They put a fucking 17 YEAR OLD in JAIL for this?!

[glatt]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

I think there will be a slew of startup papers, really local, probably free, local ads, wanted/for sale ads, and a smattering of local news. Hopefully some journalistic talent will follow, but they won't want to insult advertisers.

This is the problem. With craigslist, there is no reason to pay for a wanted/for sale ad. It's the biggest single reason local papers are struggling.

[Clodfobble]

Yeah, Austin's free alternative newspaper is still going strong. But a large portion of their pages are ad content, humor, (left-wing) op/ed, and weekly live music listings. They still would have been all over exposing a story like this though.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

They still would have been all over exposing a story
like this though.

I'm sure they would have loved to expose this story, but do they have reporters actively monitoring all the cases going on in the state? That's how you find a story like this. It doesn't just land in your lap unless someone gives it to you.

There are always ways a story like this could come to light without traditional local papers, but I'm just sad to see that one source declining. It makes it less likely that a small local story like this sees the light of day.

[sugarpop]

Originally Posted by glatt

I'm sure they would have loved to expose this story, but do they have reporters actively monitoring all the cases going on in the state? That's how you find a story like this. It doesn't just land in your lap unless someone gives it to you.

There are always ways a story like this could come to light without traditional local papers, but I'm just sad to see that one source declining. It makes it less likely that a small local story like this sees the light of day.

Yep. The folding of newspapers around the country marks a very sad day for investigative journalism. Young, green reporters don't have the contacts to get the real dirt on some things. With the demise of newspapers looming over us, so goes the demise of democracy.

And, I actually like to read a newspaper. I read a lot less online, because I like the feel of a book or newspaper in my hands, the turning of the page, etc.. I find that when I read online, my attention span is much worse, and I have a harder time concetrating.