| ||||||||||||
PRINT
COMMENT
SUBSCRIBE
RSS"Today marks our last edition as a traditional daily newspaper of the sort Americans knew in the 19th and 20th centuries," the paper announced Saturday in an editorial. "Starting tomorrow, The Capital Times will be a daily newspaper of the sort Americans will know in the 21st century.
Given today's challenging market for newspapers, it's not surprising that an afternoon paper like The Capital Times would fold in print. Afternoon dailies have been fading away for decades, victims of evening TV news broadcasts and cable TV long before the Internet struck a death blow.
In fact, in some ways, The Capital Times' shift to the Internet is good news. Before the advent of the Web, evening papers simply closed and didn't resurface in other forms. And even the Madison newspaper isn't completely abandoning print; it will still publish a free print newsweekly and a free weekly entertainment guide.
Still, it appears inevitable that more and more newspapers will shift resources to the Web. Consider, figures released today by the Audit Bureau of Circulations show that most top dailies have lost ground recently. For the six months ending March 30, circulation at The New York Times fell to around 1.08 million, marking a 3.9% drop. At the Los Angeles Times, circulation fell 5.1% to around 774,000, and the Dallas Morning News saw a 10.6% drop to approximately 368,000.
Of the 20 largest newspapers in the country, only two saw gains -- The Wall Street Journal (up 0.4% to around 2.07 million) and USA Today (up 0.3% to around 2,28 million). Some other, smaller newspapers to show gains include the San Jose Mercury News, which grew 1.69% to around 231,000 and The Cincinnati Enquirer, which was up 2.93% to around 206,000.
RSS FEEDS
At some point, we're all not going to hear each other because what I am saying is louder or more important or more relevant or more *insert adjective here* than what you are saying.
Skilled journalists lend insight, analysis and a point of view that STARTS the conversation, not concludes it (anyone at Fox, please stand up ;) )
Now, everyone talk at once and prove my point.
G.
As I said, I believe they no longer publish this as a print weekly, but they continue to host and support local Bloggers on their site (although obviously this isn't given the same prominence as material by paid staffers).
We have historically had two dailies (at one point in time, they had separate publishers, but this is no longer the case – they're at least 50% owned by the same folks). The Wisconsin State Journal has been the morning paper as long as I can remember, and The Capital Times was an afternoon daily.
The Wisconsin State Journal has always been the stronger paper (if you subscribe to only one local daily, it is more likely you subscribe to the Journal than the Times). In fact, I believe the weeklies that will still be published by the Cap Times (local shorthand) will be delivered with the Journal to Journal subscribers, essentially replacing a Thursday section of the Journal called "Rhythm."
Obviously the fact that there is another daily that the Times competed with, and that they shared at least a percentage of ownership (and even staff), impacted on the decision to shut down printing for the Times.
I especially felt this point needed to be made in reference to Brian's above comment which leads me to believe that he (as I'm sure others did as well) interpreted this article as saying Madison's only daily was shutting down. We've still got the Wisconsin State Journal.
I will respectfully disagree with Jeff while that it's good for citizens to be able to file stories, interact and comment we still need real, honest to goodness journalists.
There's a difference, either in print or online.
More insight at http://www.dogwalkblog.com/2008/04/real-death-of-dayton-daily-news.html
G.