Eveyone seems to agree that local community papers have a better chance of surviving intact than the average newspaper animal. I think that is right from a readership point of view.
Community newspapers will not escape the continuing deterioration of the advertising base. This has more to do with changes in the composition of the advertising customers than anything else.
Part of the reason they have done so well up to now is that they had learned to survive with minimal classified and natiional advertising.
The person who figures out how to monetize the internet on a small scale will be the big winner. The key my friends is in the yet to be discovered new business model.
Certainly, the future is bright for vertical special interest publications where people spend significant money to get to know stuff they actually need for their everyday lives.
As to a future in writing, I think it might serve us all well to remember John Dillinger's famous quote about why he robbed banks. He said, "because that is where the money is."
I'm not suggesting anyone rob a bank. I am suggesting that writers examine the marketplace for niches where their skills can be useful and target them for future emplyment.
We should look for situations where our writing skills represent new or increased revenue streams to our employers rather than being viewed as an expense.
There are ways to accomplish this seemingly impossible task. I'd be interested to hear your opinions.
