No Free Lunch
So has newsprint not learned the lessons of the past? In the same way movable type destroyed the old rigidly-controlled, hand-written standard of the ancient world, the blog revolution is threatening to claim print media. Their response? Professional newspapers dismiss the blogosphere as a mountain of disorganized drivel. It lacks a moral code, a stringent standard for ethical conduct and proper grammar. In short, it is ‘vulgar’.
Of course all those professionals are now in a pinch. The old mode is slowly dying and from a career standpoint there is no good place to jump to next.
The vulgar world of blogging is largely driven by personal obsession with a topic. Because of this most blogging is done simply for love of the subject. Little thought is given to making a profit. Some bloggers eke out a living on advertising revenue, but few make any substantial money. Newsprint is not doing much better, but a journalist good enough to get a staff job you would probably chafe at the pay cut.
Will columnists take part-time jobs while they continue to practice their craft simply for the love of it? Most likely not. Blogging lets everyone come to the table, but in the end someone will figure out a good way to make money with it. Rupert Murdoch, one of the world’s most prominent media moguls, has suggested that the only way newsprint can make the transition to the digital age is through subscription services. He is also a critic of news aggregator services, like Google News, who offer up his company’s stories for free. It should be noted that News Corp’s sites do not charge for their content yet either, though they are working with Microsoft on a solution to de-index all their news sites on Google. News Corp will then create a subscription-based service through Bing search engine.
Speaking of Google, the Internet giant’s Chief Executive Eric Schmidt has suggested that news will eventually settle into multiple tiers of service. Some levels will be based entirely on ad revenue, some based on subscriptions and some using a ‘micropayment’ system which would charge a penny or two per article.
Whatever the financial solution, it is only through adoption of the blog format that newsprint professionals can survive the coming paper holocaust. The technology to access the Internet is only becoming cheaper and more available every day. The difference between an amateur blogger and a professional journalist is beginning to blur, and will someday be utterly obliterated. The difference between a post and an article will no longer exist. There will only be the information. The quality of it will dictate its worth, not paper it is printed on.
9 Comments
Dear Joe,
So I guess guys like Warmbir and Kass aren’t real tight with you because your sort of like their main competition.
Also, could you tell me a little more about Nick Gio without comprimising your source. I ask this only because it seems like you guys have something in common. That is, he lost his father at a real young age and then was misguided. I know that his situation is a lot more extreme than yours but their is definitely some similarities.
I read somewhere that he hooked up with LaValley and said something along the lines of “I want to be in the mafia.” “Can you help me?” This is truely a sad story about a young guy who lost his father at a young age and then made some really bad decisions. I read that he murdered some salon owner over money and then dumped the body in an alley in Maywood.
Is their anything out there on LaValley yet? You said that he was recently murdered. I don’t mean to bother you with this stuff, but unfortunately I think that’s what some people want to read (not just myself).
Lastly, I wonder if what some of your commentors are saying is true about the mob. That is, it is extinct and that you, Joe Fosco, are living proof of it.
Thanks in advance.
Dear Alex,
Thank you for the enlightenment – great article. The fact that Kass and Warmbir tend to ignore me is a bit easier for me to understand now. Their profession as they know it is extinct, while mine is taking off. Perhaps we will offer them an opportunity to write for KTF someday as a peace offer.
Alex, congratulations on 2-years of KTF Media Group – it would not have been possible with you and our contributors.
I am especially thankful to the many readers that visit KTF every day, some leaving interesting comments – for the most part. Thank you ‘readers’, you have made our job at KTF quite fulfilling.
Over one-million visitors and growing strong.
Democratic Nominee For Illinois Lieutenant Governor Scott Lee Cohen
By Joseph Fosco
Dear Curious,
I cannot tell you any more about Nick Gio, unfortunately. I do not know anything more than I have shared in some of the threads over the last several weeks. The people that I know that knew him well have lost tract of him since his incarceration. It is a sad story, and I am fortunate that I was not as lost as he was.
I do know that Gio hooked up with LaValley in the early 1980’s. It was probably LaValley that ill-advised Gio to commit murder. I could think of one other person that might have made a serious impact on Gio in the 1980’s but I would rather not divulge his name.
There is nothing on the net regarding LaValley’s death as of yet.
I do not believe the Outfit is dead. I believe that I am still alive for three reasons. 1) I have placed a great deal of attention on the death threat on my life. 2) I take many precautions on a daily basis. 3) The Outfit could be playing my situation to their advantage. “If Fosco remains alive, we will look harmless.” Clever.
Please ignore, “Democratic Nominee For Illinois Lieutenant Governor Scott Lee Cohen
By Joseph Fosco.”
I accidentally pasted it from another piece to my previous comment.
To Mr. Alex Sharp, Senior Editor of KTF Media Group.
Sir, I am shocked and disappointed, to say the least. That you have not participated in KTF Media’s longest thread to date is frankly inexcusable. Of course, I am referring to the one in which allegations recently emerged regarding Mr. Joseph Fosco’s former colleague’s penchant for dog role-playing and urolagnia (i.e., sexual fetish focused on urination).
Now, Mr. Sharp, you will have no argument from me that this is clearly an uncomfortable topic of conversation. However, seeing as a reader has broached the subject whom Mr. Fosco has deemed “very credible”, I think that as the Senior Editor of this publication you have a professional responsibility to contribute to the conversation.
Mr. Sharp, I am sure you will acknowledge that, in most municipalities, dog walkers and owners are subject to fines if the animals in their care relieve themselves inappropriately, sloppily, or in a manner that causes damage to property.
Today, sir, I submit to you and the staff here at KTF Media Group that prostitutes who are tolerant of this type of behavior (as practiced by their “johns”) should consider instituting a “urination surcharge” to cover the costs of any fines they might incur by sponsoring and/or facilitating this abnormal (but legal) activity.
Please consider my suggestion, and feel free to advise.
Mr. Sharp, your readers are anxiously awaiting your insight regarding this matter.
Regards,
Alexander Julian Bean, MS., PhD.
Dear A.J.,
True, I called ‘!’ information ‘very credible’, but not ‘entirely credible’, excuse me if I inadvertently mislead you. ‘!’ made a couple of mistakes (small ones) and released three or four unsubstantiated bombshells, which I never heard before – they might be true, or they might be incorrect. I have no idea. Please refer to the original thread for details.
A.J., while I respond to comments, such as yours, I am willing to suggest that Mr. Sharp will likely pass on submitting a response.
Thank you for your readership.
Dear A.J.,
You are a sad, sad man. If Joe wishes to entertain you, so be it, but please refrain from contributing to any of my threads.
Sincerely yours,
Alex
Joe~
Did you ever find out the identity of “!” who disclosed all of the sensitive info?
Also, what did you mean by “some leaving interesting comments – for the most part” in your 1:05 comment? I haven’t been a long time reader, but most of your audience seems pretty well informed and supportive of you.
Dear Boris,
I have no clue who ‘!’ is.
You are right; most of my audience seems pretty well informed and supportive of me. However, I occasionally hear from people that are against me.