The Rise of the Newsies

It was interesting that while reading about the rise of newspapers in the 19th century, I could also go online and read about how the SF Chronicle could be closing (article here). A further connection? William Randolph Hearst, mentioned in Western Civilizations as a "commercial publisher[]....[who] hastened to serve the new reading public" started The Hearst Corp. which controls the Chronicle today.

I couldn't help but examine the similarities and differences between now and then, in regards to literacy and mass media outlets. As the issue of how to "save" the newspaper is fast becoming critical, much of the debate focuses upon how to continue to earn revenue. As mentioned in the book, "Advertisements drastically lowered the costs of the mass-market newspapers, enabling even workers to purchase one or two newspapers a day" (858). Advertising has since driven the newspaper industry, the gasoline which allows the car to continue driving. To extend the metaphor further, now it appears as though the gasoline/oil reserves are no longer effective. What will be the hybrid or green technology for the newspaper though?