My thoughts exactly

Pic of the day 5/365
I will keep it short today. Got out of the house for a little time with nature and a book.

I stumbled upon this article that makes a lot of sense to me. I foresee many papers that do not become more innovative and compete with the mass media television outlets will struggle and crumble like many have in recent years.

I see the newspaper industry like a footrace. Each day we suit up and make our way to deadline. In the view of the long term race, I think my paper has put on its shoes but I think they forgot their socks and hasn't quite gotten off the couch.

The only competition (if you want to call it that) for local news in the county is not a serious threat. The "competition" lies a half hour drive to the north in Cumberland County. At times the "enemy to the north" comes across the county line to cover a story or two. The residents of Robeson County only have one source for local news and that is our paper. Rarely a television news crew will whisk through. Maybe it is the lack of competition that keeps the paper on the theoretical couch?

Newspapers today need to focus on the local community that they serve. The residents have a nearly infinite number of sources for national/world news. They only way residents of the community will get news and information about the area in which they live is the local paper. Papers are being bought and sold daily in hopes that the new owner can turn a profit. Their focus should be on dedicating themselves to the community they serve and the profits will follow.

That is all for now.