Why we need newspapers

A former crime reporter finds his old paper lacking.

(via macleans.ca)

There's been lots going on with media companies the past week. Lots of bad.

CanWest watch (also at Maclean's.ca)

CTV is projecting a $100 million loss, and selling two southwestern Ontario stations

CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning did a series on the Ottawa Citizen, available one piece each morning here

But CBC is in trouble too, and wants some government cash to help.

Some people wonder whether blogs will replace newspapers. But David Simon, who wrote the Baltimore piece, disagrees.

"Well, sorry, but I didn't trip over any blogger trying to find out McKissick's [a police officer who shot an unarmed man] identity and performance history. Nor were any citizen journalists at the City Council hearing in January when police officials inflated the nature and severity of the threats against officers. And there wasn't anyone working sources in the police department to counterbalance all of the spin or omission."

Blogs are great for keeping in touch with friends, having a creative outlet and sometimes (carefully) venting frustration. I've even seen great debates in blog comments. But a blogger with a day job simply will never have the time to do what crime reporters are supposed to do. The catch being that newspapers need to make sure crime reporters have the time too.