Chapter Eight

1.     What kinds of stories, topics, or issues are not being covered well by mainstream papers?

Positive humanitarian issues are generally not covered well by mainstream newspapers because those types of stories don’t sell.  It’s true that you see occasionally stories about a Good Samaritan or someone who was down on their luck hitting the lottery, but for the most part, mainstream newspapers focus their content on global affairs (which are typically topics of war, poverty and economics), political issues and the wrongdoings of others (crimes, murders, etc).  Unfortunately, the general public rarely seeks after stories about positive issues because they are inundated with negative news stories throughout their day. With a war going on and the economy in shambles, readers want to know the state of affairs when they read their news, not about a woman who saves a kitten from running out in traffic. Readers also want to hear about murder trials and criminal offenses because they enjoy seeing justice served or sought after. That seems to be one of the few ways to provide readers with a sense of pleasure and education.

2.     Discuss whether newspaper chains are ultimately good or bad for the future of journalism.

I believe newspaper chains are ultimately bad for the future of journalism. In my own personal opinion, newspaper chains are recipes for disaster as they create the opportunity for one company to own and operate hundreds of newspapers, all with the same bias. For instance, a conservative company could own 200 newspapers and all may have a conservative bias. Readers may pick up three different newspapers and read an article on the 2012 presidential election thinking they are receiving three different opinions when in reality, they’re receiving the same conservative bias from all three news sources. This tarnishes the credibility of journalists because it makes the business look shady. When you stick to independently owned and operated newspapers, it makes readers feel as though they are growing and trusting in personal news source, rather than a mechanical and manufactured company.

3.     Will blogs and other Internet news services eventually replace newspapers? Explain your response.

I think this is a hard question to answer, but I would have to say that I do think blogs and other Internet sources will eventually replace newspapers. Since the invention of the Internet, society has worked to put everything into digital form. From movies, music, books and even university courses, everything has found a place in the digital world. Print media is no exception. Today we find textbooks, phone books, menus, and directories and even printed yearbooks becoming obsolete. Why would newspapers be any different? Magazine companies are halting their print right and left, all gravitating towards their websites to supply news and entertainment. I don’t think newspapers are any different. As the current generation of college students age into senior citizens, I think the Internet will then be dominating every demographic when it comes to offering news as well as entertainment and communication.