5 ms·

This chart (https://twitter.com/benthompson/status/778260618914652164 https://twitter.com/benthompson/status/778260618914652164) suggests that Facebook should n

by rjvir 10y ago

This chart (https://twitter.com/benthompson/status/778260618914652164 https://twitter.com/benthompson/status/778260618914652164) suggests that Facebook should not a lone scapegoat for journalism's decline - the internet as a whole is a more reasonable target.

bigbugbag 10y ago
Haven't you noticed how the word "facebook" replaced "the internet/online" in many contexts ? It was a part of marketing facebook to the masses. Then again the decline of journalism is not a matter of internet as much than a matter of selling out to advertisers and being bought by rich individuals or corporations. With internet access becoming popular it provided an alternative to the traditional media to get news and information.
- pg314 10y ago
  > a matter of selling out to advertisers and being bought by rich individuals or corporations. Can you expand on that? I see the decline in circulation and eroding of their ad and classified income as the principal culprit. I haven't seen any prominent examples of newspapers where the rich individuals or corporations have caused a decline. The Washington Post was thriving during the 40 years that Buffett had an ownership stake.
WildUtah 10y ago
Facebook should not a lone scapegoat Actually it was Craigslist. Back before the internet, the single biggest pot of newspaper revenue was classified ads.
- kraftomatic 10y ago
  I think Craigslist is a US problem. Internationally I think the traditional news approach has had many different challenges. Classified advertising also has had different challenges around the world, such as dedicated publications.
  - rjvir 10y ago
    The fundamental challenge is that of having hand-delivered paper newspapers be the centralized hub of information. Any manifestation of the Internet makes that obsolete - but the specific method of obsoletion may be different by country.
edblarney 10y ago
Possibly the 'sources' of information are 'all over the internet' - but the medium of virality is FB.
- rjvir 10y ago
  Maybe phrasing it another way could be useful: with or without Facebook, the journalism industry would be heavily declining. Yes, Facebook is how many people use the Internet - but it's a mistake to therefore conclude Facebook is responsible for journalism's decline.

by rjvir 10y ago

bigbugbag 10y ago

Haven't you noticed how the word "facebook" replaced "the internet/online" in many contexts ? It was a part of marketing facebook to the masses. Then again the decline of journalism is not a matter of internet as much than a matter of selling out to advertisers and being bought by rich individuals or corporations. With internet access becoming popular it provided an alternative to the traditional media to get news and information.

pg314 10y ago
> a matter of selling out to advertisers and being bought by rich individuals or corporations. Can you expand on that? I see the decline in circulation and eroding of their ad and classified income as the principal culprit. I haven't seen any prominent examples of newspapers where the rich individuals or corporations have caused a decline. The Washington Post was thriving during the 40 years that Buffett had an ownership stake.

WildUtah 10y ago

Facebook should not a lone scapegoat Actually it was Craigslist. Back before the internet, the single biggest pot of newspaper revenue was classified ads.

kraftomatic 10y ago
I think Craigslist is a US problem. Internationally I think the traditional news approach has had many different challenges. Classified advertising also has had different challenges around the world, such as dedicated publications.
- rjvir 10y ago
  The fundamental challenge is that of having hand-delivered paper newspapers be the centralized hub of information. Any manifestation of the Internet makes that obsolete - but the specific method of obsoletion may be different by country.

edblarney 10y ago

Possibly the 'sources' of information are 'all over the internet' - but the medium of virality is FB.

rjvir 10y ago
Maybe phrasing it another way could be useful: with or without Facebook, the journalism industry would be heavily declining. Yes, Facebook is how many people use the Internet - but it's a mistake to therefore conclude Facebook is responsible for journalism's decline.