(65) Can the web save the press from oblivion?

Link: http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/apr/17/can-internet-save-printed-press-blendle-lumi

Summary:

Newspapers have been battered by the internet. But the industry could be about to fight back – with help from websites that aim to be the iTunes of journalism. Last week a group of 17 American news organisations, including the New York Times and Washington Post, served a cease-and-desist legal order against a start-up news platform. The platform, called Brave, was launched in January by the creator of JavaScript, Brendan Eich. The Brave browser had been created in part in response to two recent trends in news delivery: the emergence of mobile platforms such as Apple News and Facebook’s Instant Articles, and the growing use of software that allows readers to block advertisements from news content.

Key data/statistical information:

• About 15 years ago, when digital media became a reality, news organisations tended to adopt one of two tried-and-trusted crisis-management strategies: ostrich or lemming.
• In America, journalist was named the fourth most endangered job in 2015, nestled between farmer and logging worker.
• Alexander Klöpping set up Blendle in Holland in 2014. The site originally handpicked the best articles from a range of newspapers and magazines and sold them on an individual basis to those who had signed up to the site and set up an account. On this basis Blendle has established 500,000 regular users in Holland and Germany.

What's my view?

New and digital media has made the internet revolution become a big thing. People now look to the web for news instead of buying newspapers or magazines. By turning these newspapers into websites, it could potentially save the press from oblivion.