How much news in your newspaper?

[Tom Hendricks]

Here are two experiments to determine how much news. Not only is there no coverage of zines, but not much of any news. Here is my weekly e-mail club message on newspapers. Support indie media.

I've always wanted to take our Dallas daily and see how much of it is hard news. Thankfully someone else has done it for me. Clay Shirky reports on his findings for his hometown paper. Then UTNE does the same experiment. They include photos of the results. Check them out and let me know what you think.

Clay Shirky
http://www.shirky.com/weblog/2009/10/rescuing-the-reporters/

Utne - with pictures:
http://www.utne.com/Media/What-Is-a-Newspaper-For-Really-5405.aspx


Tom Hendricks
(editor of the 17 year old zine Musea)

[Tom Hendricks]

Fox news is the first to openly show its prejudice and openly abandon fair journalism. But IMO all ad driven media is pro biz. They have to support their sponsors. And only big business can afford to advertise consistently. No ad driven media can do tough fair stories on big business. If they did they would loose their ad dollars, and go out of business.
For me I support media that isn't ad driven.

Nadia Brady said:

Don't be silly. Fox news is satire... right?

Amy said:

like Fox ISN'T propaganda?

tim scannell said:

no 'news'
xcept on TVFOX

wash times
wash examiner

weekly standard
nat review

drudge and his desk ref page

all else propaganda...no 'news in mainstream media...but
there is NOT MEANT TO BE!!! So why ask?

[Clare Marshall]

Haha...Fox News....

Funny story about that actually. For class one day, we had to bring in an example of a audio/video clip of really good OR really bad interview. And it said right on the assignment paper, "You cannot use Fox News as an example" (Because all of it is bad :P).

[Tom Hendricks]

I really think they could be - dump ads, dump music formats, loose all rock bands for a couple of years, play all new music from every corner of the world, integrate music with the other arts and the internet, and I'll listen.



Adam Icarus said:

You're right, I don't see newspapers or radio going away, but I do see them become niche markets. Sadly, radio suffers from the Clear Channel effect, and newspapers just aren't fast enough to cover breaking news. They were once interesting mediums, but not so much anymore.

Clare Marshall said:

And yes, people still read newspapers, and there will always be people reading newspapers. People thought radio would disappear when TV came around. It's still kicking. And some of that "other" category stuff--weather, sports, comics...it's not news, sure, but it's part of what people expect in newspapers. Some people can't get that information anywhere else, or it's a daily ritual to read that, or whatever.

[The East Village Inky]

well, the New York Post just interviewed me for a short article about zines. But somehow I don't think the Post readership is the natural demographic.

[Tom Hendricks]

Let us know when it runs. BTW East Village Inky is an inductee of the Zine Hall of Fame.

The East Village Inky said:

well, the New York Post just interviewed me for a short article about zines. But somehow I don't think the Post readership is the natural demographic.

[Emma Jane Falconer]

Tom - check out http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/ I think you'll like it, no ads, no commercial playlist, and shows presented by Bob Dylan, Marc Riley from the Fall and Craig Charles off Red Dwarf. The DJs get to choose all the music they play.

[Tom Hendricks]

Thanks for the tip. I like the BBC in many ways. I wonder if they dare play the new post-bands music? Seems one thing you seldom hear on radio is music with any controversial message, any music with bite.


Emma Jane Falconer said:

Tom - check out http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/ I think you'll like it, no ads, no commercial playlist, and shows presented by Bob Dylan, Marc Riley from the Fall and Craig Charles off Red Dwarf. The DJs get to choose all the music they play.

[Tom Hendricks]

How about music that opposes bands and what rock and popular music has become?
http://www.youtube.com/user/TomHendricksMusea#p/u/54/M0c7wBorpXM


Mulnix said:

Like what? Can you turn me on to something with "bite"? I've been waiting for summadat.

Tom Hendricks said:

Thanks for the tip. I like the BBC in many ways. I wonder if they dare play the new post-bands music? Seems one thing you seldom hear on radio is music with any controversial message, any music with bite.


Emma Jane Falconer said:

Tom - check out http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/ I think you'll like it, no ads, no commercial playlist, and shows presented by Bob Dylan, Marc Riley from the Fall and Craig Charles off Red Dwarf. The DJs get to choose all the music they play.

[Tom Hendricks]

Tom Hendricks said:

This url is a good introduction, maybe even better for a first look
http://www.hunkasaurus.com/naq.html


Tom Hendricks said:

How about music that opposes bands and what rock and popular music has become?
http://www.youtube.com/user/TomHendricksMusea#p/u/54/M0c7wBorpXM


Mulnix said:

Like what? Can you turn me on to something with "bite"? I've been waiting for summadat.

Tom Hendricks said:

Thanks for the tip. I like the BBC in many ways. I wonder if they dare play the new post-bands music? Seems one thing you seldom hear on radio is music with any controversial message, any music with bite.


Emma Jane Falconer said:

Tom - check out http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/ I think you'll like it, no ads, no commercial playlist, and shows presented by Bob Dylan, Marc Riley from the Fall and Craig Charles off Red Dwarf. The DJs get to choose all the music they play.

[Emma Jane Falconer]

Yeah, the BBC will play whatever, they don't have to care about making money. 6 Music also has full access to all the Peel Session archives and they love digging out sessions from totally forgotten experimental bands.

[Tom Hendricks]

But remember I am leading the movement against bands. Time for a change from what rock has become - generic , boring, and music for ads.
I'm pretty sure the BBC won't dare touch music that stands for real issues.
I have contacted them before and they are the same as other media outlets on being against this new music.


Emma Jane Falconer said:

Yeah, the BBC will play whatever, they don't have to care about making money. 6 Music also has full access to all the Peel Session archives and they love digging out sessions from totally forgotten experimental bands.

[Dan 10things]

Dude, you play solo with a guitar, don't try to pretend that's innovative or new or some sort of new movement. I have 25 friends that do the same thing.

Tom Hendricks said:

But remember I am leading the movement against bands. Time for a change from what rock has become - generic , boring, and music for ads.
I'm pretty sure the BBC won't dare touch music that stands for real issues.
I have contacted them before and they are the same as other media outlets on being against this new music.


Emma Jane Falconer said:

Yeah, the BBC will play whatever, they don't have to care about making money. 6 Music also has full access to all the Peel Session archives and they love digging out sessions from totally forgotten experimental bands.