I wonder what Hearst would think of what's become of his industry-- smaller papers, less localism, and many have given up on publishing every day.
Technology has evolved. A story can get out in seconds rather than waiting for the type to be set and the presses to roll. The newsstand comes to you rather than the other way around. I will say that faster doesn't necessarily equate in to better journalism. It doesn't leave much opportunity for perspective, relevance, understanding, context...
It's like what Ted Koppel said when 24 hour TV news came on the scene: "Pointing a camera at something isn't journalism."
There will always be a place for local news. The delivery method has changed, and will continue to change. It's clear the days of the newspaper landing with a thud on your front porch every morning are almost over. Pictures coming out of a big tower on top of a mountain aren't far behind.
The important thing here is to continue to have that thirst for knowledge, and to expect more from the people who deliver the facts.
