Chron 2.0

http://www.sfweekly.com/Issues/2006-11-29/news/feature_full.html
This is a must read story, about the inner workings of the San Francisco Chronicle as it tries to move from being a newspaper to being an information company - so says the story, but it goes on to be one of the better descriptions of what is playing out inside of many newspapers today - here's a quote:
"If there is one consistent thing about the Chronicle nowadays, it's inconsistency. Editors there prefer the word "unpredictability." The paper still leads with some stories of enormous import to millions of Bay Area residents, from law to economics to the environment. And every once in a while the paper will wow the public with a big investigative project that took months to complete, illustrating the Chronicle's potential for greatness. "Perhaps," wrote Lori Robertson last fall in American Journalism Review, "'unevenness' is the true indicator of a paper trying to find its way, hang on to big ambitions, and do it all with fewer resources."

Some newspaper websites have work to do

Hard to believe that some newspapers are still behind the curve on this issue (some unions too!). There are of course phenomenal newspaper sites that folks flock to, but right now the survival of every newspaper depends on the quality of their web presence. See this article from E&P by Steve Outing:

"Just about everyone -- finally -- is on board and working to address the big problem: How to transition a significant part of the newspaper business to online and new media while keeping enough money flowing in during the transition period to fund quality journalism, and prevent newspapers from entering a downward spiral. So how's this going?"

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/columns/stopthepresses_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003438775

Amanda Bennett's thoughts on change as she leaves Philly

As Amanda Bennett leaves the Inq. in Philly she has the following to say:

"This is a tough time for newspapers everywhere. Perhaps more so here than in most places. There are dozens of assaults from all directions on newspapers, from the Internet and other electronic media, to the changes in the businesses of the department stores, airlines and automobile manufacturers who are our big advertisers, to the changes in reading habits of young people and the way families spend their time.

But it's not the end of journalism - or of newspapers - here or anywhere else. Reinvention is difficult and painful. But ultimately I am certain that the fundamental need people have for smart, timely, interesting and relevant information will prevail.

Certainly newspapers have survived technological challenges in the past - from telegraph to radio to television. They will survive this, too."

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/editorial/16096923.htm

FCC Names Economic Studies to Be Conducted as Part of Media Ownership Rules Review

In the midst of the difficult bargaining, layoffs, and overall shake-out in our industry, not enough folks are paying attention to the fact that the FCC is back at it, studying the rules that govern the industry. It's helpful that there's been a change in the congress, but it doesn't change the current makeup of the FCC which should still give pause. It's well worth looking at this detailed account of some of the studies the FCC will undertake:

http://www.freepress.net/news/19292

A New D.C. Paper Poaches, Encroaches Cross-Platforms

A most interesting story, about a start-up paper in D.C., that really gets it about cross-platform. They also seem to understand that they have to pay the "talent," and the fact that they poached staffers from the Washington Post shows they understand the need for experience. Many questions are left unanswered, but pairing a 3-day a week paper with an existing ABC affiliate should be interesting.

http://www.observer.com/20061127/20061127_Michael_Calderone_pageone_offtherec-2.asp
by Michael Calderone

Snippet from the story: - The Capitol Leader is paired with an as-of-yet-unnamed Web site. The paper and the Web site will be run out of the same office, by essentially the same staff. The main newsroom for both will be located in Allbritton’s television facility in Arlington, Va. There will be a smaller news bureau on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C.

“Obviously, you have to have synergy,” said Jim VandeHei, one of the multi-platformed project’s first big hires. (The endeavor, in addition to its Web-friendliness, also has an agreement with CBS on the national level.) “Everything that will be in the paper will be online. All of the people, the stars that we bring in, will be in that paper.”