November 21, 2006
Classified information
Fortune magazine reports that classified advertising revenue in newspapers has dropped $2 billion dollars (to $17.3 billion dollars) since 2001. At the same time, advertising on the classified website Craigslist (a pretty good indicator of web activity) has increased to $50 million dollars (from $10 million dollars) since 2003.
While disparity between the two is still huge, the trend is worth noting. The implications (print vs. electronic) extend far beyond classified adverting.
I watched a football game recently with my son and some of his early-20 friends. They watched with their laptops next to them and as questions came up about the game – which they were watching in real time – they simply turned to their laptops to get the answers.
I also hear the term “I saw an article”, rather than “I read an article” more and more.
This trend is not necessarily bad, but it is worth noting and reacting to.
Comments
Being the 20 something son you speak of (22) I would like to expand on your comment into my generation and how we treat traditional media sources. I have learned a few things that all seem logical to me and I will share them with you and your readers. If I am watching football, instead of watching the game and looking for scores scrolling across the screen, I will watch the game and have espn.com scoreboard up and have all scores at my fingertips being updated every 30 seconds. I get my news online instead of having it delivered to my apartment for a few reasons. Like many people my age, I have moved frequently over the last few years, and changing addresses on subscriptions is boring, and that is only where the inconvenience starts. I have seen many mornings when my father (which would be you) is up and waiting for the paper, not something I ever do since it is there whenever I want to read it, and I never even have to throw it out. It is free for me to get it online, I can do it at work, and I can check more outlets. Furthermore no walking outside in the cold in my underwear to go get it (which most everyone appreciates, especially my neighbors), if I am dissatisfied with a news source I just stop reading it, no contractual obligation, no cancellation to stop, and of course most importantly with The Star, I get to read my fathers blog everyday! If I want to watch the news I can go to CNN or FOX or ABC and catch the news I want on video, without waiting for show times, or dealing with commercials and I can turn it off and on as much as I please. Well I must get back to work, I love you Bro, get to see you tonight, I wish you and your readers a Happy Thanksgiving, and theirs won't be quit as good as mine because I get your world famous mashed potatoes! (yes in one response I am expressing a willingness to travel 400 miles for potatoes and not willing to walk outside and pick up a paper)
Justin
Thousand Oaks
Being the 20 something son you speak of (22) I would like to expand on your comment into my generation and how we treat traditional media sources. I have learned a few things that all seem logical to me and I will share them with you and your readers. If I am watching football, instead of watching the game and looking for scores scrolling across the screen, I will watch the game and have espn.com scoreboard up and have all scores at my fingertips being updated every 30 seconds. I get my news online instead of having it delivered to my apartment for a few reasons. Like many people my age, I have moved frequently over the last few years, and changing addresses on subscriptions is boring, and that is only where the inconvenience starts. I have seen many mornings when my father (which would be you) is up and waiting for the paper, not something I ever do since it is there whenever I want to read it, and I never even have to throw it out. It is free for me to get it online, I can do it at work, and I can check more outlets. Furthermore no walking outside in the cold in my underwear to go get it (which most everyone appreciates, especially my neighbors), if I am dissatisfied with a news source I just stop reading it, no contractual obligation, no cancellation to stop, and of course most importantly with The Star, I get to read my fathers blog everyday! If I want to watch the news I can go to CNN or FOX or ABC and catch the news I want on video, without waiting for show times, or dealing with commercials and I can turn it off and on as much as I please. Well I must get back to work, I love you Bro, get to see you tonight, I wish you and your readers a Happy Thanksgiving, and theirs won't be quit as good as mine because I get your world famous mashed potatoes! (yes in one response I am expressing a willingness to travel 400 miles for potatoes and not willing to walk outside and pick up a paper)
Posted by: at November 22, 2006 07:29 AMJustin
Thousand Oaks