The true assassins of the American newspaper

Will Bunch at Attytood says, “The American newspaper is being assassinated by ‘a lone nut.'”

Craig Newmark of Craigslist is responsible for the demise of an industry, Bunch argues. Traditional newspaper classified advertising has migrated to Craigslist, he says, because CEO Newmark doesn’t want to make too much money. He permits free ads or ads well below market rates. So, of course, people with stuff to sell or jobs to offer flock there.

That leads to job losses at newspapers, Bunch says, because classified ads produced (or used to, at least) lots of money. Newspapers are poorer, so they cut jobs.

Well, Bunch is wrong. These job losses are not Newmark’s fault. Bunch should point his finger elsewhere — at the incredibly stupid decisions of newspaper ownership and management.

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