Will Blogs Save Print Newspapers?

Here's the proposition: Print a newspaper of blog posts and then distribute it for free! That's what Chicago startup The Printed Blog is doing, starting next Tuesday in Chicago and San Francisco. Founder and publisher Joshua Karp tells the NY Times, "We are trying to be the first daily newspaper comprised entirely of blogs and other user-generated content. There were so many techniques that I’ve seen working online that maybe I could apply to the print industry.” The Times adds that the Printed Blog has received permission from 300 blogs "to publish their work for a share of the ad revenue, including small-audience bloggers in Chicago and nationally known blogs like Daily Kos," which helps cut down that hefty cost of the newspaper business—reporters! The Printed Blog also says it "reads and functions like a web feed—yet can still be enjoyed on the train or spread across the breakfast table, for an uninterrupted, pleasurably tactile experience." AND readers' comments will be included! Next: Time to learn hot type!

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By Jen Chung in News on January 22, 2009 11:43 AM

Comments [rss]

jackbrosnan

This is a wonderful opinion. The things mentioned are unanimous and needs to be appreciated by everyone.

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Jack brosann

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Aditya

ohhh

i was writing an article on "will blogs kill newspapers". :)

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IvoryJive

"which helps cut down that hefty cost of the newspaper business—reporters!"

which helps further dispel that one key advantage that print media has - quality journalism

JonnyLeather

As someone who has worked in many realms of publishing, and blogs, I have to say this is one of the dumbest ideas i've ever heard. The only reason print is hanging on at all is because of people who desire higher quality writing and art, and more in depth stories. People read blogs for the immediacy and the quantity of information.

Good luck making this work.

JonnyLeather

and plus most people just read blogs for the snarky comments, so unless they print comment threads somehow, they will fail.

PKMKII

That's what would have saved the horse and carriage industry, if they had just made the carriages look more like cars.

REALITY CHECK

#4, newspapers are feeling pain not because people don't want to read them, but because major revenue streams have been dried up. Classified ads make up nearly 40% of the average newspaper's advertising income, according to the Newspaper Association of America. The emergence of websites such as Craigslist, eBay and Monster have dealt a much bigger blow to newspapers than readers who solely read news on a computer screen.

Silver Couch

It will work with a good editor - somebody who can select quality user content and publish it in digest form. The Internet is great for quick information. Paper is better if you want to read more deeply.

Toby von Meistersinger

This is doomed to fail. It will lack the immediacy and immediate interactivity of a blog and will be just like a newspaper and we all know how well they are doing.

pete

Wrong, it wont be copy pasted Reuters content like 99% of old media articles.

Spirit of 76

What would be hysterical would be if The Printed Blog included Gothamist, since some consider it a blog. A "newspaper" reprinting a "blog" that collects news from newspapers (and other sources).

ganghiscon

If it's cheap enough, it could have an audience. People like having something tactile to read and who doesn't grab a free AM NY or Metro every once in a while? I'm sure the blogs reprinted in Printed Blog will be more interesting than the articles in those.