Did you read that New York Times article on self-publishing?

The sad state of journalism today is well reflected in the article. Yes, newspapers are dying and the main stream media has totally lost its way.

More than 40 years ago, when I was attending classes at U.C. Berkeley (during the so-called “free speech movement”), I liked to get to the campus early, have a cup of coffee and look at a copy of the New York
Times. (I felt sooo sophisticated…<grin>). Then, one day, at noon, there was a “demonstration” in Sproul Hall Plaza in front of the main administration building. — The “demonstration” consisted of an incoherent speaker, babbling unintelligently through a bull horn. A few students passing through the plaza (a central spot where there is heavy foot traffic) might stop for a few moments to see what was going on.

The next day, the “venerable” New York Times reported “3000 Students Stand In at Sproul Hall” … Well, I was there. I witnessed it. While a campus with 27,500 students might certainly have 2000 or 3000 students passing through Sproul Hall Plaza at mid day, it was hardly a “demonstration” and it was certainly not a  stand in” (most were walking, going about their business — only 10 to 20 were stopped, looking toward the speaker (or a good looking chick standing nearby) at any given moment). I know, I was there. I stopped, briefly, to see what all the noise was about. I wasn’t a “demonstrator.” I wasn’t even interested in what was being said. But I (apparently) “participated” in a “stand in” at Sproul Hall Plaza.

That was the last day I ever read a copy of the New York Times.

I read the San Francisco Chronicle for 45 years. I’ve subscribed to various local newspapers, depending on where I lived, for even more years. I dropped my newspaper subscriptions nearly 2 years ago — and I don’t miss them. (I get important news from the Internet.)

Once upon a time, most newspapers were owned locally. The owners and managers witnessed local events and had many opinions about local, state, and national politics which were shared in the _editorial_pages. Now, almost all newspapers are owned by giant media companies. Journalists attempted to get “both sides” of stories — now we more likely get opinion masquerading as “news.” The giant media companies make a business decision to ’tilt’ one way or another on important issues. Top management has no clue about what’s really going on in the communities they serve (no quality control) and their opinions are based on marketing studies or focus groups, and modified by systemic bias.

At this point, I think that “the press” deserves to fail — and I sure hope there’s going to be no Federal bailout for any of them.

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Pete Masterson, Author of
Book Design and Production: A Guide for Authors and Publishers
Aeonix Publishing Group www.aeonix.com

Last 5 posts by Pete Masterson

• Can someone explain to me how POD and subsidy publishing works? - November 14th, 2008