OD deathknell?

[boomer]

I was reading the OD online today, and realized I haven't been to their forums since this one started up!

I also read recently a newspaper that had closed it's doors with the headline "goodnight Albuquerque".

I think we're seeing the writing on the wall here with respect to printed media. Its going to be survival of the fittest moving into the online world for newsprint outfits, and so far, it looks like the OD is a million years behind in welcoming the online crowd with open arms!

I know it means people's jobs but let's face it the OD is partially responsible for the way things are here: We don't hear of things that affect Donna's "friends", and instead get fed in-depth reports on canonized nuns and muffin bake-offs.

Good riddance OD.

[kim]

The print media does seem to be rapidly vanishing. I still get the daily paper, mostly for the tactile pleasure. There is just something about drinking my coffee while reading the paper! However, I'm finding that more and more often the news that is in the print version is news that I knew about before I went to bed because I saw it online. The only new stuff in the print version are the comics, and even those I could find online if I wanted to.

You know, though, papers aren't going to keep doing this stuff for free, especially if the scrap the print media. I'm afraid that if all print media goes away, we're going to start having to pay subscription fees to read the news online.

[rrogers40]

You know, though, papers aren't going to keep doing this stuff for free, especially if the scrap the print media. I'm afraid that if all print media goes away, we're going to start having to pay subscription fees to read the news on line.

Maybe- but there will always be someone who puts it up for free. And theres still cable news- and if anyone would make you pay a subscription fee it would be cable news.

[thelma]

I just cancelled the renewal of my 13 week subscription with the OD. As Kim stated, most of the news in the paper had already been discussed on the Nightly TV news shows (both National and Local news) the night before the paper was even printed.

All other parts of the paper can be read online.

It was costing me $51 for a 13 week subscription. I would rather go shopping for a new outfit for either myself or my GD with that money!

[frankcor]

Very well stated, Kim.

Thelma, you're forgetting that by not spending the $51 every quarter, you're missing out on all the valuable advertising and inserts that make excellent compost and help keep your recycling bin full.

You know, I'd be willing to pay more for a newspaper that didn't have advertising or those obnoxious inserts that fall onto the ground when I grab the paper from my mail box post. Hmmm... bending over to pick up stuff I drop is about the only exercise I get any more. Maybe I should rethink this.

[Ralph]

Well I have to agree with Kim on the tactile aspect of reading.

Other than that I can't do with out plenty of papers, I shred them for the birds cages!! ;D

Thank gosh for the Life & Times.

[Clipper]

My God, Ralph, what will you line the birdcages with if the OD ceases to print the paper??

I would not know what to do while drinking my coffee, if I didn't have the newspaper to read. I quit smoking, so I don't have a cigarette with my coffee, and I am too lazy to boot up the computer until I have relaxed over my first cup.

Kathy would have to stare at my recently awakened and scarey face while drinking her coffee, instead of blocking the view with the "Dear Abbey" page. Could be traumatic for her!

I hope the paper version of the news survives for a while yet. Otherwise, we need to develop alternative routines for our morning recreation.

[Ralph]

I haven't used the OD in a good long time!

The Life & Times is fine and free. I grab a handful of them whenever I go to the store. They all shred the same!!!

Get yourself a laptop for the morning ritual. I boot up the server in the morning to check my e-mails and then don't visit the office till the nightly news is over or I have something special to work on.

[frankcor]

The Life & Times is a good substitute for kitty litter in a pinch. I always make sure Steve Schiavi's column is on the top, though.

[Ralph]

frankcor said:

The Life & Times is a good substitute for kitty litter in a pinch. I always make sure Steve Schiavi's column is on the top, though.

Is that really a column or is it his memoirs? LOL!!!

[countrygal]

Has anyone ever logged on to the Rome Sentinel Web site? Talk about the dark ages. It has got to be the worst web site I have ever seen. The main reason I like the Sentinel is that they are very good supporters of the farmers in the area. The OD could care less. But their web site is 1000 times better than the Sentinel's.

[countrygal]

I just read that between 8 and 9 tonight the OD online will become "new and improved". We'll have to wait and see I guess.

[frankcor]

Yeah, the Sentinel web site is pretty dismal. They only post a fraction of their news story. They once had a forum long before (circa 1996) any other papers around here did. But it died from neglect, I think.

I had a letter to the editor published a few weeks ago that never got posted on the web page. Two defensive responses to my letter did get posted. Go figure.

[frankcor]

New and Improved? That must mean that there will only be one thread open to posting by non-moderators now. And the use of punctuation will be prohibited in order to cut down on spam.

[dgriffin]

I've heard so much here about the ill famed OD forums that I spent some time looking them over tonight. I think Dante should be dug up and made to invent a new lowest layer of hell and anyone assigned there would have as his punishment 6 months of moderating those forums. There are some real idiots over there! I now understand why so many of them use screen names to disguise their identity.
Are we sure any of them are more than 12 years old? (Excluding, of course you guys who are also here.)
I'm pretty proud to be a member of this forum of folks who seem able to discuss, rather than snip and pout, even more so now that I've scanned the OD's forums.