The “competition” has more graphically exposed the bias of many media outlets. Network news is no longer the vaunted and prime source of news for many folks. Newspaper bias has become more recognizable. ……………… national and state headlines on the network news and in newspapers are already “old news” to persons having access to the Internet…………….

AVOC

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April 12, 2008

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Bad News continues for Newspapers and Networks

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By Wendell Dawson, Editor, AVOC, Inc

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Changing times and methods of operation impact all of us.   That is just part of the life cycle.At one time, the telegraph was a new and faster way to disseminate information.    Now there are countless ways to disseminate information.   Currently, the Internet is the most far-reaching and can provide instant news.   Oftentimes, national and state headlines on the network news and in newspapers are already “old news” to persons having access to the Internet.

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The CD replaced tapes and videos.   Cell phones are replacing many landlines.    Imaging on telephones is another news source.

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The “competition” has more graphically exposed the bias of many media outlets.   Network news is no longer the vaunted and prime source of news for many folks.Newspaper bias has become more recognizable.   This “credibility issue” has affected the market of newspapers and the networks.   That is not all bad.

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On the other hand, sometimes we may have too much information (distractions) and, therefore, a lack of focus.On the whole, I am glad we have alternatives to newspapers.   Sometimes, the editorial pages are just too leftist for me in my senior years.   One wonders why this is so common with the media.Is it because of what is taught in Journalism Schools?Or, because of the idealism of young writers and journalists?Or both?

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The desire for less bias and more facts drives the proliferation of new media sources.   While it has its downside, most of us would not want to go back to being “captive” readers and viewers.

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3-28-08 Newspaper industry experienced worst drop in advertising revenue in 50 years

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Editor & Publisher

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003781895

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March 28, 2008

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NAA Reveals Biggest Ad Revenue Plunge in More Than 50 Years
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By Jennifer Saba
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NEW YORK

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The newspaper industry has experienced the worst drop in advertising revenue in more than 50 years.
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According to new data released by the Newspaper Association of America, total print advertising revenue in 2007 plunged 9.4% to $ 42 billion compared to 2006 -- the most severe percent decline since the association started measuring advertising expenditures in 1950.
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The drop-off points to an economic slowdown on top of the secular challenges faced by the industry. The second worst decline in advertising revenue occurred in 2001 when it fell 9.0%.
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Total advertising revenue in 2007 -- including online revenue -- decreased 7.9% to $ 45.3 billion compared to the prior year.
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There are signs that online revenue is beginning to slow as well. Internet ad revenue in 2007 grew 18.8% to $ 3.2 billion compared to 2006. In 2006, online ad revenue had soared 31.4% to $ 2.6 billion. In 2005, it jumped 31.4% to $ 2 billion……………………..

4-6-08 Bias, Public Trust and Newspapers

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/04/04/inside_0405.html

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April 5, 2008

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A matter of trust: Keeping bias out of the paper
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By ANGELA TUCK, Public Editor

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One of the biggest threats to the news industry is the constant drumbeat from some members of the public that journalists are biased and therefore can't be trusted.

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My colleagues and I field charges of bias in story placement and coverage on a wide range of topics. Often, complaints center on issues people have a strong point of view on — coverage of Republicans vs. Democrats; of black politicians vs. white ones; crime coverage; the war in Iraq; the long-running conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

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Readers often take note of the differences in coverage they find on TV news, Web sites and newspapers and magazines. Everyone is watching the watchdogs — and that's not a bad thing. Freedom of the press, one of democracy's hallmarks, comes with a responsibility to present accurate and balanced coverage………..

4-6-08 Decline of U S Newspaper Accelerating

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TechCrunch

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/28/decline-of-us-newspapers-accelerating/

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March 28, 2008

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Decline of U S Newspaper Accelerating

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By Duncan Riley

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Figures released by the Newspaper Association of America show that the decline of newspapers is more rapid than previously thought, with total print advertising revenue in 2007 plunging 9.4% to $ 42 billion

compared to 2006, the biggest drop in revenue since 1950, the year they started tracking annual revenue…………………..

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CBS News & Katie Couric in Trouble  

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The Canadian Press

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gxIPfhRXhUgCu6Apt3SzsRQYWR9Q

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April 12, 2008

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Perceptions of early Couric departure working against 'CBS Evening News'

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Being cute and bubbly is not working for Katie Couric

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NEW YORK — How will perceptions of Katie Couric as a lame duck affect the "CBS Evening News"?

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There are growing feelings within CBS News that if Couric's ratings don't significantly improve, she might leave her anchor position after the election or inauguration of a new president. Her contract ends in 2011.

Speculation about her future isn't new - it began less than a year after she took over the show in September 2006. But a flurry of news stories this week pushed the question into the headlines. ………..

Couric's broadcast sunk into third place in the evening news ratings about a month after her arrival from NBC News. Despite changes in the producer and focus, the show has consistently lagged about two million viewers per night behind NBC and ABC.

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CBS executives say they're happy with the show and believe it stacks up well against its rivals. But at some point a failure to be competitive and Couric's reported unhappiness may force a change.

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Network News continues to decline

http://dooleypost.blogspot.com/2008/04/importance-of-network-news-in-decline.html

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April 3, 2008

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Importance of network news continues decline

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http://dooleypost.blogspot.com/2008/04/importance-of-network-news-in-decline.html

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Graph of viewer decline from 1980 to 2007