Doc’s prescription for newspapers

October 6, 2006 by Jeff Jarvis
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Doc has a wonderful list of suggestions for newspapers. As a preface, he asks and answers why Wall Street hates the LA Times: “Simple: Because newspapers are a rusty industry. They have tail fins. They print lists of readers every day on the obituary page. Worse, as a class they are resolutely clueless about how to adapt to a world that is increasingly networked and self-informing. And Wall Street knows that.” I’ve been working on my own list. Bonus link: Doc’s prescription for his beloved radio.

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  • http://ipid.wordpress.com/ markbeauileu

    The listings of the dead in the paper – that’s a great radio idea for NPR affiliate stations don’t you think? Anyway was glad for Jeff’s quick pointer to Dr. Searls, and want to hear what erikso thinks of on the weekend.
    My weekend I am compelled to read (again) “Understanding Media” or in comicbook form “The Medium is the Massage”. What I like about McLuhan is that he gets so confused that you can’t help but start writing your own ideas. As the great food writer Arthur Liebling said when he was on the beach at Omaha – “There is nothing like a good strafing to build up the appetite”. Or to put it in my terms, when I read, I write.

  • I.F. Stoner

    MISSING FROM THE LIST:

    1) Stop making sh*t up. Less stories with no lede quote until the 10th graf and more stories with verifieable citations to source documents.

    2) Learn to admit errors openly and up front, make timely corrections and apologies instead of hiding behind the First Amendment. It’s about the truth, not the amount of error you are allowed to print. (I can’t believe the NYT is hiding Calame’s column behind a pay screen!)

    3) Earn the public’s trust back by disclosing interests more openly. Let readers decide if there’s a conflict of interest.

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