Monday, October 29, 2007

BoSacks Readers Speak Out: Journalism, Print Power, Editors and Professors

BoSacks Readers Speak Out: Journalism, Print Power, Editors and Professors
www.bosacks.com


RE: Journalism Isn't Pro Bono Work and It's Not a Hobby
It is about time print starts talking about the power of print.
Print has the tools to prove accountability by measuring and reporting the print to web connections.
(Submitted by a Writer)

RE: Journalism Isn't Pro Bono Work and It's Not a Hobby
Lessee . . . sell your product for money, but don't pay for it. . . . Didn't slave-owners and feudal lords have that business model? Even they often had to grudgingly feed the serfs, or have no labor at all.

The call for contributors ought to make interesting copy, too. "Join our Nifty BlogOrganization! Just send in your stuff and we'll sell it at no net gain to you. Improve your tax status! Write for no income whatsoever! A byline is compensation enough! Aw, C'mon!"
Submitted by a Publisher)



RE: Editor: Print Media Safe Due to Need for Status
Thank God, Zinczenko doesn't resort to silly little ploys like logic and evidence. His main argument seems to be "what is is and therefore shall always be."
(Submitted by a Writer)


RE: Editor: Print Media Safe Due to Need for Status
This is amazing. The best rationale for the perpetuation of print is the uniform look of electronic devices? Perhaps Mr. Zinczenko has missed the multi million dollar industry that is custom ring tones, or its little cousin the "skin" industry - personalization of electronic devices is already here. Even your cellphone choice sends a clear message- who do you take more seriously when they show up for a sales meeting the rep with the lime-green RAZR or the one with the Treo? Projecting yourself via your circuitry is infinitely more effective than relying on brand awareness of the voyeurs on the train - plus you can change it by the hour to suit your mood.

Perhaps David needs a new ring tone for his phone, I would suggest Nero playing his fiddle. . .
(Submitted by a printer, media enthusiast and aspiring futurist)


RE: Professor: Print Media 'Destined to Disappear'
This guy needs to come down from his ivory tower and take a look at the real world. Plenty of ink-on-paper "news" publications are prospering and will continue to prosper. If people don't want to read stuff they could have read days before on the Web, why is The Week doing so well? If news publications are dying, why are such varied publications as The Economist, American Profile, The New York Times Magazine, and local weekly papers doing so well? Print media have never been as good as broadcast media at delivering the latest national and international headlines, and the Web is even better than broadcast for that. But there is a lot more to news than headlines. Despite what the pundits say, consumers don't see the Web and print as an either-or situation: They see each as having its purpose. And despite the pronouncements of Gemstar, Sony, Stephen King, and various pundits and futurists, consumers don't seem to have much use at all for electronic publications or e-book readers.


One more point: I don't see how Chris Anderson will earn more on the free version of his next book than on the paid version. Based on what Pennenberg says, Anderson will receive about $2.50 (10% of $25) for each book sold. The rate-card rate on a 4-color ad in Wired has a CPM of about $107, or less than 11 cents per copy. The book would need 24 ads at that rate (and how many advertisers pay the rate-card rate?) to equal the $2.50, not to mention any commissions and other costs of advertising, distribution costs, etc. If he can sell that many ads at that rate, he should give up writing for Wired and start selling ads instead.
(Submitted by a Publisher)


RE: BoSacks Readers Speak Out: This is Important
If people want to avoid the negative aspects of the industry for a day go visit a university. Any university will do to see bright excited students eagered to enter the business world. A better idea is to visit Kean, NYU ol Cal Poly and see what is happening in their Graphic Communications department. Your visit will not change the outlook on the industry but you will feel excited and refreshed by being with the future leaders of our industry.
(Submitted by a Vice President /Manufacturing Operations)


RE: BoSacks Readers Speak Out: This is Important
Bo, you speak for us all. Well at least for most of us. We are all fearful, not for our lives but for our livelihoods'. Although we have never met, you have helped me understand my career and the publishing industry better than any ten persons I have ever worked with. You cover the entire industry with wit and wisdom. All I can say is thanks and please keep me as informed as is possible. The choices I make are my own, but I feel more comfortable with guidance and vision. Your ability and willingness to share with me for over a decade is worth beyond measure.
(Submitted by a Senior Circulator)


RE: BoSacks Readers Speak Out: This is Important
Thank you.
Alas. I know.
My heart may be digital; but my brains are still back in the stone age.
(Submitted by a Publisher)

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