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Canadian newspapers feeling the pain

Canadian newspapers are hurting.  Both Torstar and Quebecor saw first quarter sales drop 16 and 64 per cent respectively. 

"Both companies said they have not been able to cut costs fast enough to offset plummeting ad sales."

It's not surprising really... we're in a RECESSION. I laugh when I see headlines in the media, of which there are plenty, suggesting the recession is over. It's not over, it never ended and it's not going to end (for the next five to 10 years anyway). 

Which means any product that requires the end user to buy it is going to suffer. Consumers are having to make tougher choices as to where their dollars will be spent. Given almost all of the news is available online for free, it's no surprise that the actual sale of newspapers is declining (and associated revenues from print advertising). 

It's kind of sad in many ways because there's something about 'print' journalism that embodies serious journalism. I suppose it's the physical placement of stories. The manner in which the stories are presented tells a story in itself as to what is serious and what is less serious. It provides an unspoken commentary as to what we all need to be paying attention to in the world and what we can pay casual attention to. 

When it comes to online journalism all stories get thrown into a giant hodge-podge of content. In fact, online doesn't care so much about what is 'important' or 'serious' only what gets 'clicks'. As a result, opinion pieces, salacious headlines and quirky human interest stories often take center stage over more serious stories. 

The decline of print journalism in many ways represents the decline of society's attention and concerns to serious issues. 

I may not be particularly interested in some event in Japan, but when I see it on the front of the Globe and Mail I stop and read it. That's an affect on readers that doesn't happen online and that unfortunately makes for a less educated populous. 

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