The notion that print journalism may go by the wayside - eclipsed by the ever-growing popularity of Internet news sources - is a palpable reality. However many metropolitan newspapers across the nation are making strides to establish an online market for newspaper-style of journalism.
The Buffalo News announced on Sunday that in March they will debut a new Web site, featuring real-time, interactive postings and other MSNBC.com-like offerings. The changes will be a complete overhaul of what is currently a relatively antiquated news page.
The demand for online news venues is based, obviously, on the Internet's widespread availability, convenience and source variety - not being able to meet these needs, print newspapers are being left in the dust. Many newspapers across the country, now including the News, are adapting their business models to address the impact of technology on their reader base, a base that will essentially remain consistent, if not grow.
Whether in print or online, it is vital that "newspaper-style" journalism be preserved. As News editor Margaret Sullivan put it in her column on Sunday, "no one can guarantee how that journalism will be delivered 10 or 20 years from now."
Newspaper-style journalism is a far more permanent form of media, whereas other forms, like as radio and television, are temporary, inconvenient to cite and provide less of a foundation on which to discuss or debate an issue. Print can be referenced, print can be saved.
Having a modern and practical home for up-to-the-minute newspaper-style local news is refreshing, especially in the sense that Buffalonians will have the opportunity to interact with this online media more readily than if it were exclusively delivered to their homes in print.
As technology mediums evolve, so too will journalism. As they do so, it is comforting to know The Buffalo News will be along for the ride.
Clinton hits the campaign trail
Expect even less time spent working for New York
Now that Hillary Rodham Clinton has announced her bid for the presidency, New Yorkers can expect even less from their junior senator, a carpetbagger originally from Arkansas.
In her campaign six years ago, Clinton gave Western New Yorkers her word that she'd help bring 200,000 new jobs to the area in her first term.
Needless to say, she broke this promise - but fear not, Hillary, New Yorkers can be a forgiving people.
Clinton focused her most recent senatorial campaign around the objectives she intends to tackle in the next six, yet it was widely speculated that she'd go public with her presidential aspirations soon after the election.
Sure enough, just a short time ago, the former first lady tossed her hat into a crowded ring.
There is no denying that much of Senator Clinton's time will now be spent on the damage control that is the campaign trail, seeing as her often polarizing image won't get her into the White House without a lot of work and a little luck. But thankfully for her, recent reports have identified the senator's demeanor as warm and welcoming, so it's pretty clear that her efforts are paying off.
It did, after all, work here six years ago.
At present, the ball is in Senator Chuck Schumer's court to continue to carry the Empire State and cover for his junior colleague.
We wish you the best, Chuck.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
