No longer an insider

After writing this blog for nearly a year and logging fifty posts, I must now pass along that I am no longer an insider to the newspaper industry. The mere fact that I felt the need to post these ideas anonymously was a pretty strong indication of how poorly received ideas have become in newspaper companies. Despite achieving a great deal of success within the industry and outside of it, my company had no desire to listen to any idea generated by someone other than the inner circle of the CEO.

I wish them well, but the time has come for me to move on. I'll continue to post as a very interested outside observer, and welcome any information my readers wish to pass along to shortbusinc@gmail.com. I'll keep your information about layoffs or other issues anonymous if you so desire.

The mission of journalists is still one that I want to see survive. I have seen the power it can have to keep people safe, expose corruption and keep people informed. My interest in the newspaper industry assumed the issue would be in creating demand for information the populace no longer desired, a cause I dearly believe in. However that isn't the issue. Demand for news is higher than ever, as is the ability to access that information. The issue lies in an outmoded business model that sells space rather than results. It lies in a patriarchal and political culture that remained a local monopoly too long to see the competition. The goal of this blog hasn't changed. I still want to see the industry make the transition. I just can't be part of the industry any longer and retain my sanity.

I'm sad to leave, but feel liberated at the same time. To those that remain, keep fighting the good fight. Despite all of the colleagues you have seen laid off over the last few years, your job still matters. In fact, it may matter more than ever. That goes for business types as well as journalists.