wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] smidely April 15, 2009 - 10:50AM

  Aside from everybody's bathroom buddy Thos. Moser, I can't think of any INDUSTRIES, let alone businesses, that have thrived beyond 4 generations or 100 years at longest... could it be that human life is simply too fluid to support large corporate structures that seem to outlive their raisons d'etre inside a single human lifespan?

  
  
• [2] JR April 15, 2009 - 11:52AM

  I agree with previous post. But I want to add, that most content is popcorn for the brain. I mean even all the content on WNYC is a form of entertainment. How much "news" do you really need to know to get through each day? I grew up picking up the paper in the morning, but I would rarely do it now, even though it is a pleasant experience to thumb through the newspaper.

  If its information that you feel you really need, (i.e. to do your job etc, helps you make money) you would pay for it. Since I value WNYC, I make contributions.

  Michael Crichton had this pegged back in 1993 when he predicted the death of traditional media.

  Michael Crichton, Vindicated His 1993 prediction of mass-media extinction now looks on target.

  By Jack Shafer

  http://www.slate.com/id/2192382/#sb2192429

  Mediasaurus

  Today's mass media is tomorrow's fossil fuel. Michael Crichton is mad as hell, and he's not going to take it anymore.

  http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/1.04/mediasaurus.html

  
  
• [3] Merrill from New York, NY April 15, 2009 - 12:07PM

  The NEW NYT way to finance its way out of its financial mess:

  1. Do a scandelous, full-length, slam piece, e.g. against Sen Gilibrand for working many years ago as an associate attorney for a pro-tobacco firm.

  2. Next day, doing a search in the NYT website of "Gilibrand and tobacco," which yields one paid sponsor result: Sen. Gilibrand's website and how she is now anti-tobacco.

  
  
• [4] BB April 15, 2009 - 12:09PM

  But most equity investors don't like "conglomerate" type of structures. The idea is that if I want diversification, I will seek it out. I don't need a media company to invest in unrelated businesses.

  
  
• [5] BB April 15, 2009 - 12:14PM

  Also,

  What makes you think that if Amazon had been under control of the NYT that it would have succeeded?

  
  
• [6] Betty Anne from UES April 15, 2009 - 12:15PM

  I think blaming the fall of the NYT's on Craiglist or anything like that is pathetic.

  The NYT's proved during the lead-up to the Iraq war they have NO journalistic integrity. Many people I know just don't trust it anymore.

  
  
• [7] BB April 15, 2009 - 12:15PM

  D. Edwards Deming concepts were used successfully in Japan. So I wouldn't knock it.

  
  
• [8] BB April 15, 2009 - 12:16PM

  And,

  Didn't the Times own radio and TV stations.

  
  
• [9] YEP April 15, 2009 - 12:22PM

  How about the liberal bias and editorial page. Maybe with the exposure to more information, people now realize its liberal agenda. I mean maybe liberals can't run a business.

  
  
• [10] Dave Ruby from Westchester April 15, 2009 - 12:25PM

  Are there other promising heirs or relatives that might fix the paper?

  
  
• [11] Jim April 15, 2009 - 12:25PM

  Betty Anne,

  Most newspapers and mainstream media follow the government line in times of crisis. I mean what was there stance during Vietnam say 65, 66? What did they do during the Spanish American, Philipino War of Independence, WWI, WW2, Korea?

  
  
• [12] randy April 15, 2009 - 12:28PM

  Will TV and radio follow the same path as Newspapers?

  
  
• [13] tt April 15, 2009 - 12:31PM

  But isn't this simply the laws of capitalism? Generally its hard for old established industries to innovate? This allows up and coming companies who are innovative to build their businesses.

  
  
• [14] Matthew from Astoria April 15, 2009 - 12:32PM

  QUESTION FOR LEONARD AND MR. BOWDEN: I've read more than once that the NY Times website earns enough income to support the newsroom. Is that not the case? How much does NYTimes.com take in?

  
  
• [15] Mike April 15, 2009 - 12:33PM

  What about Vanity Fair? I am able to access your article without paying for it. I can do this for the New Yorker as well. Are Magazines to follow?

  
  
• [16] Peter Ferko from Manhattan April 15, 2009 - 12:37PM

  The last comments point out a bizarre fact: no one is willing to pay for anything anymore. Digital information is taken to be an entitlement, whether it is news, art, or entertainment. Isn't this an unsustainable cultural mindset?

  
  
• [17] markBrown from sos-newdeal.blogspot.com April 15, 2009 - 12:38PM

  One interesting point that Mr. Bowden stated is:

  using the concept of "you can't use our news..."

  (and using micropayments/subscriptions)

  will not work..

  This is similar to the "walled gardens" of cable tv and AOL's beginning..

  This failed.

  Information wants to be free.

  If I could get a NY times subscription with live auto-updates on a kindle,

  I would immediately buy both

  
  
• [18] robert April 15, 2009 - 12:39PM

  I'd love to see a Times reality show. From reportin to business to the street. It's sure to increase ad revenue.

  
  
• [19] Chicago Listener April 15, 2009 - 12:41PM

  The Chicago Tribune has shuttered nearly all of its foreign bureaus. What is the likelihood that the NYT wil do the same?

  
  
• [20] rick April 15, 2009 - 12:42PM

  this is one of the worst interviews I have ever heard! why doesn't leonard ask him what evidence he has that the nyt will go under anytime soon i.e. own't survive the recession. does it occur to leonard that Bowden might just want to sell magazines??

  isn't this the same asshole who predicted in january that the paper would go under in may?

  
  
• [21] Kevin from Union City, NJ April 15, 2009 - 01:44PM

  colonel (kʉr′nəl).... where did the r come from???

  
  
• [22] William from Manhattan April 15, 2009 - 05:53PM

  The Times could learn a lot from WNYC. Have you thought about reaching out to them - doing a little pro bono consultation?

  You guys are true champions of journalism. Without your courage and vision, 93.9 could well be owned by Clear Channel today. When Mayor Guiliani wanted to put the station on the block, you turned to your listeners and other stakeholders and built a vital community to save the bandwidth for art, truth and the American Way.

  Arthur Sulzberger and his management team may have enough sense to listen to you. They could also talk to WFMU's Ken Freedman, and someone from the UK's Guardian. All of you know so much about community building, and have the spirit to help this rare institution get back on its feet.