post essentially merged in what is called a working agreement. It had been how some newspapers stayed afloat. Anyway, both newspapers had their own editorial staff, but merged operations such as advertising and production.

But, those agreements basically end the war and the newspaper that begs to be part of it, in this case the News, is living on borrowed time. And now, no time.

Why do I celebrate these events?

I really do not celebrate as much as am amazed at the arrogance of those who have run these once great publications. The editors and the writers that seem to shun many who like if not love newspapers. Those with a clear agenda. We know who they are. And yet, they still want to blame such things as the economy rather than the fact that many advertisers are looking at such places as the internet to spend their precious dollars. That many potential readers are put off by getting propaganda rather than news or sports.

There are rumors out there that Rupert Murdoch is looking to buy the Los Angeles Times.

I hope that he does.

Mr. Murdoch would transform that newspaper and make it one that people want to read. That is why the New York Post is a must read newspaper. The cross-town rival tabloid Daily News is sinking to the same fate as the Rocky Mountain News.

Maybe I will get that last edition tomorrow to add to my collection.


9 comments:

Rightwingsnarkle said...

That is why the New York Post is a must read newspaper.

Ah, ha ha ha!

That's beautiful. Thanks, I needed a good laugh to start my day.

New York Post...must read

Heh, heh heh. Heh.

Anonymous said...

You know what? So many people have lost their jobs from this. I live in Denver and I grew up reading the Rocky Mountain News. This has been a sad start to a weekend for so many people and I think it is really cruel of you to be so obvious and unfeeling in your excitement. I am a Christian, I don't know if you are but I thought maybe because of the Bible verse on your blog, and I think it is a bad testimony for you to be rejoicing so much in spite of the pain that much of Denver is feeling today. If you didn't agree with the paper, fine. Say so. But to be so blatantly hateful towards the paper on a day that so many are mourning, some for their lost paper and others for their lost jobs, is awful.

Righty64 said...

Anna, I am NOT happy that people have lost their jobs. I went through this 20 years ago when the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner folded. And it was sad for all the reasons that you mentioned. I was a newspaper delivery boy for the Herald-Examiner. I am trying to address the fact that much of the news media today is living in a fantasy land. They are using an old business model that is setting them up for failure. And, most newspapers have shown an unmistakable liberal bias. It has driven away readers. And because many mid-level newspapers have cutback so much, they depend on such outlets as the New York Times, the Washington Post and the AP to supplement their local coverage. All are biased to the left. I am sorry that people have lost their jobs, but unless the newspaper industry gets a clue, this will be the first of many venerable newspapers that will fold this year.
_________________________________

For Mr.Snarkle, I will take the Post over the New York Times any day. At least the Post does not hide their bias.

Rightwingsnarkle said...

I went through this 20 years ago when the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner folded. And it was sad for all the reasons that you mentioned. I was a newspaper delivery boy for the Herald-Examiner.

Wait a minute, do I understand you correctly?

You delivered this paper as a boy, so you "went through this" and can somehow empathize with people who're supporting families, and who've now lost their jobs?

Now, when you were delivering this paper, how many kids did you have? What was your mortgage payment, or monthly rent? Did you have any unexpected bills, like a car repair or dental visit? Were you able to save a little, or was it pretty much paycheck-to-paycheck?

Or, did you use the money each week for comic books and pimple cream?

I gotta tell ya, that was one of the more asinine things you've said recently, and I've been keeping score.

As Anna pointed out, you seem to be keeping score yourself, and with a certain glee.

Perhaps it is, as you say, only because each newspaper shutdown or round of layoffs (the Boston Globe's gotta come up with 50 in the newsroom over the next 90 days) proves your point that evil liberals will stop at nothing to destroy America. Or something.

But I guess if that's what Rush's instructions call for you to do...

Righty64 said...

Hey Snarkie, just to let you know what I was trying to explain to Anna. No, I am not comparing being a paper boy to someone who works in the newsroom and or production. I was actually addressing her missing the paper that she grew up with and enjoyed. As far as people losing their jobs, here is a news flash. IT HAPPENS! It has happened to me more than once. It is not a good thing. But, it is my hope that these people are able to find some kind of work. But, as usual, you have no clue about the self-inflicted damage that newspapers have done to themselves. Another news flash, Snarkie. I WORKED IN THE NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY! I have seen this coming for 20 years. Like it or not, contraction, not adjusting the market to the times and putting out an abysmal product is having their chickens come home to roost.

Rick Frea said...

I have to laugh when I hear news of how bad the newspaper media is doing the past ten years, because when I was in journalism school in 1988 my teacher said once: "I don't think we will ever see the day when newspapers will be extinct."

Rick Frea said...

It's part of capitalism. Companies that make old, washed up, no longer wanted, inferior, expensive, wasteful products close at the expense of companies that have better products at a better price. And most people would rather get varied opinions free on the internet than buy a one sided newspaper.

Rightwingsnarkle said...

Well, we can certainly look at the various reasons why the traditional newspaper industry is in pain.

There's no denying that it is.

And it would be good to include a discussion of broadcast and cable media in the mix.

You laud the idea of Rupert Murdoch, or maybe someone else like him from Viacom, GE, or Disney, buying up existing media properties, or perhaps starting new ones.

But I suggest that the traditional media's troubles are due, in large part, to concentrated corporate ownership. You're gonna make the problems worse.

Bottom line - your harping on allegations of liberal bias in the media as the main reason for its troubles, and your celebration of that demise because it represents, to you, an ideological victory or reckoning of sorts, is just wrong-headed.

But that harping seems to satisfy some need of yours, I guess.

I suggest you turn off the talk radio, and start thinking for yourself.

Righty64 said...

Snarkie, when you stop getting the talking points from Daily Kos and the Puffington Post, I will "start thinking for myself"!