C'mon, Randy!

Man, I wonder if Randy Siegel is using his background in kids' books when he makes the absurd argument that newspapers shouldn't be giving away free content because "the book industry and the movie industry don't give their content away."

All three media forms couldn't be more different. Books, which are beginning to seep into the free Internet market, usually offer a specific reading environment that engages the reader (purposefully) for hours on end. Movies are an experience -- the seats, the previews, the atmosphere, the shared space. But newspapers online? They aren't usually read for hours on end like books and they certainly don't offer the entertainment value of movies. How could the publisher of Parade and a contributing founder of the Newspaper Project be so blithe in his assessment?

Everyone seems to be in a dire panic over the situation, so they're throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. And everyone gets sucked in, pontificating for hours on end about the horrific future of journalism. Yet, everyone seems to be chasing the carrot rather than creating a new one.

When presented, new issues call for new solutions. The article illustrates the lack of creativity in the newspaper industry right now when it comes to economics, which is disheartening. How long will editors and publishers be buckled into their ideas while restricting growth?

True, ideas are floating everywhere and most are a little wild. But perhaps that's what the industry needs right now. A little kick in the creative rear.