By 2010 the cover will be blown on newspapers that are stuffed with generic articles wire-fed from Reuters, AP and the White House. The newspaper industry as a whole has become dazzled by the technology of our time and in the process has become lazy. What must be done to maintain dominance in the news marketplace is a return to principles. The news must come first. News must be relevant and meaningful to the people who would buy the locai newspaper.
Dominance demands investment in journalism.
People who are willing and able to spend time to research a lead and to verify a story's content for accuracy must be valued and paid accordingly. Editors who can feel the pulse of their readership and who understand the issues of importance to them need to be given license to direct their staffs. News is what we sell. Dominant businesses in other fields are recognizing the necessity of a good research and development program. Dominance demands impartiality.