The latter-day Gutenbergs’ work is done. What will the future look like? Some thoughts on the fate of journalism

1. Welcome to the year 1500
The latter-day Gutenbergs’ work is
done. What will the future look like?

2. Thinking the unthinkable
• Clay Shirky argues we’re
in a revolutionary era
with no easy solutions

3. Thinking the unthinkable
• Clay Shirky argues we’re
in a revolutionary era
with no easy solutions
• It took many decades
for Gutenberg’s press
to redefine the culture

4. Thinking the unthinkable
• Clay Shirky argues we’re
in a revolutionary era
with no easy solutions
• It took many decades
for Gutenberg’s press
to redefine the culture
• No single thing will
work, but many ideas
might save journalism

5. An experiment winds down
• John Paton of Digital
First Media tried to
redefine newspapers

6. An experiment winds down
• John Paton of Digital
First Media tried to
redefine newspapers
• Project Thunderdome,
DFM’s innovation lab,
was suddenly closed

7. An experiment winds down
• John Paton of Digital
First Media tried to
redefine newspapers
• Project Thunderdome,
DFM’s innovation lab,
was suddenly closed
• Investors want their
money, so papers are
likely to be auctioned

8. The view from New Haven
• From bankruptcy and
barbed wire to a sense
of cautious optimism

9. The view from New Haven
• From bankruptcy and
barbed wire to a sense
of cautious optimism
• Some improvements,
but more layoffs and
slow progress

10. The view from New Haven
• From bankruptcy and
barbed wire to a sense
of cautious optimism
• Some improvements,
but more layoffs and
slow progress
• Register backs out of
deal to relocate
downtown near Omni

11. Future of regional dailies
• The New Haven Register may join the
Providence Journal and the Telegram &
Gazette of Worcester in seeking local owners

12. Future of regional dailies
• The New Haven Register may join the
Providence Journal and the Telegram &
Gazette of Worcester in seeking local owners
• Smaller papers should be cheap. But can local
business leaders invest money needed to
rebuild tattered brands?

13. Future of regional dailies
• The New Haven Register may join the
Providence Journal and the Telegram &
Gazette of Worcester in seeking local owners
• Smaller papers should be cheap. But can local
business leaders invest money needed to
rebuild tattered brands?
• On the other hand, if these papers can be
operated without debt, they could enjoy a
renaissance

14. Marty Baron’s listicle
• In speech on April 5, the
veteran editor offered
nine reasons for hope

15. Marty Baron’s listicle
• In speech on April 5, the
veteran editor offered
nine reasons for hope
• “I … choose to be
optimistic because only
as an optimist can I
envision a route to
success.”

16. 1. We’re still here
• Not long ago, skeptics predicted the end for
such major newspapers as The New York
Times, The Boston Globe and the Los Angeles
Times

17. 2. New owners with money
• Jeff Bezos, John Henry and Aaron Kushner are
bringing deep pockets and new energy to the
task of reinvigorating legacy newspapers

18. 3. New journalistic organizations
• Vox, FiveThirtyEight and Re/Code split off
from The Washington Post, The New York
Times and The Wall Street Journal
• Entrepreneurial journalism, whether it
succeeds or not, will accelerate the pace of
reinvention

19. 3. New journalistic organizations
• Vox, FiveThirtyEight and Re/Code split off
from The Washington Post, The New York
Times and The Wall Street Journal
• Entrepreneurial journalism, whether it
succeeds or not, will accelerate the pace of
reinvention

20. 4. New forms of storytelling
• Data visualization, lists, video and other
innovations are leading to an audience that is
more engaged with journalism

21. 5. We’re better listeners
• Business challenges have made us more
attuned to what engages our customers

22. 6. New opportunities
• Legacy news organizations — not just
entrepreneurial start-ups — are hiring people
with technical skills such as coding or video

23. 7. The rise of digital natives
• Young journalists grew up speaking the
language of the Internet, and they are now
moving into key newsroom positions

24. 8. Strong journalism persists
• Public service reporting by mid-size papers
such as the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel,
The Sacramento Bee and The Boston Globe
continues to make a difference

25. 9. Optimism is necessary
• “There is no acceptable alternative to
optimism”