Great point, DudeStar- however banal- "The problem for newspapers is monetizing it in this economy." (I'm assuming you're referring to web-generated income.) But, exactly how do you see that playing out at the STrib? Oh! Oh! Glen Taylor could arrange exclusives with the TWolves!! Or are you hoping Opperman will get a seat? He could help attract advertisers by making it a more… pleasant publication?? Or a more pleasant workplace environment for employees, already fearing job loss, by imposing non-compete clauses???

Maybe dudes like 'DudeStar' should do a little more analyses on their own research before they try to say something meaningful. I suggest taking another step back, look at the facts, make a graph, draw a diagram, employ some cross-textual analyses, think about it another four to six days… then post.

In every state I have checked, their #1 LOCAL website is the newspaper with the highest daily circulation. In my home state of Minnesota, the StarTribune sells 490,000 Sunday newspapers (according to the 2009 October Audit) and their website registered 6.2 million unique users. Compared to the THE AWL – with a whopping 64,644 – and you can see why newspapers are not threatened by little blogger dudes like 'Cord'. Besides, Cord somehow thinks the 490,000 people still buying the newspaper aren't reading it. They are simply playing with 'Cord's' head.

The problem for newspapers is monetizing it in this economy not the audience numbers. Check any independent web traffic site to verify.

I laughed last week when NBC News lead with the decline in newspaper circulation of 10% while ignoring the hemorrhaging of viewers they are experiencing (38 million to 7 million over the last 15 years). They forgot to mention the newspaper readers went to the respective website of their local newspaper.

ALL traditional media is getting hammered – radio, yellow pages, television, shared mail, and solo mail.
But unlike these other traditional media, newspapers are actually GROWING their audience.

So dudes like 'Cord' should do a little more research before speculating on the future of the newspaper industry. There are 1,480 dailies in the US and 17 have filed bankruptcy.

Face it…in 10 years the only advertising vehicles left standing will be mobile, HD TV hooked directly to the internet and the Sunday newspaper.

Otherwise Cord…dude…. it was like a TOTALLY far out analysis!

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