Farewell to print, Wired Journalists
2 Comments Published January 25th, 2008 in News, general, internet, newspaperHrmm. Looks like I was being conservative when I predicted the New York Times would go web-only in 30 years.
According to the Editor’s Weblog:
A futurist panel at the World Economic Forum has suggested that print newspapers will disappear by 2014. This type of prediction has been repeatedly heard in past years though.
I think that’s pretty soon. I hope newspapers are pretty far along in their progression by then, but I think they’ll still sell the damn things in six years.
In other news, I’ve been watching the development of WiredJournalists.com recently. It’s a social networking site for journalists.
Though it’s gained over 400 members in three days, I’m hesitant to join for a few reasons.
- Firstly, another social network to check?
- Also, I’m no longer a reporter by trade (I’ve moved to other parts of the news industry), and it’s unclear whether the site is for trading ideas on your beat (like ReportingOn) or just a place for people in the news industry to hang out and meet each other.
- Most importantly, none of my friends/colleagues are on it!
These are small reservations, of course, so you’ll probably see me on there by the end of next week.
But! The guys who made this thing, Ryan Sholin, Howard Owens and Zac Echola, all have wonderful blogs. Check them out.
Phillip – Thanks for the shout outs.
A lot of people who have asked me about my plans for ReportingOn have let out the same groan, “another social network?”
I’ve been pleasantly surprised this is the first time I’ve heard that question about WiredJournalists.com.
Why?
I think it’s because Ning-powered networks are so quick and easy to join, for one thing.
The other thing: Most of the time, the people doing the groaning are, for lack of a better term, wired, and those aren’t the ones we’re trying to bring to the table. The stated goal of the network is to connect the “non-wired” with experts, and to give those willing to dip their toes in the wired water a clean, safe pool to do it in.
That metaphor went a couple clauses too far. Pardon me.
Anyway, you should check it out. Join, don’t join, whatever, but I’m blown away by not only the response we’ve seen this week, but the diversity of the journalists who have shown up.
I’d like to hear your predictions on holograms as well.