Are gone the days that we stroll the streets and glance upon the front page of our favorite newspaper so decoratively displayed? Are we soon to reminisce the days gone by when sounds of the rustling of ink laden papers that printed our city's or nation's happenings were heard in homes around the world? Will the loss of newspapers rob us of a piece of our cultural past?
MILANO (Lei Sussurra) August 29, 2009 -- There seems a theme amongst the world of journalism, especially in America, that newspapers are dead. With the demise of various newspaper giants, there is no doubt that those in the newspaper business in America are doing more than raising an eyebrow in response to the dilemma.
In Italy, newspapers are a part of our cultural fabric. Here, newspapers are like members of a family but not with titles such as Papa, Mama, Sister and Brother. Instead, its members are named Libero, la Repubblica and La Gazzetta Dello Sport. Whether Eugenio Scalfari's la Repubblica's voice of the centre or Vittorio Feltri's Libero's voice of the right-wing, the blood that runs through the newspaper's veins resonates its political stance; a driving force that sets a powerful tone in all it produces. Italia's newspaper founding heroes were fearless individuals whom, with their political conviction or passion otherwise, have given the readers a choice without disguise, dodging completely the concept Americans call, "The Spin".
Regardless the passion of the Italian press and the readership that supports it, the question remains -- Can Italy's faithful following of such cherished publishing treasures keep them alive past click capable close downs?
When the concept of online publishing was born at the onset of a user interactive graphical interface known as the world wide web, there was much positive expectation of the enormous potential to reach an expanded audience. Newspapers were then convinced that their readership would grow past the printed page. That expectation came to pass; however, as the online readership increased, the financial income of newspapers sales on the streets decreased.
Did newspapers underestimate the power of the online world by freely granting pieces of or entire content to patrons of online information? Did newspapers wager that advertising revenue would sustain them past the purchase of their readership by retaining their advertisers on the Internet while discounting the fact that they should charge for an online looker's view? Advertisers now enjoy a greater audience so why are newspapers suffering? The slump in sales of the printed page that has led to the shutdown or staff cutbacks of publications the world over is a confirmation that newspapers cannot survive on advertisers alone.
The concern continues around the world that online newspapers not vended but given free of charge to click capable readership have been the death knell of the old times when Papa so expertly held that giant flow of papers after Sunday's dinner. It would be sad indeed if such an institution is now on its way out.
Lei Sussurra
Copyright 2009
All Rights Reserved
In Italy, newspapers are a part of our cultural fabric. Here, newspapers are like members of a family but not with titles such as Papa, Mama, Sister and Brother. Instead, its members are named Libero, la Repubblica and La Gazzetta Dello Sport. Whether Eugenio Scalfari's la Repubblica's voice of the centre or Vittorio Feltri's Libero's voice of the right-wing, the blood that runs through the newspaper's veins resonates its political stance; a driving force that sets a powerful tone in all it produces. Italia's newspaper founding heroes were fearless individuals whom, with their political conviction or passion otherwise, have given the readers a choice without disguise, dodging completely the concept Americans call, "The Spin".
Regardless the passion of the Italian press and the readership that supports it, the question remains -- Can Italy's faithful following of such cherished publishing treasures keep them alive past click capable close downs?
When the concept of online publishing was born at the onset of a user interactive graphical interface known as the world wide web, there was much positive expectation of the enormous potential to reach an expanded audience. Newspapers were then convinced that their readership would grow past the printed page. That expectation came to pass; however, as the online readership increased, the financial income of newspapers sales on the streets decreased.
Did newspapers underestimate the power of the online world by freely granting pieces of or entire content to patrons of online information? Did newspapers wager that advertising revenue would sustain them past the purchase of their readership by retaining their advertisers on the Internet while discounting the fact that they should charge for an online looker's view? Advertisers now enjoy a greater audience so why are newspapers suffering? The slump in sales of the printed page that has led to the shutdown or staff cutbacks of publications the world over is a confirmation that newspapers cannot survive on advertisers alone.
The concern continues around the world that online newspapers not vended but given free of charge to click capable readership have been the death knell of the old times when Papa so expertly held that giant flow of papers after Sunday's dinner. It would be sad indeed if such an institution is now on its way out.
Lei Sussurra
Copyright 2009
All Rights Reserved
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