Comments on: Coming off the page: Finances forces UW-Parkside’s Ranger News into online-only format http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2009/11/coming-off-the-page/ a group discussion about the future of student media Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:03:42 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: Lauren Rabaino http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2009/11/coming-off-the-page/comment-page-1/#comment-424387 Lauren Rabaino Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:25:44 +0000 http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/?p=2448#comment-424387 Print is the moneymaker... for now. How much longer will it last? And will students wait until they're broke before deciding to figuring out how to make money online? <br><br>You can't learn how to monetize the web if it's just an afterthought. Without the print burden, students are <em>free</em> to experiment. <br><br>As my Canadian boyfriend always says, "Go where the puck is going to be, not where it is." Print is the moneymaker… for now. How much longer will it last? And will students wait until they're broke before deciding to figuring out how to make money online?

You can't learn how to monetize the web if it's just an afterthought. Without the print burden, students are free to experiment.

As my Canadian boyfriend always says, “Go where the puck is going to be, not where it is.”

]]> By: linney http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2009/11/coming-off-the-page/comment-page-1/#comment-424386 linney Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:12:40 +0000 http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/?p=2448#comment-424386 On some level, I have to disagree with Lauren Rabaino. I agree that the cumbersome print production process inhibits newsrooms from becoming truly "web centric." We'd all think web-first if we didn't have to worry about producing a daily paper.<br>But the truth is, its just not that simple. Most newspapers are still not making money off their web site and print advertising still remains more than online advertising. It's counterintuitive to everything we're taught, but it's true. <br>If the numbers added up and newsrooms could make money off of their web sites, then I think they'd ditch their print operation in a second. But the truth of the matter is, print is still basically funding online news. On some level, I have to disagree with Lauren Rabaino. I agree that the cumbersome print production process inhibits newsrooms from becoming truly “web centric.” We'd all think web-first if we didn't have to worry about producing a daily paper.
But the truth is, its just not that simple. Most newspapers are still not making money off their web site and print advertising still remains more than online advertising. It's counterintuitive to everything we're taught, but it's true.
If the numbers added up and newsrooms could make money off of their web sites, then I think they'd ditch their print operation in a second. But the truth of the matter is, print is still basically funding online news.

]]> By: Lauren Rabaino http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2009/11/coming-off-the-page/comment-page-1/#comment-424369 Lauren Rabaino Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:54:39 +0000 http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/?p=2448#comment-424369 What a great opportunity the Ranger News has! Although it's unfortunate (yet unsurprising) that the publication is losing money, they have now cut their printing costs, which will save them hundreds of thousands, I'm sure. With the saved money and all their efforts focused online, they're going to be a step ahead of all the other college newsorgs struggling to find a comfortable home online. <br><br>I strongly believe that the biggest challenge in creating a truly web-centric newsroom is the fact that print publications still exist. The very nature of a print deadline inhibits reporters, editors and ad reps from being able to flip their mindsets upside down. <br><br>It seems like the editors are unhappy about the change. I hope the Ranger editors embrace it and document it as a resource for other newsorgs that have to drop print too. I don't mourn the online transformation, I celebrate it and wish other college media would take the same step, even before being forced by finances. What a great opportunity the Ranger News has! Although it's unfortunate (yet unsurprising) that the publication is losing money, they have now cut their printing costs, which will save them hundreds of thousands, I'm sure. With the saved money and all their efforts focused online, they're going to be a step ahead of all the other college newsorgs struggling to find a comfortable home online.

I strongly believe that the biggest challenge in creating a truly web-centric newsroom is the fact that print publications still exist. The very nature of a print deadline inhibits reporters, editors and ad reps from being able to flip their mindsets upside down.

It seems like the editors are unhappy about the change. I hope the Ranger editors embrace it and document it as a resource for other newsorgs that have to drop print too. I don't mourn the online transformation, I celebrate it and wish other college media would take the same step, even before being forced by finances.

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