The Christian Science Monitor: Treeless

Today marks the last day of The Christian Science Monitor's daily print edition. Starting Monday, the Monitor will publish online only, with the exception of one weekly print edition. Go here to read a letter from John Yemma, the editor. Go here for reminiscences from many Monitor staffers, past and present.

Go here for an interview between Yemma and NPR's Terry Gross.

Unlike other papers that depend primarily on advertising to pay the bills, the Monitor should be able to make the transition without resorting to massive cuts in the newsroom -- the dreaded 12 percent solution -- or a decrease in the quality or scope of the journalism. Or so we hope.

I got my first clip -- and first paycheck -- from the Monitor for a feature on pidgin and creole languages, pegged to the work of two Stanford professors. bk

and suppose the choice is oreos?

The newspaper death march continues. The Ann Arbor News announced today that it will close up shop in July to be replaced by AnnArbor.com, a digital site for daily news. Read the press release from the editor, who admits that lay-offs are inevitable, here.

Go here to watch a talk from the "Content Director" of AnnArbor.com.

He says that the new site is not the "death of journalism" in Ann Arbor, but the future of it as local bloggers and community members will end up sharing the venue with professionals. (Possibly a consequence of the 12 percent solution?) He goes on to say that, in order to shape the site, "We're not going to tell you what's important in your life -- you're going to tell us what's important to you."

Really? I thought that was part of the journalist's job. Consider what gets lost, especially if no one opts for the broccoli. bk