Transition Phase

Response

Although presenting information suggesting that journalism is going through a transition phase, Shirky does not make a prediction for what will be the replacement of print journalism in the future. In response to Kacey’s question pertaining the transition period of journalism, I agree with Shirky in the sense that now is the time for ‘experiments’. Shirky cites how innovations like Craigslist, Wikipedia, and Octavolumes were formulated through experimentation in the transformation period. By listing the beneficiaries of print journalism (politicians, district attorneys, radio hosts and bloggers) in then presenting the high expenses of printing presses, a sense of urgency is evoked among the audience. “The old stuff (printing presses) gets broken faster than the new stuff is put in its place.” If print journalism is forced to foreclose due to a lack of income before a replacement is invented than I think a chain of negative economic events will ensue, affecting politicians, radio hosts, bloggers etc (all beneficiaries of print journalism). This is why digital journalist innovators must keep experimenting until they find a solution just as a one was found in 1500 with the invention of print.

In regard to the micropayment question, I do think newspapers are doing the right thing by experimenting with ways to turn a profit online, however I don’t think micropayment will mark the end of the transition phase because instead of paying for online newspapers, people will turn to other news outlets like blogging, and word of mouth. The unthinkable scenario, which is the notion of people sharing information through the internet, has become print journalisms biggest nightmare.

In response to the third question, I think newspapers will become extinct due to the high expenses of print. The New York Times for example, is anticipating prints disappearance which is why they have invented the CustomTimes. The CustomTImes is the New York Times, but instead of paper its on your phone and television. Pending 'experimentation' with the public, things like the CustomTimes will replace newspapers.

1) If a replacement for print journalism is not found, and print presses become to expensive to keep running, than should micropayments be installed for blogging web sites so that the beneficiaries of print journalism don’t feel the effects?

2) What will surface first, prints extinction or the end of the transition period?