Blake Rutherford’s always-thoughtful blog takes a rational look at the future of printed newspapers and offers a sensible solution:
“Still, with no discernible solution in sight and the market bearing down on newspapers, I propose this hypothesis: Allowing the market to dictate the future of the newspaper business will result in a recognizable void – perhaps for an extended period of time – in the ways news is reported at the community level.
“What’s the end result? Lots of people are out of work and communities become more disconnected. Infusing capital into publications with sound business models, an effective approach to community-based news reporting, and a demonstrated ability to adapt to life on the Internet isn’t a terrible idea. Neither is running them as non-profits. Particularly when you weigh the alternative.”