5 ways newspapers lost their way

Interesting blog theory lists five earlier web ventures that newspapers abandoned too soon. It's an interesting thought. It shares the new media conceit that only Internet publishing can make it (tell that to community newspapers, magazines, books, television, radio, etc.), but it's worth reading.

Paying for online content; what a concept

A new website is offering to pay for content, which is a good thing. (It's hard to think of yourself as a professional journalist if you're working for free.) A story on portfolio.com reports that allvoices.com is planning to pay writers based on number of page views they generate. It's not perfect, but it's a good start.

All the news that fits . . . on your cell phone

The Newspaper Association of America offers a new report that looks at the potential of news being delivered on cell phones. How widespread it will be is problematic, but the report indicates that it is relatively cheap and easy (two words that sing to today's media managers), and certainly some will be using it. I noticed two colleagues today checking their email on their cell phones during a break in a meeting with some envy. It's not much of a stretch to see them checking news sites.

Pew breaks down U.S. news consumers

Pew Research Institute's latest report on the news industry outlines a nation still searching for a news identity. Increases in those getting news online and decreases in those reading traditional newspaper -- but the latter form is still the most popular. Very interesting breakdowns of various types of news consumers. Worst news is that "a third of those younger than 25 (34%) say they get no news on a typical day, up from 25% in 1998." Somehow the news industry must figure out a way to produce a product popular to more Americans.