Bail out for the print industry?

Being that this is my midterm blog post i figured i should probably do it big. Therefore, i found two very interesting articles, both similar in content. One is about general newspaper circulation , and the other is about Forbes magazine.

Beginning with the recent decline in the circulation of newspapers, as the article states this is due to the new popularity of reading the news online, and the recession our country is facing. They say that this time last year the rating had not dropped as "sharply." Understandably, within a recession people begin to cut down, even on silly expenses like the paper, or their early morning coffee. instead people wake up earlier, make their own coffee and read their new via Internet. Also mentioned in the article, airport and hotels are apparently the largest distributors of newspapers. (who woulda thought?) And since people are not vacationing due to the decrease in job security, and expense the newspaper industry is suffering dramatically. USA Today lost their top spot in the circulation to the Wall Street Journal, who also sells online subscriptions. Next, a similar situation i am assuming is taking place within the magazine world, since Forbes is having to do ANOTHER layoff. (this is due to the decrease in advertising.) Last year, they had dismissed an estimated 100 employees. Forbes also places the blame on the Internet, as well as, the recession. They predict that the magazine industry will be extremely different after the recession.

My question is do these companies need a bail out? how will they change after the recession?

I think that companies as well as, the people will adapt to the recession and begin by making Internet subscriptions, so you will pay a monthly or annual fee based upon what they would've normally made by selling their copies of printed materials. And in all actuality i think this would be great considering the whole new "going green concept." Everyone seems to be going green, so this would help reduce the diminishing amount of trees, as well as, the pollution the these papers and magazines may produce when they are not recycled properly. All in all, i think although the recession hasn't been plesant, it maybe putting companies n the position to prioritize.

Using the User. . .

Recently companies have been using the user as a part of the company. Twitter for instance, as informed by this article, literally used the people that used twitter to help come up with new ideas for the website. This helped create new links on the website which would allow users to do what they do easier.

Other companies have done this as well, such as flickr. I never knew this but Flickr was originally a part of a big online game. They then realized that people were using the photo application of the game more, so they are now strictly photos. Ford, also another large company, recently began using university students to help come up with new idea for their in-car system.

I think that this may become a new trend among companies. I think it makes there job easier, and helps them realize what the average person wants. I am also assuming it is cheaper. I think it is mostly great for us the consumer because we know that someone similar to us, another consumer, is helping them put these ideas together. I don't think that there is a down side to this, the companies are simply trying to speak to the average person and find out what it is that they can do to make it better.

Told you . . .

So, here we are again. The kindle, the Vook, the Sony reader and now the Nook. Just to be clear i am really posting about all these digital books because the entire class except for a select few think that the book will be around forever. It won't, it's actually on it's way to the endangered species list as your reading this.
Heres my proof, in the article E-Book Fans Keep Format in Spotlight , explains that book sales are down this year, and people of all ages are finding these digital books much more accessible and easier to read. People enjoy the idea of being able to enlarge text. (*For people like my father, text-size could be a serious deal breaker.) And statistics within the article also prove that people tend to actually read faster, and more often. Also, people are downloading ebooks they already have in paperback, simply because it is easier, and less intimidating. People are pumped that they they can bring their digital book and read it at the bus stop, or waiting in a doctors office, and download new ebook where ever they want. And yes, of course you could always bring your plain boring paperback book. But what if you just finished one book out of a series, and want to start another? You'll just pop right into the next book store your come across, and hope they have it? Or really quick jump on amazon and download it.
Lets face it. Times are changing. Out with the old and it with the new, Not to mention the piracy of e-books. That's really what I'm waiting for. Then not only are the readily available to bring with you anywhere, but FREE too. Yeah, its illegal, whattevvvv. So is downloading music/videos off limewire, we all do it.
I think that declining sales as well as the diversity of people using these ebooks says it all. They're doomed. And it will be awesome to not have to go out of your way to stop at Barnes n Noble. Instead we'll sit in Starbucks and download your next book.

Watching TV through your cellphone?

We all know that we can do practically anything on our cellphones. We can use the Internet, text message, watch you tube clips, receive e-mails, cheat on exams using google, and picture messages. But have we ever watched TV on our phones? i now i never have, even though i think Verizon has like some sort of app that allows you to watch TV clips. But its really never been that accessible. Within the article i recently read, TV Stations Start Broadcasting to Mobile Gadgets, they discuss that soon they'll be broadcasting TV onto our phones. I'm assuming that it would be accessible to ALL wireless users, Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, etc. I think that this would have a huge impact on cellphone users. Mostly because how many people run home to be in front of the TV for their favorite TV series? I know when entourage is on, i schedule my life around being home for it. Sad, i know. But if it were available on my phone i could watch it on my way home from the city on the train, or at work, on my break outside. whateverr. but i wouldn't have to necessarily schedule my time around it. or pay an extra $10 a month on DVR.

I think this would be a good think not only for the consumer, but the cellphone companies, and TV stations, it may even affect ratings of shows, now that it would be so much more accessible.

Introduction to Vook...The Death of Books?

In class we have discussed "the death of books," and whether it may or may not happen. I was one of the people who said that books will eventually die out. Everything is about technology now. As we discussed also in class, we don't wake up and read the newspaper, we jump online. We don't resort to an encyclopedia to find out about information, we google it. Times are changing, and our average everyday activities are becoming more technologically influenced.

When I was younger I would rent books from the library, or get them from a book store. There really wasn't any other way to go around it. If you wanted to read for fun or for school, those were you options. That was it. And now there are many different options such as, Kindle, Digital Reader, or the newest add-on Vook. Which is the topic most discussed in the article I just read.



I feel that as time progresses there won't really be a need for books any longer. When we have electronic books, and e-book downloads, text books are online, and hybrid video/book, books.

People say "oh but any hacker can go on and edit it, and make it different" or "the is no ORIGINAL copy, nothing tangible." I don't feel that way, I feel like yeah please make everything online. I hate buying books, carrying books, reading books, but i think if it were online there a good possibly. I wouldn't hate it so much. Because i wouldn't ever forget it, or have to worry about lending it to a friend, or lugging them back to the dorms after pay $500.

I think many other people of the new generation would feel this way. We grew up on computers and watched it progress as time went on and still continue too. I am comfortable online. And enjoy the convenience of checking e-mail instead of a mail box.