I believe our work has a value. That said, I also believe the Internet can be used to our advantage. In fact, we should be able to drive readers and surfers back and forth. Use the Internet to give people a sample of what is in the newspaper so they want to have it delivered, or at least will go to the store to buy a copy. Then drive people to the Internet by running the things that we don't have space for in the printed edition.
Newspapers are still among the greatest bargains in our country.
But there has to be a price for them. The recent dot-com failures are proof that free isn't always better. If we give them a good product, they'll be willing to pay for it. And paid circulation does matter - even to editorial types. Harry J. Deitz Jr. is the assistant managing editor of the Reading Times and Reading Eagle and the 2000-01 PSNE president.