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.

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“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.”

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