"It used to be that a handful of editors could decide what was news-and what was not. They acted as sort of demigods. If they ran a story, it became news. If they ignored an event, it never happened. Today editors are losing this power. The Internet, for example, provides access to thousands of new sources that cover things an editor might ignore. And if you aren't satisfied with that, you can start up your own blog and cover and comment on the news yourself. Journalists like to think of themselves as watchdogs, but they haven't always responded well when the public calls them to account." Rupert Murdoch. (http://news.cnet.com/8301-10787_3-10098194-60.html Hat Tip: Instapundit)
Oh right, so if I say it the world collectively yawns but if Rupe says it its gospel! But seriously, I think the number of successful models for a news organisation has increased from one or two to perhaps seven or eight. Loose agglomerations of interested individuals who club together to write an online newspaper for instance. It would be entirely possible to get true experts writing for every section of the 'newspaper' without having an office and with those experts sitting in 25 different countries. Why that has not happened (to the best of my knowledge) yet is somewhat of a mystery. But certainly Mr Murdochs main point is entirely valid - the newspaper business is not dead, but the old newspaper attitudes certainly have had their day.
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