Friday, March 5th (Chapter 8: The Rise and Decline of Journalism)

18.What kinds of stories, topics, or issues are not being covered well by mainstream papers?

(response to question #18)

Stories, topics, and issues that sometimes get overshadowed by larger issues in todays news by larger, mainstream newspapers are, stories about "the local hero". These stories are about that local baseball team in some quaint town with all the odds against them; they still manage to pull out that victory against the rich team with all the recruits, and their star father-coaches who could have played in the majors once. These stories are of the moral likeness of Leave it to beaver, The Brady Bunch, and The Cosby Show.  Classic American shows that inspired a nation and reflected the good, wholesome values of the hardest working generation. I believe that the positive occurrences of the world are overshadowed by the negative; If the news was able to shed equal light, while still informing the nation of events taking place in other countries: war, natural disasters, famine, poverty... While these stories are important, and should be acted upon, I believe that the U.S. is in great need of some inner rebirth. 

19.Why do you think people aren’t reading U.S. daily newspapers as frequently as they once did? Why is newspaper readership going up in other countries?

(response to question #19) 

I believe that the technology advance in the U.S. forces its citizens to achieve information faster than any other nation; the hunger for news has erupted in the states and it has become easier now, than ever to get the latest news with just the push of a button. Newspapers in other countries are now hitting their peak, the same peak they have passed in the U.S. The ability to achieve information, now, all over the world have become a necessity in social and economic growth. 

22.Will blogs and other Internet news services eventually replace newspapers? Explain your response.

(response to question #22) 

The new century has seen the emergence of technologies that allow the public to bypass the traditional mass media for access to news, to comment in real time on emerging news stories, or to report their own news information. Most significant is probably the Weblog, or 'blog', a reverse chronological order list of the writings of an individual or group. Other technologies have also risen, that I believe have had an effect on the newspaper as well as blogging. However, I do not believe that the printed paper will ever be replaced. The newspaper is part of an American tradition, its freedom of speech... The newspaper is woven into American culture. Sons and daughters have grown up for generations watching their fathers and mothers read the paper with breakfast, or on the bus, or at work... I don't believe that this tradition will ever be washed away; no matter the technical advance, the newspaper is practical, reliable, and resourceful. There will always be a need for printed news.