Is the American Newspaper Market in Peril?

Based on Manny Mendoza and Mark Birnbaum‘s new documentary, Stop the Presses, this McCuistion program explores the demise of print media and its impact on democracy as well as innovative alternatives for the newspaper market today.

Dennis McCuistion is joined by a panel of experts:

• Tracy Everbach, PhD. of the Universiy of North Texas, Department of Journalism
• Manny Mendoza, Co-Director: Stop the Presses
• John Solomon, Executive Editor, Washington Times

As newspaper circulation numbers are declining and revenues are falling, we have to wonder if the newspaper market is in peril and if so, how will that affect democracy?

The newspaper market has been declining since 1917 on a percentage basis. With the increase of environmental awareness and the Internet, the decline has only increased.  In the recently released documentary, Stop the Presses, Manny Mendoza and Mark Birnbaum investigate the changing industry with the premise that newspapers have been a critical part of democracy in the United States due to their independent reporting and thorough investigations.  Manny Mendoza discusses specific stories that are explained in the documentary that support this statement.

Going back to the beginning, they discuss the Constitution’s mention of the press and how that plays out today. With the lower circulation rates and the time it will take a good reporter to really uncover the details of a story in sync with with all good investigative methods, the costs don’t match up. Solomon, of the Washington Times, talks of the historical importance of newspapers and what the Washington Times is doing to adjust to the changes.  He explains the monetary changes that come from moving from a print model to a web model and the Washington Times’ response.  He discusses some of the forward-thinking steps they have taken recently and how that is working for the newspaper.

Tracy Everbach discusses what is being done in the classroom today as journalism students are being trained to adjust to the changing newspaper market. The journalism business is turning to the web and they have to be prepared. The fundamentals of interviewing, investigating and reporting are taught, but multi-media classes are now given as well, so that students are ready to be journalists in the newspaper market of today.

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02.01.09 – 1717