Topic: Print Media

A new report indicates that an average of two local newspapers go out of business every week in the United States. This trend has left 70 million Americans living in "news deserts" with little to no local news organization coverage. The hosts suggest that while official journalism is declining, unofficial local reporting continues to exist.

A past April Fools' Day column satirized the U.S. Senate's lack of technological understanding by claiming lawmakers intended to ban "drunk driving" on the information superhighway. The piece specifically named Senator Pat Leahy, resulting in his office receiving numerous phone calls from concerned citizens. The anecdote illustrates the effectiveness of structured satire in print media before the digital age made such pranks difficult to manage.

An aside explores the rivalry between print and broadcast journalists, suggesting that print reporters are quietly pleased by the restrictions on television cameras at the White House. The hosts describe broadcast crews as aggressive at press events and note that the Washington Post and New York Times continue to break major stories without the need for video footage.

The Rocky Mountain News ceased operations after nearly 150 years, marking a significant moment in the decline of American print journalism. Other major papers, including the San Francisco Chronicle and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, are facing similar financial crises, with the Chronicle reportedly losing $1 million per week. Jeff Jarvis's book "What Would Google Do?" is recommended as an analysis of modern business methodologies.