Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn offers advice on what newspapers must add to remain relevant today: “Seven-day a week advice columns about personal technology; vastly increased coverage and criticism of other media, particularly entertainment television; a return of the old action columns in which we mediate disputes and avenge bitter consumers; more gossip and, of course, blogs, blogs, blogs.” It’s a interesting column; check it out.
I like the idea of “action” columnists that go after the bad guys. Newspapers seem to have ceded that turf to TV and the Internet for some reason. I’ve heard a lot more about the investigative reporting of bloggers than I have of newspapers in the past year.
Newspapers won’t exist in 10 years. We’ll be using PCs in the “form factor” of newspapers, or something close to it. All content will be customized. So the strategists can give it up!