It's been happening for a couple of years.  It's now becoming more obvious.

Newspapers are urged to reach out to Web
BECKY BOHRER
Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — Online journalists warned a meeting of newspaper editors Thursday that their industry's survival depends on how well they can engage and excite the masses of readers on the Web.

While delving into the digital age may seem daunting, "it's not nearly as frightening as what will happen to journalism if we don't embrace it," Jim Brady, executive editor of washingtonpost.com, said during the Associated Press Managing Editors annual conference.

The Internet provides opportunities for storytelling and interacting with readers that traditional newspapers do not, Brady and panelists at the conference said. From video and photo galleries to podcasts and blogs, the Web is opening new doors to entice in readers and otherwise build community.

"People are desperate for community," Jon Fortt, senior editor of Business2.0 magazine, said during a panel discussion on attracting young readers. That included jargon such as "widgets," which are blocks of information, and mentioned the value social networking sites can offer for finding story ideas and sources.

"They're looking to share ideas," Fortt said.

Some journalists view the rise of the Web culture as a threat to newspapers - and they should, Fortt said in an interview.

"It's a threat to our previous mode of packaging," said the 29-year-old Fortt, adding that he reads more news now than ever and gets most of it from the Web.

Powered by Qumana