Comments on: Racing stripes on the Titanic http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/07/15/racing-stripes-on-the-titanic/ by Jeff Jarvis Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:39:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Tim Appelo http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/07/15/racing-stripes-on-the-titanic/#comment-354782 Tim Appelo Wed, 18 Jul 2007 01:12:09 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/07/15/racing-stripes-on-the-titanic/#comment-354782 The question from the reader's point of view is: Will the ads be worth my time? TV ads are costlier to make than the shows they interrupt, and often superior. If the Times imposes high entertainment-value standards, it might make page one more fun. Not all ads are created equal. The question from the reader’s point of view is: Will the ads be worth my time? TV ads are costlier to make than the shows they interrupt, and often superior. If the Times imposes high entertainment-value standards, it might make page one more fun. Not all ads are created equal.

]]> By: Jay Rosen http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/07/15/racing-stripes-on-the-titanic/#comment-354779 Jay Rosen Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:55:27 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/07/15/racing-stripes-on-the-titanic/#comment-354779 What do you call it when the change proposed is huge <i>and</i> not nearly enough, therefore small? What do you call it when the change proposed is huge and not nearly enough, therefore small?

]]> By: Jim Bursch http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/07/15/racing-stripes-on-the-titanic/#comment-354749 Jim Bursch Mon, 16 Jul 2007 22:05:57 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/07/15/racing-stripes-on-the-titanic/#comment-354749 "I am sorry to make me the devil’s advocate, but moment when we buy a product - and a newspaper is a product, we become customers!" It is because this statement is so wrong that newspapers are in the hole that they find themselves. Newspapers are in the business of selling advertising, not news. Their customers are advertisers, not readers. Newspapers are in a bind because the interests of advertisers and the interests of readers are in opposition to each other. They cannot serve two masters, and their attempts to do so put them at a competitive disadvantage in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Placing ads on page one is simply a concession to one master at the expense of the other. The editorial department has always advocated for the reader, but the reader doesn't pay the piper, therefore the editorial department can't call the tune. Ad-supported media is currupt and corrupting and deserves to die. “I am sorry to make me the devil’s advocate, but moment when we buy a product - and a newspaper is a product, we become customers!”

It is because this statement is so wrong that newspapers are in the hole that they find themselves.

Newspapers are in the business of selling advertising, not news. Their customers are advertisers, not readers.

Newspapers are in a bind because the interests of advertisers and the interests of readers are in opposition to each other. They cannot serve two masters, and their attempts to do so put them at a competitive disadvantage in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Placing ads on page one is simply a concession to one master at the expense of the other. The editorial department has always advocated for the reader, but the reader doesn’t pay the piper, therefore the editorial department can’t call the tune.

Ad-supported media is currupt and corrupting and deserves to die.

]]> By: Whiteycox http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/07/15/racing-stripes-on-the-titanic/#comment-354736 Whiteycox Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:38:23 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/07/15/racing-stripes-on-the-titanic/#comment-354736 Jeff Jarvis makes perfect sense...and says it all with the title, "Racing Stripes on the Titanic." To me it's all "Ghost Dancing," a last reactionary spasm on the part of people who are seeing their way of life changing. It's not about one-page ads, it's about maintaining a sense of dignity and self-importance. Or in this case a pretty rarefied and self-important impression of the Times. As someone who used to love the food section when it spoke to us rank-and-file Angelenos, I wouldn't mind a more local, more responsive paper. And anyone whose parents are living knows that eliminating the TV times (even moving it to Saturday) is little more than a cruel strike against old folks, who are the last loyal readers of the paper. The Titanic sunk. This ship, however, seems like it's being scuttled. But as the thing goes down, I'd expect lots more of this idealistic public longing for a mythic past. Jeff Jarvis makes perfect sense…and says it all with the title, “Racing Stripes on the Titanic.” To me it’s all “Ghost Dancing,” a last reactionary spasm on the part of people who are seeing their way of life changing. It’s not about one-page ads, it’s about maintaining a sense of dignity and self-importance. Or in this case a pretty rarefied and self-important impression of the Times. As someone who used to love the food section when it spoke to us rank-and-file Angelenos, I wouldn’t mind a more local, more responsive paper. And anyone whose parents are living knows that eliminating the TV times (even moving it to Saturday) is little more than a cruel strike against old folks, who are the last loyal readers of the paper. The Titanic sunk. This ship, however, seems like it’s being scuttled. But as the thing goes down, I’d expect lots more of this idealistic public longing for a mythic past.

]]> By: Emeline http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/07/15/racing-stripes-on-the-titanic/#comment-354703 Emeline Sun, 15 Jul 2007 12:59:34 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/07/15/racing-stripes-on-the-titanic/#comment-354703 Steve, I am sorry to make me the devil's advocate, but moment when we buy a product - and a newspaper is a product, we become customers! Best Regards, Emeline Steve,

I am sorry to make me the devil’s advocate, but moment when we buy a product - and a newspaper is a product, we become customers!

Best Regards,
Emeline

]]> By: Steve Boriss http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/07/15/racing-stripes-on-the-titanic/#comment-354701 Steve Boriss Sun, 15 Jul 2007 12:47:11 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/07/15/racing-stripes-on-the-titanic/#comment-354701 This page-one ad bruhaha is just another indicator of an industry that for decades has been acting on its own quirky thinking of what a newspaper should be, and stopped paying attention to the real perceptions, needs, and wants of its readers. The reverence with which they hold their news “products” (ouch, that probably hurt) does not match the real world views of their “customers” (now THAT was punching below the fold — we are “citizens,” not “customers”, remember?). (Steve Boriss, <a href="http://www.thefutureofnews.com" rel="nofollow">The Future of News</a>) This page-one ad bruhaha is just another indicator of an industry that for decades has been acting on its own quirky thinking of what a newspaper should be, and stopped paying attention to the real perceptions, needs, and wants of its readers. The reverence with which they hold their news “products” (ouch, that probably hurt) does not match the real world views of their “customers” (now THAT was punching below the fold — we are “citizens,” not “customers”, remember?). (Steve Boriss, The Future of News)

]]> By: Emeline http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/07/15/racing-stripes-on-the-titanic/#comment-354698 Emeline Sun, 15 Jul 2007 12:20:56 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2007/07/15/racing-stripes-on-the-titanic/#comment-354698 Dear Readers, The equation is complex and forms the basis of much of the editorial staffs. On the one hand, the newspaper must keep its own tone - narrative journalism style - which represents its identity. Nevertheless, on the other hand, the same newspaper must tend towards a certain financial expansion. That is the reason why a sum of sacrifices must be made to continue to federate a significant number readers. Actually, that does not seem impossible to put ads on a page-one, and to improve the contents of the articles. As you - Jeff Jarvis - said, "a page-one ad is no big deal and should even be welcomed if it pays for that work, the work of survival." It is the price to pay to be independent! Emeline Dear Readers,

The equation is complex and forms the basis of much of the editorial staffs. On the one hand, the newspaper must keep its own tone - narrative journalism style - which represents its identity. Nevertheless, on the other hand, the same newspaper must tend towards a certain financial expansion. That is the reason why a sum of sacrifices must be made to continue to federate a significant number readers. Actually, that does not seem impossible to put ads on a page-one, and to improve the contents of the articles. As you - Jeff Jarvis - said, “a page-one ad is no big deal and should even be welcomed if it pays for that work, the work of survival.” It is the price to pay to be independent!

Emeline

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